Vela shawl

Vela Shawl by Milja Uimonen

What is Being Made

The Vela shawl is an advanced-level knitted wrap designed by independent designer Milja Uimonen. This is a substantial triangular shawl that measures 63 inches (160 cm) along the edge stitches, 85 inches (216 cm) along the bind-off edge, and 17 inches (43 cm) from cast-on to bind-off. The shawl features a two-color construction using contrasting yarns to create visual interest and depth in the finished piece.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The Vela shawl employs advanced knitting techniques suitable for experienced fiber artists. The pattern uses a circular needle construction method, allowing for seamless shaping and the ability to work with a large number of stitches as the shawl expands. The design incorporates directional increases that build the triangular silhouette characteristic of modern shawl design. The pattern structure involves repeating sequences of increases and stitches, with the option to work either 24 repeats or 32 repeats (as shown in the provided pattern), resulting in final stitch counts of either 157 stitches or 205 stitches respectively. This modular approach allows knitters to customize the final size of their shawl based on yarn availability and personal preference.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used in the Vela shawl is garter stitch, which creates a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. Garter stitch is formed by knitting every row, making it an accessible choice for creating fabric with good drape and visual interest. The pattern incorporates strategic increases to shape the triangular form, with the construction method allowing for increases to be distributed evenly across the width of the shawl. The two-color contrast adds visual complexity to the relatively simple stitch pattern, creating a sophisticated finished appearance.

Yarn and Materials

The Vela shawl pattern calls for two premium yarn choices that work together to create a luxurious finished piece:

• Main Color (MC): Handmaiden Casbah in the color Smoke. This yarn is composed of 80% merino wool, 10% cashmere, and 10% polyamide, offering approximately 355 yards (325 meters) per 115-gram skein. One skein of the main color is required, using approximately 185 yards (170 meters) of the total yardage available.
• Contrast Color (CC): Madelinetosh Pashmina in the color Composition book grey. This yarn contains 75% merino wool, 15% silk, and 10% cashmere, providing approximately 360 yards (329 meters) per 100-gram skein. One skein of the contrast color is needed, utilizing approximately 350 yards (320 meters) of the available yardage.

Both yarns are luxury blends featuring merino wool as the primary fiber, with the addition of cashmere and complementary fibers that enhance softness, drape, and sheen. The silk content in the Madelinetosh yarn adds additional luster to the contrast color sections.

Needles and Gauge

The Vela shawl is worked on US 6 (4 mm) needles, specifically a 32-inch (80 cm) circular needle for the main construction, with double-pointed needles (dpn) also required for working the final rows when stitches become too few for the circular needle.

The recommended gauge is 17 stitches and 30 rows equal 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch after blocking. However, the pattern notes that gauge is not crucial for this project, as variations in gauge will primarily affect the finished size of the shawl rather than the overall construction or wearability. This flexibility makes the pattern more forgiving for knitters who may not achieve exact gauge with their chosen yarns and needles.