Petra

Petra Shawl by Annie Haas

What Is Being Made

Petra is a crescent-shaped knitted shawl designed by Annie Haas of This.bird.knits Designs. This garment features a three-color fade construction that allows knitters to experiment with complementary color combinations and shading possibilities. The finished shawl measures 19 inches in depth and 100 inches across the wingspan, making it a generous accessory suitable for layering or draping.

Knitting Techniques

The Petra shawl combines two primary knitting techniques to balance ease with visual interest. The pattern pairs mindless garter stitch sections with simple lace motifs, creating a design that is engaging without being overly complex. This combination makes the project accessible to beginner-level knitters while providing enough structural variety to maintain interest throughout the knitting process. The three-color fade is worked sequentially, allowing knitters to transition between Color A (Pond), Color B (Night Owl), and Color C (Fog) as they progress through the pattern.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch as the primary structural element
• Simple lace stitches for decorative sections

Yarn and Materials

Petra is designed to be knitted using Heavy Lace weight or Fingering Weight yarn. The pattern calls for 3 skeins of Fru ValBorg Merino Single, with each skein containing approximately 400 yards and weighing 100 grams, for a total yardage of approximately 1,200 yards. The yarn is worked across three distinct colors to create the fade effect. Knitting needles required are US Size 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles, though the designer notes that US Size 4 needles may be substituted if using fingering or heavy lace weight yarn. A tapestry needle is needed for weaving in ends. The finished shawl should be wet blocked to achieve the stated gauge and final measurements.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches by 48 rows over a 4-inch by 4-inch swatch in garter stitch, measured after wet blocking. The designer notes that gauge is not critically important for this particular shawl design, offering flexibility for knitters working with the recommended yarn weights and needle sizes.