Gardener's Shawl

Gardener's Shawl by Nancy Whitman

What is Being Made

The Gardener's Shawl is a top-down triangular shawl designed by Nancy Whitman. This knitted accessory features three finished sizes: small with a neck edge width of approximately 52 inches and center depth of 17 ½ inches; medium with a neck edge width of 57 ¼ inches and center depth of 19 ¼ inches; and large with a neck edge width of 64 inches and center depth of 21 ¾ inches. The shawl is suitable for gardeners and other wearers seeking a practical yet elegant layering piece.

Construction Method

The Gardener's Shawl is worked from the top down, beginning with a garter stitch tab. This construction approach allows knitters to try on the shawl as it grows and adjust the final size by binding off when the desired dimensions are reached. The top-down method is a popular technique for triangular shawls as it provides flexibility and ease of fitting.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Garter Stitch: Forms the foundation tab at the top of the shawl
• Left Cross Cable (LC): A cable technique where two stitches are slipped to a cable needle and held to the front, then two stitches are knit followed by knitting the two stitches from the cable needle. This creates a twisted cable effect by knitting the lifted strand through the back loop, thereby twisting it
• Cable techniques: The shawl incorporates cable stitches as a primary design element, adding texture and visual interest to the finished piece

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Gardener's Shawl is designed to be worked in Malabrigo Sock, a yarn composed of 100% superwash Merino fiber. Each skein contains 440 yards of yarn. The pattern calls for one skein of the main color (MC) in Ochre and one skein of the contrasting color (CC) for the small size. Medium and large sizes require one skein of MC and two skeins of CC. Actual yardage used is approximately 220 yards of MC and 240 yards of CC for the small size; 320 yards of MC and 330 yards of CC for the medium size; and 425 yards of MC and 476 yards of CC for the large size. The superwash Merino fiber provides durability and easy care, making this shawl practical for regular wear.

Needles and Tools

The Gardener's Shawl is worked on US #6/4 mm 40-inch circular needles. A cable needle is listed as optional, allowing knitters to create the cable stitches using either a dedicated cable needle or alternative methods such as dropping and picking up stitches or using a spare needle.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic stockinette stitch. The inclusion of cable techniques and the top-down construction method require familiarity with more advanced knitting skills, though the pattern provides clear instructions for knitters ready to expand their technical abilities.

Pattern Format

The Gardener's Shawl is available as a downloadable PDF pattern document, making it easy to access and print for reference while knitting.