Stepstone Shawl

Stepstone Shawl by Sarah M. Goodwin

What Is Being Made

The Stepstone Shawl is an asymmetrical garter stitch shawl designed in three colors. This downloadable knitting pattern offers a modern take on shawl construction, combining a main body worked in garter stitch with a distinctive slip stitch and garter stripe edging. The pattern includes instructions for two sizes with two edging width options, making it adaptable to different preferences and yarn gauges.

Design Features and Construction

This shawl is specifically engineered for knitters who enjoy shawl projects but prefer to minimize purling. The edging pattern was originally developed for the Stepstone Cowl and has been adapted to be worked on the bias and in a wider format, significantly reducing the amount of purl stitches required throughout the project. The asymmetrical shape and strategic use of slip stitches create visual interest while maintaining the meditative rhythm of garter stitch knitting.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The primary construction technique is garter stitch, which forms the main body of the shawl. The edging employs a combination of slip stitch and garter stripe techniques to create a finished edge with textural variation. Both fully written instructions and charted patterns are provided for the edging, allowing knitters to follow their preferred method. The bias construction of the edging contributes to the shawl's asymmetrical silhouette and reduces purling requirements compared to traditional shawl patterns.

Yarn and Materials

The Stepstone Shawl is worked in sport weight yarn across three distinct colors. The pattern was designed and photographed using Cascade Heritage 150 sock yarn, specifically:

• 200 grams (656 yards/599 meters) of Color A in shade 5629 Citron
• 50 grams (164 yards/149 meters) of Color B in shade 5719 Violet Indigo
• 50 grams (164 yards/149 meters) of Color C in shade 5704 Dusty Turquoise

The pattern includes flexibility for yarn selection: knitters may substitute any sport weight yarn at the specified gauge, or alternatively use fingering weight yarn knit at the same gauge to create a lighter version of the shawl.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 5 stitches per inch (20 stitches over 4 inches or 10 centimeters) in garter stitch. Row gauge is also 5 rows per inch. The pattern provides complete guidelines for customizing the shawl to any size using any gauge, offering knitters maximum flexibility in adapting the design to their preferred yarn and desired finished dimensions.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are comfortable reading both written instructions and stitch charts, and who have experience with basic shawl construction techniques.