Tanjong Pagar

Tanjong Pagar Sideways Semi-Circular Shawl by Åsa Tricosa

What Is Being Made

Tanjong Pagar is a sophisticated semi-circular wrap shawl designed by independent designer Åsa Tricosa. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a bold, graphic garment worked in a sideways construction method. The shawl features a solid wrap design with striking visual contrast, measuring 175 cm x 70 cm (68" x 28") in the Large size or 190 cm x 82 cm (75" x 32") in the Very Large size. The finished piece combines clean lines with decorative elements, making it suitable for intermediate-level knitters seeking a statement accessory.

Construction Techniques

This shawl employs a distinctive sideways knitting method, where the piece is constructed horizontally rather than from the top down or bottom up. The shawl is divided into wedges separated by contrasting spokes, creating bold graphic lines throughout the design. A key technical feature is the ruffled edge, which is worked using intarsia as you go—a technique that allows color changes to be incorporated seamlessly during the knitting process rather than requiring separate finishing steps. This construction approach combines structural simplicity with visual complexity, resulting in a striking geometric pattern.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the pattern excerpt, the design relies on fundamental knitting stitches combined with color work techniques. The intarsia method used for the ruffled edge requires managing multiple yarn colors simultaneously while knitting, allowing the contrasting colors to be integrated directly into the fabric. The wedge construction and spoke details suggest the use of increases and decreases to shape the semi-circular form, with color changes creating the bold graphic lines that define the shawl's aesthetic.

Yarn Requirements and Materials

Tanjong Pagar is designed to work with 4ply or fingering weight yarn, with an alternative option for heavy laceweight yarn in the Very Large size. For the Large size worked in 4ply, the pattern calls for approximately 790 m / 860 yards of main color (MC) and 395 m / 430 yards of contrasting color (CC). The original pattern uses Wollmeise Pure, a 100% wool yarn, with Schwarz (black) as the main color and Dark Orange as the contrasting color. The Very Large version uses The Gossamer Web Gryffin, a luxury blend of Merino, Silk, and Cashmere in 3ply weight, with Black Pearl and Black as the primary colors, plus a scrap of yellow lace yarn for accent spokes.

Alternative yarn suggestions include Wollmeise Lace-Garn, Madelinetosh Merino Light, Madelinetosh Eyre Light, and Fyberspates Sheila Sock—all suitable for creating the desired drape and visual effect. Knitters should select a circular needle measuring 60–80 cm (24"–32") in the appropriate size to match their chosen yarn and achieve the desired fabric drape.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it appropriate for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex construction methods and color work. The sideways construction and intarsia technique require attention to detail and familiarity with managing multiple colors, but the overall structure remains accessible to experienced knitters seeking to expand their technical repertoire.