Flying Without Wings

Flying Without Wings Knitted Shawl by Liz Corke

Project Overview

Flying Without Wings is an advanced knitting pattern for a bottom-up crescent-shaped shawl designed by Liz Corke. This downloadable PDF pattern creates an elegant accessory featuring decorative lace elements inspired by wing motifs, making it an ideal project for experienced knitters seeking a sophisticated design with artistic detail.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a crescent-shaped shawl with dimensions of 188 centimeters long by 30 centimeters deep (74 inches long by 12 inches deep after blocking). The crescent silhouette is a classic shawl shape that drapes beautifully around the shoulders, and the adjustable nature of this design allows knitters to customize the finished size to their preferences.

Design Features and Construction Techniques

The shawl is constructed from the bottom up, beginning with the cast-on edge and working upward to create the crescent shape. The pattern incorporates several distinct knitting techniques and stitch patterns:

• Lace Border: A decorative lace border frames the shawl with intricate openwork
• Feather Motifs: Three rows of feather stitches represent wings, creating the thematic focal point of the design
• Garter Stitch Body: The main body of the shawl is worked in garter stitch, providing a stable, textured foundation that contrasts with the lace elements
• Eyelet Edging: An eyelet edging finishes the outer edge, adding delicate detail and visual interest

Pattern Customization

The shawl size is easily adjustable by adding or removing repeats of the lace pattern, allowing knitters to create variations in width and depth according to their preferences or yarn availability. This flexibility makes the pattern suitable for different yarn quantities and desired finished dimensions.

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches and techniques, including:

• k – knit
• p – purl
• k2tog – knit two together (decrease)
• s2k1psso – slip two stitches as if to knit, knit one, pass slipped stitches over (double decrease)
• pm – place marker
• rm – remove marker

Pattern Format and Instructions

The downloadable PDF includes both charted instructions and written line-by-line directions, accommodating different knitting preferences. Knitters can follow either visual charts or traditional written patterns, making the design accessible to various skill levels within the advanced category.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: The pattern calls for 590 yards of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply yarn, which is 100% wool with a yardage of 174 yards per 50-gram skein. This 4-ply weight yarn is a fingering-weight yarn ideal for creating detailed lacework and fine fabric.

Needles and Tools: The project requires 4.5mm (US 7) circular needles measuring 32 inches or longer to accommodate the width of the shawl. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and blocking equipment consisting of a blocking mat and pins to shape and set the finished shawl.

Gauge Information

The recommended gauge is 18 stitches and 22 rows per 10 centimeters (4 inches) worked in garter stitch. While gauge is not essential for this pattern, variations in gauge will affect both the size of the finished shawl and the total amount of yarn required. Knitters should be aware that looser gauge will produce a larger shawl, while tighter gauge will result in a smaller finished piece.