December is already flying by friends! I’ve been working on a lot of new projects, as well as trying to get ready for the holidays. It’s kind of different for my family this year, as we’re in our new home and mid-renovation. I haven’t had as much knitting time as I’d like to, but I’m fitting it in where I can. This time of year I like to knit things that are quick, comforting, and somewhat repetitive. The Simpliciknit Shawl ticks all of those boxes, but also will give you some fun new skills to add to your knitting tool kit – such as the knit lateral braid.
The Simpliciknit Shawl is an easy, meditative knit that allows you to indulge in fun techniques that combine to create a wonderfully drapey shawl. A knit lateral braid runs between sections, giving a modern texture blocked piece that can be worn in a variety of ways.
Skills to indulge in
This free shawl pattern features alternating texture sections, lateral braids, and an applied garter edge. If any of these skills are unfamiliar to you, I have recorded a couple of brief tutorial videos, which you can find embedded below.
These techniques are simple, yet add so much to the finished shawl! I think you’ll really enjoy them, and I hope you can utilize them in other projects as well.
The Name
I chose the name Simpliciknit Shawl for this because it’s kind of silly but also descriptive. A combo of simple + knit; I wanted to remind people that knitting isn’t as difficult as we sometimes may build it up in our minds to be! It’s fun to try new techniques. The more we learn, the more we become confident in our skill set. I think this free knit shawl pattern will be both an enjoyable and skill building experience!
Simpliciknit Shawl – Free Knit Shawl Pattern
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September 23, 2021The Yarn
For this knit, I wanted something extra cozy. One of my go to budget friendly yarns is Touch of Alpaca by Lion Brand. I used the colorway Goldenrod, it’s a warm mustard that I think really stands out without being too bright. I love the muted colorways in this line of yarn. You will need 4 balls of Touch of Alpaca. Lion Brand even is offering this pattern as a kit! For one low price you can get all the yarn you need to make the Simpliciknit Shawl + the pattern PDF. You can even customize your yarn color – perfect if mustard isn’t your thing!
The Pattern
You can find the entire free pattern below. If you prefer an easily portable, ad free PDF, it is available in my Ravelry Shop. I’d love to see and share your work! Tag me on social media @hookedhazel or share photos of your WIPs with the hashtag #SimpliciknitShawl.
Supplies + Notions Needed
- Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca (207 yds/100 grams); 4 balls
- US 8 (5 mm) needles, 32″
- Stitch markers (4)
- Darning needle
- Scissors
- Blocking Supplies
Abbreviations
st(s) – stitch(es)
k – knit
p – purl
bo – bind off
co – cast on
k2tog – knit two sts together (decrease)
tbl – through back loop
slwyif – slip purlwise with yarn in front
m – marker
pm – place marker
sm – slip marker
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
* – instructions within * are repeated
Measurements
- Wingspan – 64″
- Length (spine) – 32″
- Measurements are taken after blocking.
- You may add additional repeats to increase size, please note this will require additional yardage.
Gauge
13 sts x 17 rows = 4” in stockinette
Notes
- Shawl is constructed top down in one piece.
- This shawl uses a garter tab cast on. If you do not wish to use this method, you may skip it and co 9 sts to begin your shawl.
- After the garter tab setup rows, all RS rows will add 4 sts to your overall count.
- Slip your markers as you come to them on WS rows.
Special Stitch – Knit Lateral Braid
Insert left needle into the front of the second st on your right hand needle, carefully slip the first two stitches off your right hand needle, placing the second st on your left needle and sliding the first st back onto your right needle.
K1tbl, k1.
Repeat steps 1 – 2 across row as indicated.
Pattern
Garter Tab Cast On
CO 3 sts.
Rows 1 – 6: K.
Row 7: K 3, pick up 3 sts along garter edge with your left needle, k these 3 sts, pick up 3 sts along cast on edge with your left needle, k these 3 sts. <9>
Stockinette section:
Row 1 (WS): K3, pm, p1, pm, p1, pm, p1, pm, k3. <9>
Row 2(RS): K3, sm, YO, k to m, YO, sm, k1, sm, YO, k to m, YO, sm, k3. <13>
Row 3: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.
Rows 4 – 23: Repeat rows 2 – 3. <53>
Lateral Braid:
Row 24: K3, sm, YO, k2, lateral braid to marker, YO, sm, k1, sm, YO, k2, lateral braid to marker, YO, sm, k3. <57>
Texture Section:
Row 25: K3, sm, *k1, p1*, until 4 sts remain, k1, sm, k3.
Row 26: K3, sm, YO, *p1, k1* to one st before marker, p1, YO, sm, k1, sm, YO, p1, *k1, p1* to marker, YO, sm, k3. <61>
Rows 27 – 34: Repeat rows 24 – 25. <77>
Row 35: Repeat row 25.
Lateral Braid
Row 36: Repeat row 23. <81>
Stockinette Section
Row 37: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 38: K3, sm, YO, k to m, YO, sm, k1, sm, YO, k to m, YO, sm, k3. <85>
Rows 39 – 58: Repeat rows 37 – 38. <125>
Row 59: Repeat row 37.
Lateral Braid
Row 60: Repeat row 23. <129>
Texture Section:
Row 61: K3, sm, *k1, p1*, until 4 sts remain, k1, sm, k3.
Row 62: K3, sm, YO, *p1, k1* to one st before marker, p1, YO, sm, k1, sm, YO, p1, *k1, p1* to marker, YO, sm, k3. <133>
Rows 63 – 70: Repeat rows 61 – 62. <149>
Row 71: Repeat row 61.
Lateral Braid
Row 72: Repeat row 23. <153>
Stockinette Section
Row 73: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 74: K3, sm, YO, k to m, YO, sm, k1, sm, YO, k to m, YO, sm, k3. <157>
Rows 75 – 94: Repeat rows 37 – 38. <197>
Row 95: Repeat row 73.
Lateral Braid
Row 96: Repeat row 23. <201>
Texture Section:
Row 97: K3, sm, *k1, p1*, until 4 sts remain, k1, sm, k3.
Row 98: K3, sm, YO, *p1, k1* to one st before marker, p1, YO, sm, k1, sm, YO, p1, *k1, p1* to marker, YO, sm, k3. <205>
Rows 99 – 108: Repeat rows 61 – 62. <225>
Row 109: Repeat row 97.
Lateral Braid
Row 110: Repeat row 23. <229>
Stockinette Section
Row 111: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 112: K3, sm, YO, k to m, YO, sm, k1, sm, YO, k to m, YO, sm, k3. <233>
Rows 113 – 132: Repeat rows 37 – 38. <273>
Row 133: Repeat row 111.
Applied Garter Edge
CO 4.
Row 1: K3, k2tog through the back loop, turn
Row 2: Sl1wyif, k 3, turn.
Repeat rows 1 – 2 across the end of shawl.
BO.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Block to specified measurements using your preferred method. Sample was lightly wet blocked.
