Tidepool shawlette

Tidepool Shawlette by Christiane Burkhard

What Is Being Made

The Tidepool Shawlette is an intermediate-level knitted shawlette inspired by the designer's cherished childhood memories of exploring tide pools at the North Sea. This triangular wrap is available in three sizes, offering versatility for different preferences and yarn quantities. The finished dimensions range from approximately 50 inches wide and 15 inches high in the smallest size, up to 53 inches wide and 17 inches high in the largest size, making it an ideal layering piece or lightweight wrap for various occasions.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs fundamental shawlette construction techniques suitable for intermediate knitters. The design utilizes yarn overs to create decorative increases that form the characteristic lacy, triangular silhouette typical of modern shawlette patterns. Decreases are strategically placed throughout the pattern to shape the garment and create visual interest. The pattern requires working on circular needles, a common technique in shawl knitting that allows for the management of increasing stitch counts as the piece grows from the top down or side to side.

Stitches Used

The Tidepool Shawlette incorporates several essential knitting stitches and abbreviations:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches form the foundation of the stitch pattern
• Yarn Over (YO) creates decorative eyelets and increases for shaping
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) and Purl Two Together (P2tog) for decreasing
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK) provides a left-leaning decrease by slipping two stitches separately as if to knit, then knitting the previously slipped stitches together through the back loop
• Slip Stitches (Sl1) used as if to purl for edge definition
• Stockinette Stitch (st st) serves as the primary fabric base

The pattern also references directional knitting terminology including Right Side (RS) and Wrong Side (WS), as well as With Yarn in Front (Wyif) for precise stitch placement.

Materials and Gauge

The Tidepool Shawlette requires a US 9 (6mm) circular needle for the larger sizes or a US 6 (3.5mm) circular needle for the smaller, more delicate versions. The project calls for aran or worsted weight yarn for the largest size, with the option to use fingering or DK weight yarn for the smaller variations, allowing crafters to choose based on their preferred yarn weight and desired finished size.

Yardage requirements vary by size: the smallest size requires approximately 280 yards, the medium size needs 355 yards, and the largest size calls for 470 yards. The yarn featured in the pattern photographs is HiKoo Tiara. The working gauge is 4 stitches over 1 inch in stockinette stitch on the specified needles, with a needle measurement of 32 inches in circumference, ensuring proper fit and drape of the finished shawlette.