Free Knitting Patterns: Blended Shawl

See also: I Knitted A New Blended Shawl!

The Blended Shawl is a sideways asymmetrical triangular garter stitch shawl. It is worked sideways just like the Truly and Totally Triangular Scarf patterns, however, this one is asymmetrical. The shawl starts with one stitch and ends at the opposite long side. It uses increase and decrease stitches simultaneously to create a beautifully curved triangular shawl shape. This easy knitting pattern includes the instructions to create this popular shawl shape, along with a technique for blending multiple colours of yarn into one cohesive design.

Choosing Yarn

This is an ideal knitting pattern for using up leftover shawl and sock yarn. Gather up your leftovers, and choose a pleasing blend of colours in the same weight. Any amount of fingering weight yarn may be used. For my shawl I used six yarns that totalled 104 grams which created a small shawl. I chose soft earth tones and arranged them in a pleasing gradient pattern.

Above are my yarn choices in the order in which I worked my shawl. My Instagram post on the right shows these yarns labeled. This is what I used:

These were all leftovers from past projects including shawls I have designed, a sweater I knitted for myself, and gifts I knitted for others. I used whatever amounts I had of each. My leftovers determined the design of my shawl. Let your leftovers guide your design!

The possibilities are endless for this design. Use only single ply yarns, or mix single ply and plied yarns like I did. Choose complementary tonal colours like mine for a gradient effect or go bold with brights or contrasting choices. Use 2 or 3 colours, or 10 or 12, or even more. It’s completely up to you!

Knitting the Shawl

The increase stitch used is kfb (knit into the front and back of the stitch) which blends almost invisibly into garter stitch. Work the kfb stitch loosely to keep the increase edge loose and stretchy for blocking. The decrease stitch used is the k2tog (knit 2 stitches together).

When each new colour is added it is alternated for several rows with the old colour to create the blended look. This is just like knitting stripes. (For help, see Changing Colours When Knitting Stripes 101). I used short sections of alternating rows because my yarn amounts were generally small and my colours fairly similar. You could alternate for more rows if you have more yarn to work with and want longer gradient sections. I will be sharing my blending method here but it’s not the only way. Go ahead and experiment!

This pattern uses a slipped stitch edge, something that I commonly use in my shawl patterns. It makes such a pretty clean knitted edge. To make this edge, slip the first stitch of every row knitwise (as if to knit) while holding the yarn at the back of the work (wyib). Then purl the last stitch of every row. Don’t work these edge stitches too tightly. We want stretchy edges for blocking.

Finishing Touches

I’ve mentioned blocking a couple of times now. The Blended Shawl uses US 6/4.0 mm needles with fingering weight yarn and garter stitch. This creates a very loose and drapey fabric that needs to be soaked and blocked into shape when the knitting is done. Wool yarns are perfect for this because wool stretches and holds its shape very well. Soak your shawl in water and a little bit of wool wash. Then stretch it out into the finished shape on blocking boards or towels. Pin it into place and let it dry. (For help, see Shawlette Blocking 101).

Once blocked, you will be able to enjoy the beauty of your shawl. Your finished shawl is completely reversible and you might, like me, decide that you love the wrong side (below right) even more than the right side (below left)!

Blended Shawl Instructions

Materials

• Multiple colours of leftover fingering weight yarn in varying amounts.
• US size 6 [4.0 mm] needles, or size needed to obtain desired gauge. The shawl is worked flat but a circular needle is useful for the large number of stitches.
• Blocking materials.

Gauge

• Gauge will vary. It isn’t necessary to match my gauge. But for reference, my average gauge is 18 sts and 34 rows = 4 inches [10 cm] in garter stitch, after blocking.

Finished Measurements

• Finished measurements will vary. For reference, my finished shawl is approximately 18 inches [46 cm] deep at middle point and 58 inches [147 cm] long across top edge, blocked.

Stitches Used

• k – knit
• p – purl
• sl – slip the stitch from left to right needle as if to knit, with yarn in back
• kfb – knit into the front and then the back of the stitch (increase)
• k2tog – knit 2 stitches together (decrease)

Instructions

Cast on 1 stitch. Work Rows 1 to 7. All slipped stitches are slipped kwise wyib.

Row 1 (WS): Kfb – 2 sts.
Row 2 (RS): K1, kfb – 3 sts.
Row 3: Sl1, k1, kfb – 4 sts.
Row 4: Sl1, k1, kfb, p1 – 5 sts.
Row 5: Sl1, k2tog, kfb, p1 – 5 sts.
Row 6: Sl1, k1, kfb, k1, p1 – 6 sts.
Row 7: Sl1, k2tog, kfb, k1, p1 – 6 sts.

Next, work Rows 8 and 9 until end of shawl (one stitch increased for each repeat), changing colours with the blending technique explained below.

Remember to work edge and increase stitches loosely so that the edge of the shawl stretches nicely during blocking.

Row 8 (RS): Sl1, k1, kfb, k to last st, p1.
Row 9 (WS): Sl1, k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, kfb, k1, p1.

Blending Technique: When you are ready to change yarns, leave enough working yarn to continue using it for 8 more rows, or 4 repeats of Rows 8 and 9 (see note below). After completing a WS row (Row 9) drop your working (old) colour. Pick up new colour and work Rows 8 and 9. Drop new colour and pick up old colour. Work Rows 8 and 9 twice. Drop old colour. Pick up new colour and work Rows 8 and 9 twice. Drop new colour, pick up old colour and work Rows 8 and 9 once. Drop old colour and continue with new colour. Repeat this technique at the next and all subsequent colour changes.

Note: Estimating how much yarn is needed for blending can be tricky. Pay attention to how much yarn you are using per row right before the change so you know approximately how much will be required. My amounts will not be the same for your shawl, but for reference, my colour changes ranged from 275 feet for the first one to 600 feet for the last one.

Finishing

Bind off all sts. Weave in all ends. Wash and block.

Pattern by Michelle Krause.

Copyright 2019 by Leah Michelle Designs. Pattern and photos may not be sold for profit or distributed or reproduced without permission.