A592 Garter Stitch Triangle Shawl With Lace Edging

How to Knit a Garter Stitch Triangle Shawl with Lace Edging

Knit a soft triangular shawl in simple garter stitch, then finish it with a light openwork lace border. The shawl grows outwards from a small cast-on edge using yarn-over increases at both outer edges and on either side of the centre stitch.

The finished shawl measures approximately 130 cm across its longest edge and 70 cm down the centre.

Project Details

• Project number: A592
• Difficulty: Intermediate knit
• Finished width: approximately 130 cm
• Finished depth: approximately 70 cm
• Construction: Worked from the centre top down

What You Will Need

Yarn

• 3 × 100 g balls of Lincraft Kimana yarn

Needles and Equipment

• Pair of 5.00 mm knitting needles
• 5.00 mm circular knitting needle, 80 cm or longer
• 5.50 mm circular knitting needle, 80 cm or longer
• Stitch marker
• Wool needle for weaving in ends

Alternative Yarns

Tension is not critical, so this shawl can be adapted to a range of yarns. Choose a yarn that creates a soft, flexible fabric with enough stitch definition for the lace edging.

• DK or 8 ply wool: Creates a warm shawl with good structure and stitch definition.
• Merino or merino-blend 8 ply: Produces a soft, lightweight shawl with comfortable drape.
• Alpaca blend: Creates a warm shawl with a soft halo and fluid finish.
• Cotton or bamboo blend: Suitable for a cooler, more breathable wrap with greater weight.
• Self-striping or gradient yarn: Highlights the triangular growth and gives the lace border a changing colour effect.
• Acrylic or wool-acrylic blend: An easy-care and economical alternative.

A finer yarn will make a smaller, lighter shawl unless additional rows are worked. A thicker yarn will create a larger and heavier shawl. Purchase yarn according to metreage and the desired finished size.

Tension

Tension is not critical for this project. The shawl can be continued until it reaches the preferred depth.

Knitting Abbreviations

• K: knit
• K2tog: knit two stitches together
• yfwd: yarn forward to create a yarn-over increase
• st or sts: stitch or stitches
• alt: alternate
• rep: repeat

What Is Garter Stitch?

Garter stitch is created by knitting every row. It forms a reversible fabric with horizontal ridges and helps the shawl lie flat without curling.

What Is a Yarn Forward?

A yarn forward creates a new stitch and a decorative eyelet. Bring the yarn to the front between the needles, then take it over the right needle before knitting the next stitch.

In this shawl, yarn forwards are used at both edges and on either side of the centre stitch to increase the width and form the triangular shape.

Begin the Shawl

1. Using the 5.00 mm straight needles, cast on 5 stitches.
2. Row 1: K2, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K2. 7 stitches.
3. Row 2 and all alternate rows: Knit.
4. Row 3: K3, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K3. 9 stitches.
5. Row 5: K4, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K4. 11 stitches.
6. Row 7: K5, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K5. 13 stitches.

Establish the Four Increase Points

1. Row 9: K1, yfwd, K5, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K5, yfwd, K1. 17 stitches.
2. Row 11: K1, yfwd, K7, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K7, yfwd, K1. 21 stitches.
3. Place a marker around the centre stitch.
4. Row 13: K1, yfwd, knit to the centre stitch, yfwd, K1 centre stitch, yfwd, knit to the final stitch, yfwd, K1.
5. Row 14: Knit.

Continue the Garter Stitch Section

1. Repeat Rows 13 and 14.
2. Change to the 5.00 mm circular needle when the stitches no longer fit comfortably on the straight needles.
3. Continue until the shawl measures approximately 63 cm down the centre, or reaches the preferred length.
4. Finish after a repeat of Row 13.

Begin the Lace Edging

1. Change to the 5.50 mm circular needle.
2. Lace Row 1: K1, [K2tog, yfwd] to the stitch before the centre stitch, K3, then [yfwd, K2tog] to the final stitch, K1.
3. Lace Row 2: K1, yfwd, knit to the centre stitch, yfwd, K1 centre stitch, yfwd, knit to the final stitch, yfwd, K1.
4. These two rows form the lace pattern.
5. Continue in the lace pattern until the shawl measures approximately 70 cm down the centre, or reaches the desired size.
6. Finish after Lace Row 2.

Finish the Shawl

1. Cast off loosely.
2. Weave in all loose yarn ends.
3. Block the shawl if desired, gently opening the eyelets along the lace edging.