Polyarny

Polyarny Shawl by Taiga Hilliard Designs

What is Being Made

Polyarny is an elegantly designed knitted shawl that combines simplicity with visual interest through its lace patterning and strategic shaping. This project is ideal for knitters looking to expand their skills into lace and shawl construction without overwhelming complexity. The finished piece is suitable for fall and winter wear, making it a versatile addition to any wardrobe.

Design and Construction Approach

The shawl employs short-row shaping to create its distinctive silhouette, a technique that adds dimension and improves the garment's drape without requiring extensive yardage. This construction method allows the shawl to be both efficient to knit and flattering when worn. The design accommodates two different color options: knitters may choose to work the entire shawl in a single color for a classic look, or use two contrasting colors to enhance the lace pattern's visual impact.

Lace Pattern and Techniques

The lace pattern is intentionally simple, making this project an excellent starter shawl for knitters new to lace work. Both written and charted instructions are provided, allowing knitters to choose their preferred method of following the pattern. Key lace techniques used throughout include:

• Yarn Overs (YO) – creates the characteristic openwork and decorative holes in the lace
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK) – a left-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn overs for balanced lace
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease used in conjunction with yarn overs
• Central Double Decrease (CDD) – slip 2 stitches as if to knit together, knit 1, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch, creating a centered decrease

The combination of these decreases with yarn overs creates the lace's openwork structure while maintaining the shawl's overall integrity.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches as building blocks for the lace design:

• Knit Stitch (K) – the basic stitch forming the foundation of the fabric
• Purl Stitch (P) – used selectively to add texture and definition
• Yarn Over (YO) – creates the openwork characteristic of lace
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit) – a left-leaning decrease
• K2tog (Knit Two Together) – a right-leaning decrease
• CDD (Central Double Decrease) – a centered decrease for balanced lace

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Malabrigo Rasta, a super bulky weight yarn, is the recommended fiber. The pattern calls for 180 yards total, requiring approximately 2 skeins if working with two colors, or 2 skeins of a single color. The pattern is also adaptable to other yarn weights: knitters may substitute bulky yarn doubled or 4 strands of worsted weight yarn for comparable results.

Needle: US size 19 (15.00 mm) needles are required to achieve proper gauge with the recommended yarn.

Gauge: 6.0 stitches = 4 inches, measured over the lace pattern. Achieving correct gauge is essential for the shawl to reach its intended finished dimensions.

Skill Level and Project Characteristics

Rated as an advanced beginner to intermediate project, Polyarny is specifically designed as a great starter project for someone new to shawls or lace. The combination of simple lace patterning, minimal yardage requirements, and super bulky yarn weight makes this a fun and fast knit that can be completed relatively quickly. The straightforward lace pattern allows knitters to build confidence with lace techniques without the complexity of intricate stitch combinations, while the short-row shaping introduces an essential construction method used in advanced shawl design.