Nangou

Nangou Shawl by Melanie Berg

What is Being Made

Nangou is a charming, asymmetrical knitted shawl designed for everyday wear. This downloadable PDF pattern creates an elegant triangular shawl with a finished wingspan of 73 inches (185 cm) along the top edge and a center depth of 26 inches (65 cm). The design emphasizes elegance, simplicity, and airiness, making it a versatile accessory suitable for casual daily styling.

Construction and Shaping Techniques

The shawl is worked flat from the bottom up, utilizing asymmetrical shaping achieved through different kinds of strategic increases. This construction method allows knitters to control the drape and flow of the finished piece while building the triangular silhouette gradually. The varied increase techniques create visual interest and contribute to the shawl's distinctive asymmetrical design.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used in Nangou is garter stitch, which is created by knitting every row. This fundamental stitch provides a textured, reversible fabric with excellent drape characteristics. The pattern also incorporates k2tog (knit 2 stitches together) decreases as part of the shaping technique. The simplicity of these stitches makes this an intermediate-level project, accessible to knitters with basic skills who are ready to tackle shaping and asymmetrical construction.

Yarn and Materials

Nangou is designed to showcase the beautiful qualities of Shibui Knits Staccato yarn, a luxury blend composed of 70% Merino wool and 30% silk. This fiber combination creates a wonderfully fluid drape and imparts a feminine, delicate quality to the finished shawl. The yarn is a 4-ply weight with yardage of 191 yards (175 meters) per 50-gram skein.

Yarn Requirements:

• 3 skeins in Caffeine (main color) – 140 grams / 535 yards / 490 meters used for the sample
• 1 skein in Ivory (contrast color) – 25 grams / 96 yards / 88 meters used for the sample

Needles and Notions:

• US 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles, 40 inches (100 cm) or longer in length

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 10 stitches and 20 rows over 2 x 2 inches (5 x 5 cm) in garter stitch, measured after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the shawl drapes as intended. Blocking is recommended to set the stitches and enhance the luxurious drape that the Merino and silk blend provides.