Glenora

Glenora Knit Shawl by Andrea Rangel

What is Being Made

Glenora is an advanced-level knit shawl designed by independent designer Andrea Rangel. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a sophisticated triangular shawl worked from the center outward in a seamless construction method. The finished shawl features an impressive wingspan of 51.5 inches (131 cm) at the cast-on edge, making it a substantial and elegant accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a statement piece.

Construction Technique

The shawl is constructed using a center-out seamless knitting method, which means stitches are cast on at the center point and the shawl expands outward as you work. This technique eliminates the need for seaming and creates a unified, flowing fabric. The pattern incorporates two lace patterns that work together to build the shawl's structure, with Lace Pattern 1 including shaping at both ends to create the characteristic triangular silhouette, while Lace Pattern 2 provides the main lace repeat across the body of the shawl.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

This advanced knitting project employs several sophisticated stitch techniques to create visual interest and structure:

• Cable stitches: The pattern uses multiple cable variations including C4L (cable 4 left), C4R (cable 4 right), and C5R (cable 5 right). These cables are worked by slipping stitches to a cable needle and holding them either in front or in back of the work before knitting, creating twisted rope-like textures throughout the design.
• Lace patterns: Two coordinating lace patterns form the foundation of the shawl's design, with the first pattern incorporating strategic shaping to control the garment's geometry.
• Purl-wise slipping: Stitches are slipped purl-wise to cable needles, a technique that maintains stitch orientation and creates clean cable crossings.

Materials and Tools

The Glenora shawl requires 700 yards (640 meters) of DK weight yarn. The pattern is shown worked in Hazel Knits DK Lively, a premium blend of 90% Merino wool and 10% Nylon, which provides both softness and durability. This yarn is available in 275-yard (251-meter) skeins, requiring 3 skeins to complete the project. The sample shown is in the color Jam Session.

Essential tools include a US #6 (4.00 mm) circular needle measuring 60 inches (152 cm) in length, though needle size should be adjusted as needed to achieve the specified gauge. Additional supplies include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, place markers for tracking pattern repeats, blocking pins, and optional blocking wires for shaping the finished shawl.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 17 stitches and 29 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when worked in Lace Pattern 2. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements and is more important than matching the recommended needle size, as individual knitting tension varies.