Arria knitted

Arria Knitted Shawl by Fay Dashper-Hughes

What is Being Made

Arria is a triangular knitted shawl inspired by a mermaid sculpture found in Scotland. The design features contrast colour triangles representing mermaid tails swishing through the ocean, with the shawl lit up in purples, pinks, teals, and blues at night. This intermediate-level knitting project is worked from the bottom up and measures 80+ centimetres across the cable edge.

Design and Inspiration

The shawl celebrates the beauty of variegated yarn by using short colour sequences that prevent colour pooling, a common issue with multi-coloured yarns. The triangular pattern showcases all of the amazing colours throughout the design, making it an ideal project for displaying the full potential of variegated yarn.

Knitting Techniques Used

Arria employs intarsia, a colour-work technique that allows knitters to introduce multiple colours into their knitting. This shawl is specifically designed as an easy introduction to intarsia, as the pattern requires working with only three balls of yarn at any one time, making it manageable for knitters new to this technique.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The shawl uses garter stitch throughout, creating a squishy, textured fabric. Garter stitch is worked by knitting every row, producing characteristic bumpy waves that add visual interest and perfectly complement the colour-work elements of the design.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

• Yarn Weight: 4 ply (light fingering weight) and 3 ply options
• Yarn Fibre: RiverKnits Superwash British Bluefaced Leicester
• Yarn A (Shadow Green): 15g, 60m/66yds
• Yarn B (Variegated): 185g, 740m/808yds
• Needles: 3.5mm
• Total Yardage: Approximately 800 yards combined
• Estimated Knitting Time: 36 hours

Difficulty Level

This shawl is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience who are ready to expand their skills with intarsia colour-work techniques.