Steps shawl : Knitty Spring+Summer 2013

by Ellen Easton

Shaping in knitting is usually achieved by using short rows or increasing and/or decreasing the number of stitches.

However, in this shawlish scarf (or scarfish shawl), shaping is achieved in a different way, namely by gathering together the stitches of part of the project, in order to create what look like steps. When these steps are created at regular intervals, a circular shape appears.

Apart from being a construction element, the steps also stand out as a visual element, especially when they are knitted in a contrasting color.

The pattern is easy to knit. It's all garter stitch and you can use any type (or thickness) of yarn that you like for this pattern.

Note that this pattern uses up more yarn than if you were to knit a regular garter stitch scarf or cowl -- the steps use up lots more yarn that a flat fabric would.

In addition, the more color changes in the ridges, the more ends there are to weave in. But, having said that, I think that the advantage of making this very cool looking scarf outweighs the disadvantages by far!

model: Annika Neeleman, Jessica Neeleman

photos: Ellen Easton


SIZE One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Width: 4.25 inches
Length: 100 inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
[MC] Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light [100% wool; 384 m per 100 g skein]; color: winter wheat; 2 skeins
[CC] Loret Karman Dutch Palettes 'Sunflowers (Van Gogh)' [100% merino wool; 410 m per 100 g]; colors: the Sunflower Palette contains 9 mini skeins, each in one of the Palette colorways; 1 kit

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #2.5/3 mm needles

Notions
Yarn needle

GAUGE

27 sts/54 rows (27 ridges) = 4 inches in garter stitch

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

I used fingering weight yarn for my project, but you can knit this pattern with any type or thickness of yarn, the gauge doesn't matter. Just decide how wide you want your scarf/shawlette to be, and then using the gauge information, calculate how many stitches you have to cast on to achieve this width. Then divide that roughly in thirds, working the step on the last two-thirds of the row. Length, of course, is easily adjustable.

The Intarsia method is used to work the color sections. Join CC at the point you need to start working it. Twist yarns around each other when changing colors.

This photo shows you what row 1 of section B looks like on the RS, just before you start the process of knitting stitches together to start creating a step.

This photo shows you what row 1 of section B looks like on the WS, just before you start the process of knitting stitches together to start creating a step.

With the tip of the left needle, pick up the MC loop of the first stitch of the first CC row.

...and knit this loop together with the first stitch on the left needle.

Continue this process across the rest of the row.

This is what your work looks like at the end of the row, when your new step is finished.

DIRECTIONS

Using MC, CO 30 sts.
Knit 6 rows.

Section A
Note: Join CC at the appropriate point in Row 1.

Row 1 [RS]: Using MC, k10, using CC, k20.

Row 2 [WS]: Using CC k20, using MC k10.

Repeat Rows 1-2 3 more times.
Break CC.

Section B
Row 1 [RS]: Using MC k10. Work across the rem 20 sts as follows, to create the step: With the tip of the left needle, pick up the MC loop of the first stitch of the first CC row and knit this loop together with the next stitch on the left needle; continue, picking up the MC loops at the bottom of the step, all the way across. See photo tutorial above for help.

Rows 2-8: Knit.

Repeat Sections A & B until shawl measures 100 inches, or a little short of desired final length.

Work Section A once more.

Work Section B Rows 1-7.
BO.

FINISHING
Do not block. Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Ellen Easton lives in the Netherlands. She has been knitting and crocheting almost as long as she can remember, and she loves to design her own patterns.

If you'd like to know more, take a look at her blog. You can find Ellen on Ravelry, too.