London Calling

London Calling Shawl by Carle' Dehning

Project Overview

London Calling is an advanced-level knitted shawl designed by Carle' Dehning as a downloadable PDF pattern. This project combines quick knitting with effective visual impact, making it an engaging choice for experienced knitters seeking a design with both simplicity and sophistication. The shawl draws inspiration from two iconic British architectural elements: raindrop patterns reminiscent of London's famous weather and gothic arches found throughout UK castles, cathedrals, and historic ruins.

What Is Being Made

London Calling is a knitted shawl featuring a distinctive body pattern and decorative edging. The design uses raindrop-inspired motifs in the main body section, while the perimeter features gothic arch-inspired edging that references the architectural heritage of the United Kingdom. The construction begins with a small cast-on and builds outward, creating a garment that is both visually interesting and relatively quick to complete.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Cast-on method: The pattern begins with a simple 3-stitch cast-on, followed by 6 rows of garter stitch to create a foundation edge
• Selvedge pick-up: Stitches are picked up along the selvedge and cast-on edges to expand the working stitches from 3 to 9
• Yarn overs: Yarn overs (YO) are used strategically to create decorative increases and lacy elements throughout the pattern
• Stitch markers: Markers are placed to help track pattern repeats and maintain shaping consistency
• Blocking: The pattern emphasizes the importance of blocking to achieve proper tension and final dimensions

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K): The primary stitch forming the foundation of the fabric
• Purl stitch (P): Used in the body pattern to create textural contrast
• Yarn over (YO): Creates decorative holes and increases that contribute to the raindrop motif
• Knit front and back (KFB): An increase technique used to shape the shawl
• Garter stitch: Created by knitting every row, used in the initial setup rows

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: The pattern calls for 1.5 skeins of Nurturing Fibres Soft Spun Worsted, which is 100% Merino wool. Each skein contains 100 grams and yields 170 meters of yarn, providing approximately 255 meters total yardage for the completed shawl.

Needles: US size 9 (5.5mm) needles are required for this project.

Additional supplies: A stitch marker and tapestry needle are needed for tracking pattern repeats and weaving in yarn ends upon completion.

Tension and Gauge Information

The pattern specifies a tension square measurement of 2 inches by 2 inches, which should measure 8 stitches by 12 rows. Checking tension before blocking is essential to ensure proper fit and final dimensions. Knitters with loose tension should use smaller needles, while those with tight tension should consider using larger needles to achieve the correct gauge.