Soyokaze shawl

Soyokaze Shawl by Takako Takiguchi

What Is Being Made

The Soyokaze shawl is a versatile knitting project designed as an asymmetrical triangle shawl. This design is particularly well-suited for knitters looking to use up yarn leftovers, as it accommodates any yarn weight and fiber content. The asymmetrical triangle shape allows for multiple styling options, giving you flexibility in how you wrap and wear the finished shawl across your shoulders.

Design Versions and Sizing

The Soyokaze shawl pattern offers two distinct construction versions that differ in their rate of increase:

• 2-stitch version: Adds 2 stitches every other row, resulting in a wingspan of 150 cm and length of 60 cm
• 4-stitch version: Adds 4 stitches every other row, resulting in a wingspan of 180 cm and length of 50 cm

Both versions are easily adjustable, allowing you to customize the final dimensions to suit your preferences.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Soyokaze shawl employs fundamental shawl construction techniques centered on strategic increases. The pattern uses regular increases worked every other row to create the asymmetrical triangular shape. The specific increase rate you choose (either 2 or 4 stitches) directly impacts the shawl's final proportions and drape. This straightforward increase-based construction makes the pattern accessible while still producing an elegant, wearable garment.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

One of the defining features of the Soyokaze shawl is its flexibility regarding yarn selection. You may knit this shawl with any yarn weight and any fiber content, making it an ideal stash-busting project. The pattern recommends knitting a gauge swatch with your chosen yarn to ensure you are satisfied with the resulting fabric.

The sample garments were created using:

• 2-stitch version sample: Madelinetosh tosh merino light in colorway Rain water (fingering weight), approximately 340 meters from 90 grams
• 4-stitch version sample: Garnstudio Drops Cotton Viscose Uni Color in DK weight, using 3 skeins of colorway #8 Pink (approximately 330 meters from 150 grams total) and 1 skein of colorway #19 Grey (approximately 110 meters from 50 grams)

Needles and Gauge

The pattern calls for a 2.75 mm (US 2) circular needle. For the 2-stitch version, the gauge is 18 stitches and 26 rows over 10 centimeters. As with all knitting projects, it is essential to use the recommended needle size for your chosen yarn and to verify your gauge with a swatch before beginning the main project.

Yarn Weight Considerations

While the Soyokaze shawl pattern accommodates any yarn weight, the sample projects demonstrate the versatility of the design across different fiber types and weights. The fingering weight merino sample creates a delicate, lightweight shawl, while the DK weight cotton viscose blend offers a slightly more substantial fabric with beautiful color variation through the use of main color and contrasting color sections.