Waves on Slate shawlette

Waves on Slate Shawlette by Bronagh Miskelly

What Is Being Made

Waves on Slate is a crescent shawlette designed by Bronagh Miskelly, inspired by the natural movement of ocean waves breaking over slate rocks along the Donegal coastline. This versatile knitted accessory features a wingspan of 160cm and a depth of 37cm, making it suitable for draping over shoulders for warmth on mild evenings or wrapping around the neck during cooler weather. The shawlette combines a simple stocking stitch body with decorative dropped-stitch detailing that creates a frothy, wave-like edging characteristic of the design.

Knitting Techniques Used

The construction of Waves on Slate employs fundamental knitting techniques accessible to beginners. The primary technique is stocking stitch, which forms the main body of the shawlette and creates a smooth, classic fabric. The signature design element uses dropped stitches strategically placed around the perimeter to produce the distinctive frothy waved edging that gives the shawlette its name and visual appeal. This combination of straightforward stocking stitch with intentional dropped-stitch detailing demonstrates how simple techniques can create sophisticated texture and movement in a finished piece.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern utilizes essential knitting stitches and abbreviations including:

• Ssk (slip, slip, knit): A left-leaning decrease created by slipping two stitches knitwise individually, then inserting the left needle through both stitches and knitting them together
• K tog (knit together): A basic right-leaning decrease
• Yo (yarn over/yarn forward): A stitch that creates an eyelet or decorative hole
• Tbl (through back of loop): Working into the back of a stitch for twisted effects
• St(s) (stitch/stitches): The fundamental unit of knitted fabric
• WS (wrong side): Refers to even-numbered rows in the pattern

Materials and Yarn Requirements

Waves on Slate requires 100g of 4ply yarn with a yardage of approximately 400m. The pattern accommodates multiple fiber content options including 100% wool, wool and silk blends, or wool and bamboo blends, offering flexibility in fiber choice while maintaining the intended drape and appearance. The sample pictured in the pattern uses BFL Sock by Eden Cottage Yarns, a 100% blue-face Leicester wool that showcases the design in a slate-inspired colorway. The 4ply weight yarn is worked on 3.5mm needles at a tension of 22 stitches and 31 rows to 10cm measured over stocking stitch, ensuring proper sizing and fabric characteristics for the finished shawlette.

Difficulty Level

This shawlette is rated as a beginner-friendly knitting project, making it an excellent choice for knitters developing their fundamental skills. The straightforward stocking stitch construction combined with basic decreases and yarn-over techniques provides gentle introduction to shawl knitting without overwhelming complexity.