Adoro

Adoro Triangular Shawl by Ruth Garcia-Alcantud

What is Being Made

Adoro is a triangular knitted shawl designed by Ruth Garcia-Alcantud. This downloadable PDF pattern offers knitters the flexibility to create their version in either sock/fingering weight yarn or laceweight yarn, allowing for customization based on preferred yarn weight and desired finished dimensions. The shawl is constructed from the centre neck outwards, making it an elegant accessory suitable for various occasions.

Construction Technique

The shawl employs a centre-out construction method, beginning from the neck area and expanding outward to create the triangular shape. This technique uses a provisional cast-on, which allows knitters to pick up stitches later for finishing. The centre-out approach is a popular method in shawl design as it creates a natural flow of increases and enables the shawl to grow organically from a single point.

Yarn Requirements and Options

Adoro is designed to work with two distinct yarn weight options:

• Fingering/Sock Weight Version: Requires 1 skein of sock or fingering weight yarn, approximately 440 yards total
• Laceweight Version: Requires 1 skein of laceweight yarn, approximately 880 yards total

The sample shawl was knitted using Babylonglegs Semi-precious yarn (a 50/50 merino and silk blend) for the fingering weight version and Baruffa Cashwool (100% merino) for the laceweight version, which was worked double stranded. These yarn choices provide excellent drape and luxury feel, though knitters may substitute other yarns of equivalent weight and yardage.

Needles and Gauge

Proper needle selection is essential for achieving the desired gauge and finished fabric characteristics:

• Fingering Weight Shawl: Size 3.25mm / US 3 needles with a gauge of 6.5 stitches per inch
• Laceweight Shawl: Size 3.75mm / US 5 needles with a gauge of 5 stitches per inch

The pattern notes that knitters should always select needle sizes that will produce their desired gauge, as individual tension varies. Adjusting needle size up or down can significantly affect the final shawl dimensions.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

While the PDF content does not specify individual stitch abbreviations, the triangular shawl construction typically incorporates increases to shape the expanding triangle, and the laceweight version likely features yarn overs and decreases to create lace patterning. The provisional cast-on technique requires familiarity with picking up stitches, a fundamental skill in shawl construction.

Additional Materials and Notions

Beyond yarn and needles, the Adoro pattern requires the following supplies:

• Waste yarn and crochet hook for executing the provisional cast-on
• Stitch markers (optional but recommended for tracking pattern repeats)
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and finishing
• Beads (Optional): Approximately 266 size 6/0 seed beads for the fingering weight version or approximately 386 size 10/0 seed beads for the laceweight version, if the knitter wishes to embellish the shawl. A small crochet hook or needle and thread/floss is needed for bead placement

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex construction methods. The centre-out triangular construction and optional beadwork require attention to detail and familiarity with techniques beyond basic knitting.

Pattern Notes

The pattern includes helpful notation conventions: when only one number is listed, it applies to both laceweight and fingering weight versions. When two numbers appear in parentheses, the first typically refers to one version and the second to the other, allowing knitters to easily follow instructions for their chosen yarn weight.