Emily Shmemily

Emily Shmemily Shawlette by Shannon Squire

What Is Being Made

Emily Shmemily is a knitted shawlette pattern designed by Shannon Squire. This is a small, wearable shawl that combines simple stitch techniques with meditative texture changes to create visual interest and depth in a beginner-friendly project.

Design Approach and Construction

The shawlette follows a straightforward construction method that builds confidence in newer knitters. The pattern begins with a small cast-on that grows progressively larger, row by row, using the fundamental stockinette stitch as the foundation. This meditative, repetitive phase allows knitters to develop rhythm and consistency before introducing stitch pattern variation. Just as the stockinette section reaches a natural stopping point, the pattern shifts into a simple repeating stitch pattern to maintain engagement and add textural complexity. The design then alternates back to garter stitch for additional visual contrast before returning to stockinette for the final section, creating a balanced composition of textures throughout the finished piece.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch throughout most of the shawlette, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing the classic smooth, V-patterned fabric
• Garter Stitch: Used as a textural contrast section, created by knitting every row to produce a bumpy, ridged appearance
• Simple Repeating Pattern: A meditative stitch repeat worked between the stockinette and garter sections to add visual interest without overwhelming beginner knitters
• I-Cord Bind-Off: A decorative edge finish that creates a neat, cord-like border along the final edge of the shawlette

Materials

Yarn: Approximately 375–400 yards of fingering-weight (4-ply) yarn is required. The pattern sample was worked in two colorways: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in Lipstick 1984 (pink) and Malabrigo Sock in Rayon Vert (green-brown), demonstrating the versatility of the design across different yarn brands and colors.

Needles: US 4 / 3.5mm needles (or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge) are used throughout the project.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to shawlette construction. The straightforward stitch combinations and gradual introduction of pattern repeats build skills progressively without requiring advanced techniques.