Wanda

Wanda Shawl by Justyna Lorkowska

What is Being Made

Wanda is a triangular knit shawl designed by Justyna Lorkowska. The finished shawl measures approximately 152.5 cm (60 inches) wide and 56 cm (22 inches) long at the center spine, making it a generous accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a wrap. This is a beginner-friendly knitting project that uses a two-color construction technique to create visual interest and definition between the main body and border.

Construction Technique

The shawl is constructed using a top-down approach, beginning at the center top and expanding outward toward the edges. The pattern starts with a garter tab cast-on method, where 3 stitches are cast on and knitted for 6 rows to create a small rectangular foundation. After completing the garter tab, the work is rotated 90 degrees clockwise so that the long edge of the tab becomes the top edge, and stitches are picked up and knit along this edge to begin the main body.

The main triangular section is created through strategic increases worked on every right-side row and wrong-side row. Specifically, the pattern incorporates four increases on every right-side row and two increases on every wrong-side row, which creates the characteristic triangular silhouette as the shawl expands outward from the center spine. Once the main lace section reaches the desired dimensions, a cabled border worked in the contrasting color is added to finish the edges.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The shawl features two primary stitch pattern elements: a lace stitch pattern used throughout the main body section, and cable stitches used in the border. The lace pattern creates an openwork, decorative fabric that is characteristic of shawl designs, while the cabled border provides structure and a finished edge. The pattern includes both written-out instructions and charted instructions, allowing knitters to follow either format based on their preference. The garter tab foundation is worked in garter stitch, which creates a bumpy, reversible texture ideal for a secure cast-on edge.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Wanda is designed to be knitted using 4-ply yarn weight, which is a light, fingering-weight yarn that creates a delicate, refined fabric suitable for lace and shawl work. The pattern calls for two skeins of yarn—one main color and one contrasting color—each from Knit by Numbers 4ply by John Arbon Textiles. Each skein contains 400 meters (440 yards) per 100 grams and is made from 100% Pure Falklands Merino Wool, a premium natural fiber known for softness, elasticity, and excellent stitch definition. The pattern is shown in colors MC (Main Color) 61 and CC (Contrasting Color) 57 from this yarn line, though knitters may substitute other 4-ply merino or similar weight yarns in their preferred color combinations.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it an excellent introduction to shawl knitting for those new to the craft. While the pattern does incorporate lace stitches and cable techniques, the straightforward construction method and detailed instructions—provided in both written and charted formats—make it accessible to knitters who have mastered basic knitting fundamentals such as casting on, knit and purl stitches, and increasing.

Pattern Format

Wanda is available as a downloadable PDF pattern designed for personal use only. The pattern document includes both written instructions and charts to accommodate different learning preferences among knitters. © 2020 Lete's Knits - All rights reserved.