Work up this shawl with knit stitches and short rows
How to Knit Shifting Stripes Shawl with knit stitches and short rows. This is a free pattern from Red Heart Yarn and Marly Bird shows you how to work with two colorways of It’s a Wrap Rainbow yarn, stitch marker, short rows and garter stitch.
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About the Pattern:
This stunning shawl is worked up using two different colorways of Red Heart It’s a Wrap Rainbow. It’s a Wrap Rainbow gradually goes from one color to the next without sudden stops in colors.
Working with short rows can seem like a hard thing for beginners. Taking it step by step and working together through the pattern you can learn how to work short rows in your knitting. Once you learn how to do it in this pattern you will be able to use those skills in many other patterns.
Short rows are most often used for shaping of garments and accessories. In this case the short rows do help with shaping but they really give a change in the direction of the stripes in the pattern.
Working with It’s A Wrap Rainbow:
Red Heart It’s a Wrap Rainbow is a super soft and drapey acrylic and cotton blend makes a shawl with just 1 ball. Colors move beautifully making a gorgeous fabric you will want to wear all year round. Coming in 8 colors you have a lot of variety to pick from.
In every pattern I talk about the importance of swatching and checking your gauge. Gauge is the measurement of stitches over a set of inches to see how the yarn, hook and the way you crochet matches to the designer. Once you get your gauge using the same hook size you will be able to see if you need to change your hook size or the yarn you are working with. Without checking your gauge first you could end up with a project that is much smaller or much larger than what I made.
Although this is not a sweater where fit is crucial it is still important to check your gauge and block for this pattern. Since the yarn contains cotton it will act differently than a 100% acrylic yarn would work. When you wet block this yarn you will see it grow as the fibers relax. Cotton also tends to be a little heavier and may lengthen over time.
When choose the hook size, make sure you are getting a blocked gauge. I didn’t want this fabric really tight or really loose. If you need reference for how to block something you can check out my wet blocking video on YouTube.
I do suggest doing wet block for this yarn. The cotton really does STRETCH and you don’t want to have a piece that is WAY TOO BIG!
Shifting Stripes Shawl Materials:
- RED HEART® It’s a Wrap Rainbow™: 1 ball each 9344 Foggy A and 9347 Whisper B
- Susan Bates® Knitting Needles: 3.25 mm [US 3]
- Stitch marker (or make your own stitch markers)
- Yarn needle
- FREE Shifting Stripes Shawl Pattern
Video Tutorial:
Also on the Blog:
- Video Tutorial: How to Knit the Festive Fair Isle Stocking
- Holiday Tips to Get Projects Done on Time
- Beginner Crochet Scarf-Modern Color Block Scarf
Frequently Asked Questions
What yarn do I need for this shawl?
So here’s the thing… you’ll need one ball each of two colorways of Red Heart It’s a Wrap Rainbow yarn. It’s a super soft blend that drapes beautifully and the colors just magically transition!
Is this pattern good for beginners?
Honestly… working with short rows can seem a little intimidating at first, but this pattern is designed to help you learn! We’ll work through it together, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to use that skill in so many other projects.
Do I really need to check my gauge for this shawl?
Yes! Even though it’s a shawl and not a sweater, checking your gauge is still super important. This yarn has cotton in it, so when you wet block it, it will grow! You want to make sure your finished piece is the size you expect.
How many balls of yarn does this pattern use?
You only need one ball of each colorway of the Red Heart It’s a Wrap Rainbow yarn. It sounds like a lot for one ball, but this yarn is surprisingly generous and makes a gorgeous fabric!
What’s the deal with short rows in this pattern?
Well… short rows are usually used for shaping, and they do help shape this shawl a bit. But the really cool thing they do here is change the direction of the stripes, giving it that unique shifting look!
Categories: Free Patterns, Knitting, Pattern, YouTube Video Tutorial
Oh…fingering weight yarn!?! Can’t rmember the last time I worked with #3 needles.
Oh wait, my first attempt at socks, nearly 15 years ago!
This shawl is lovely! Wish I didn’t have so many WIPs in place; can’t possibly start another project.