Fields and Pier

Fields and Pier Rectangular Shawl by April Davis

Project Overview

Fields and Pier is a rectangular knit shawl designed by April Davis to evoke a sensory journey through landscape. The design progresses through distinct sections intended to represent moving from a forest, across a river, through a field, and finally arriving at the edge of a pier by a lake. This narrative structure creates visual interest and thematic coherence throughout the finished piece.

Construction Method

This shawl is worked in two separate pieces that are later grafted together, allowing the designer to create distinct pattern sections and transitions. This two-piece construction technique provides flexibility in shaping and pattern placement, enabling the creation of the landscape progression that defines the design.

Finished Dimensions and Specifications

The completed shawl measures 70 inches by 24 inches after blocking, creating a generous rectangular wrap suitable for layering or draping. The project requires 876 yards of fingering weight yarn, making it a substantial but achievable undertaking for intermediate-level knitters.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Fields and Pier employs a variety of intermediate knitting techniques to create textural and visual variety:

• Leaf Pattern: The primary stitch pattern used throughout the shawl, creating organic, flowing motifs that contribute to the landscape aesthetic
• Yarn Overs (yo): Used to create lacy, open sections and decorative increases
• Decreases: Multiple decrease techniques including knit 2 together (k2tog), knit 3 together (k3tog), slip-slip-knit (ssk), and centered double decreases (CDD) to shape the fabric and create definition
• Through-the-Back-Loop Decreases: Knit 3 together through back loop (K3togtbl) and purl 2 together through back loop (2togtbl) for directional shaping
• Purl Decreases: Purl 2 together (p2tog) and purl 3 together (P3tog) for textured sections
• Slip Stitches and Pass-Overs: Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sk2p) and pass slipped stitch over (psso) techniques for refined decreasing
• Grafting: The two completed pieces are joined using grafting, a seamless joining technique that creates an invisible seam

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for 876 yards of fingering weight yarn, which is a delicate, thin yarn weight that creates refined stitch definition. Knitting is worked on a US 7 circular needle measuring 24 inches long, allowing for the width of the rectangular shawl. Additional tools include a stitch holder for managing stitches during the two-piece construction and a tapestry needle for grafting the pieces together and weaving in ends.

Gauge and Blocking

The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches over 4 inches, which should be verified before beginning to ensure the finished dimensions match the intended 70 by 24 inches. Blocking is essential to this project, as the finished measurements are provided after blocking, indicating that the shawl benefits from wet or steam blocking to open up the lace patterns and achieve the proper drape and dimensions.

Skill Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex stitch patterns and construction techniques. The combination of multiple decrease types, the leaf pattern, and the two-piece grafted construction requires attention to detail and familiarity with reading pattern instructions.