Ribbed Slit Shawl in Red Heart Soft Solids - LW2590

Ribbed Slit Shawl in Red Heart Soft Solids

What Is Being Made

The Ribbed Slit Shawl (LW2590) is a knitted accessory designed as a versatile wrap or shoulder piece. This shawl features a distinctive vertical slit detail that adds visual interest and functional styling options. Available in three size options, the shawl accommodates different preferences for drape and coverage, making it suitable for various body types and styling preferences.

Knitting Techniques Used

This project employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginners while creating a sophisticated finished garment. The shawl is worked back and forth in rows using circular needles, which are employed not for working in the round but rather to accommodate the large number of stitches required for the shawl's width. A contrasting waste yarn serves as a placement marker for the slit detail, providing a guide for picking up stitches later in construction. This technique allows crafters to create an intentional opening in the fabric with clean, finished edges.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is a k3, p2 rib (knit 3, purl 2 ribbing), which creates vertical columns of texture throughout the shawl. This ribbed construction provides both visual appeal and functional elasticity. The pattern uses basic stitches including:

• Knit stitches (k)
• Purl stitches (p)
• Slip stitches worked purlwise (slip 1p) for clean edge stitches

The ribbed pattern repeats consistently across rows, creating a rhythmic, textured fabric that is both forgiving for beginners and visually interesting.

Materials and Tools

This project uses Red Heart Soft Solids yarn in Aran weight, a medium-weight yarn that works up quickly and creates a fabric with good drape suitable for a shawl. The pattern requires:

• Circular knitting needles in 5 mm [US 8] size, 24 inches long
• Straight knitting needles in 5 mm [US 8] size (for sections worked flat)
• A crochet hook for finishing details
• Contrasting color waste yarn, 40 inches in length, used as a marker and guide for the slit placement

Gauge and Sizing

The project is designed to achieve a gauge of 20 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches when worked in the k3, p2 rib pattern. Crafters are advised to check gauge before beginning, as obtaining the correct gauge ensures the finished shawl dimensions match the intended pattern. The pattern offers three size options with cast-on counts of 90, 110, and 130 stitches, and corresponding finished measurements of 5, 7, and 9 inches from the beginning before the slit placement.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner project, this shawl is accessible to knitters new to the craft while still producing a polished, wearable accessory. The straightforward ribbed stitch pattern and basic construction techniques make it an ideal project for building fundamental knitting skills and confidence.