Product Description
This triangular, fingering-weight shawl is cast on at the center back neck and worked downwards to the hem. It is shaped with the use of yarn-over increases along a center spine and at the wingspan edges. It is worked with a simple lace pattern, a textured slip-stitch pattern, and a wider lace motif border. You will need 2 colors of a fingering weight yarn.
Inspired by the Spindle tree, which has orange and rose-colored berries, this lace shawl is part of the ongoing Ogham tree collection.
Spindle Shawl by Anne Podlesak
What is Being Made
The Spindle Shawl is a knitted triangular shawl designed by Anne Podlesak, featuring a generous finished wingspan of 79 ½ inches (202 cm) with a center back neck to hem measurement of 39 inches (99 cm). This intermediate-level knitting project creates a substantial accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a wrap, combining colorwork and textural pattern work in a sophisticated design.
Knitting Techniques Used
This shawl employs multiple advanced knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure. The design incorporates slip-stitch colorwork, which allows knitters to work with two colors while maintaining a manageable number of stitches on the needles. The pattern includes charted sections (Charts A and B) that guide stitch placement and color changes throughout the construction. Knitters may need to adjust needle sizes between sections to maintain consistent gauge, particularly when working the slip-stitch sections, demonstrating the importance of gauge checking after blocking to ensure even fabric across different pattern areas.
Stitches and Stitch Patterns
The Spindle Shawl utilizes charted knitting patterns (Chart A and Chart B) that work in tandem to create the overall design. The slip-stitch technique features prominently, allowing for two-color patterning without the bulk of traditional stranded colorwork. The large number of stitches required for the 36-inch circular needles suggests increases throughout the pattern, typical of triangular shawl construction, which gradually expands from the neckline outward to achieve the full wingspan.
Materials and Yarn Specifications
The sample shawl was knit using Wooly Wonka Fibers Nimue Sock, a premium 4-ply yarn composed of 50% silk and 50% superwash merino. This fiber blend provides both luxury and practicality, with the silk contributing sheen and drape while the superwash merino offers warmth and durability. Each 100-gram skein yields 435 yards, and the sample required approximately 725 yards total, using one skein each of two colorways: Rosa Rugosa (main color) and Georgia Peach (contrasting color). This yardage allows knitters flexibility in color selection while maintaining the intended finished dimensions.
Needles and Tools
Construction requires US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles measuring 36 inches to comfortably accommodate the large number of stitches as the shawl expands. Knitters may need to switch to a larger needle size when working slip-stitch sections to maintain proper gauge, making it essential to check gauge after blocking over both charted sections. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a darning needle for weaving in ends.
Gauge and Finishing
The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in both Chart A and Chart B patterns, measured after blocking. While the designer notes that gauge is not crucial for this project, maintaining consistent gauge directly affects the total yardage required and the final dimensions of the shawl. Blocking is essential to set the stitches and ensure even fabric appearance across the colorwork sections, making it a critical finishing step for achieving the intended 79 ½-inch wingspan and 39-inch depth.
Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | Fingering |
| Pages: | 5 |
| Designer: | Anne Podlesak |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
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