Sound Check

Sound Check Shawl by Carissa Browning

What is Being Made

Sound Check is a triangular shawl design created by independent designer Carissa Browning. This one-size shawl features finished measurements of 68 inches in span and 27 inches in height, making it a versatile accessory easily adjusted to personal preference. The shawl showcases a striking two-color construction that combines visual interest with accessible knitting techniques suitable for beginners.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This shawl is constructed using brioche knitting, a specialized technique that creates a reversible, textured fabric with exceptional elasticity and visual depth. The design employs bi-color brioche, which involves alternating two yarn colors throughout the construction. According to the pattern notes, bi-color brioche is simpler than it appears, with each row consisting of two passes—one pass worked with each color. This technique creates the distinctive brioche rib pattern characteristic of the design.

The shawl also incorporates garter stitch sections, which provide textural contrast and help define the shawl's shape. Garter stitch, created by knitting every row, offers a classic, reversible fabric that complements the brioche elements. The combination of brioche rib and garter stitch creates visual interest while remaining manageable for beginner-level knitters.

Materials and Specifications

Sound Check is worked using fingering weight yarn, specifically Twisted Owl Fiber Studio Super Sock 4-Ply. This yarn composition features 75% merino wool and 25% nylon, providing durability and elasticity ideal for shawl construction. The pattern requires approximately 463 yards (423 meters) each of two colors:

• Light Color (LC): Rocker Chick; 1 skein (463yds/423m per 100g)
• Dark Color (DC): Technicolor Cowgirl; 1 skein (463yds/423m per 100g)

Construction requires a US #2.5/3mm circular needle, which is essential for the brioche technique since stitches must be held and worked across multiple passes in each row. Additional supplies include 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge and Finishing

After blocking, the shawl achieves a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in brioche rib, and 20 stitches and 40 rows over 4 inches in garter stitch. Blocking is essential for this project to set the brioche stitches and achieve the finished measurements. The pattern references Nancy Marchant's brioche tutorials for knitters new to the technique, acknowledging brioche as a specialized but learnable skill within the beginner difficulty range.