Balm to the Soul Shawlette 1

Balm to the Soul Shawlette by Jaala Spiro

What is Being Made

The Balm to the Soul Shawlette is a triangular knit shawl designed to provide a satisfying and soothing knitting experience. This intermediate-level project features simple textures and accessible lace patterns that reveal beautiful color changes as you work through the design. The shawlette is worked flat, beginning from the wide top edge and decreasing toward the point, creating a classic triangular silhouette perfect for layering or wearing as a shoulder wrap.

Construction Techniques

This shawlette employs a strategic construction method that builds the triangle from the top down. The pattern is worked flat on circular needles, starting at the widest edge of the triangle. The shawl is divided into three main sections: the Border, the Spine, and the Body. The Borders and Spine work together to increase the total stitch count by four stitches on every right-side (odd-numbered) row. The Body sections, positioned between the Borders and Spine, increase by two stitches on every right-side row. This structured increase pattern ensures consistent shaping throughout the project. A helpful design feature means that the number of Body stitches on each half of every right-side row will always be equal, making the pattern easy to track and execute.

Stitches and Lace Work

The Balm to the Soul Shawlette incorporates fundamental knitting stitches combined with accessible lace elements. Required skills include:

• Knit and purl stitches for the stockinette base and textured sections
• Yarn overs to create the lace openings
• Make 1 (M1) increases for shaping
• Ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit two together) decreases for lace decreases and shaping
• Simple lace chart work that is straightforward enough for intermediate knitters
• Bind off to finish the project
• Half lace repeat work for the border construction

Materials and Gauge

This pattern is designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn. The recommended yarn is Knitcircus Ringmaster, a 100% superwash Merino wool available in 375-yard skeins weighing 150 grams. The sample shown uses the colorway Waltzing Matilda. Knitters should use US 9 (5.5 mm) circular needles measuring 24 inches or longer to accommodate the increasing stitch count as the shawlette grows. The pattern is worked to a gauge of 18 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for creating a shawlette with the intended dimensions and drape.