Garnish

Garnish Heart-Shaped Shawl by Nathalie Schlosser

What Is Being Made

Garnish is a playful, heart-shaped shawl designed by Nathalie Schlosser as a beginner-friendly knitting project. This downloadable PDF pattern creates an adjustable shawl measuring 17 by 30 inches (42.5 by 75 centimeters) in its standard size. The shawl can be worked to a larger or smaller finished size by adjusting the number of repeats in the garter stitch sections, making it adaptable to individual preferences and yarn availability.

Construction and Techniques

The Garnish shawl is constructed using a top-down method, beginning from the center neck edge and expanding outward. The pattern starts with a garter tab at the neck edge, establishing the foundation for the piece. Increases are worked on every right side row, with 2 stitches increased at the start and end of each row, plus 1 stitch on either side of the stock stitch sections. This systematic increase method creates the characteristic heart shape while maintaining structural integrity throughout the knitting process.

The shawl features a distinctive apricot bind-off finish, which adds extra texture and visual interest to the completed edge. This finishing technique provides a polished, decorative conclusion to the project.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Garnish shawl combines several stitch techniques to create visual depth and interest:

• Garter stitch stripes form the foundation of the design, creating bold horizontal bands throughout the shawl
• Eyelet rows add delicate openwork details that contrast with the solid garter stitch sections
• Colorwork motif borrowed from Nathalie Schlosser's Garnet pullover pattern, emulating a string of gemstones or decorative dollops of icing with cherries on top

The combination of easy garter stitch with eyelet and colorwork rows creates a balanced design that is visually striking despite its beginner skill level.

Yarn and Materials

The Garnish shawl is worked in DK weight yarn, specifically The Fibreco Acadia. This yarn blend contains 60% Merino Wool, 20% Silk Noil, and 20% Baby Alpaca, creating a luxurious, soft fiber with excellent drape and subtle sheen. Each 50-gram skein yields 145 yards (133 meters) of yarn. The light DK weight is ideal for creating an elegant, wearable shawl that provides warmth without excessive bulk.

Skill Level and Difficulty

Although the pattern is labeled as beginner skill level, it is designated as Adventurous Beginner, indicating that it includes techniques slightly beyond absolute basics while remaining accessible to knitters with foundational skills. The straightforward garter stitch base combined with simple colorwork and eyelet techniques makes this an excellent project for knitters looking to expand their abilities without overwhelming complexity.