Greek Isles

Greek Isles Knitted Shawl by Brigitte Reydams

Project Overview

Greek Isles is an intermediate-level knitted shawl designed by Brigitte Reydams and published in 2021. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a sophisticated rectangular shawl measuring 80 inches long and 21 inches wide, making it an elegant accessory suitable for various occasions and seasons.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a rectangular knitted shawl worked from a cast-on edge using circular needles. The finished dimensions of 80 inches by 21 inches create a generous wrap that can be worn draped across the shoulders or styled as a traditional shawl. The design features colorwork elements that create visual interest throughout the piece.

Yarn Materials and Specifications

The Greek Isles shawl uses DK weight yarn in two coordinating colors from Valley Yarns:

• Color A (Natural #01): 7 skeins of Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, providing 959 total yards (137 yards per skein)
• Color B (Fawn #28): 5 skeins of Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, providing 685 total yards (137 yards per skein)

The superwash treatment on these yarns makes the finished shawl easy to care for and suitable for regular wear. DK weight yarn creates a fabric with excellent drape, ideal for shawl construction.

Tools and Equipment

This pattern requires Size 7 circular needles that are 80 inches long, accommodating the full width of stitches as the shawl expands during construction. Circular needles allow for easy manipulation of the large stitch count and provide flexibility in working the colorwork sections.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches per 4 inches and 28 rows per 4 inches, measured over stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished dimensions and ensuring the shawl drapes correctly. The pattern begins with a cast-on of 360 stitches, establishing the foundation for the rectangular shape.

Knitting Techniques and Stitch Work

The Greek Isles shawl employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques that create its distinctive appearance:

Garter Stitch Foundation

The shawl begins with 3 rows of garter stitch worked in Color A, creating a stable, textured edge that prevents rolling and provides a finished appearance at the cast-on edge.

Marker Placement and Structure

Stitch markers are strategically placed to organize the pattern sections. After the garter stitch foundation, markers are positioned at the beginning, end, and at regular intervals (every 16 stitches) across the row, creating defined sections that help maintain pattern accuracy throughout construction.

Colorwork and Slip-Stitch Technique

The pattern utilizes stranded colorwork combined with slip-stitch techniques to create the Greek Isles design. This method involves:

• Odd rows: Worked with the designated color from the chart (Color B in Chart 1, Color A in Chart 2), with blank squares slipped with yarn held in back to create a clean, uninterrupted appearance on the right side
• Even rows: Worked in the same color as the previous row, purling all stitches that were knitted in that color during the odd row, and slipping all stitches of the opposite color with yarn held in front

This slip-stitch colorwork technique creates a reversible appearance and adds visual depth to the pattern without the bulk of traditional stranded knitting.

Stockinette and Reverse Stockinette Elements

The pattern incorporates stockinette stitch sections (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows) as the primary fabric base, with garter stitch borders maintained at the edges (knitting the first and last 4 stitches on purl rows) to create neat, finished selvage edges.

Chart-Based Pattern Work

The design is worked from charted patterns (Chart 1 and Chart 2), which span 28 rows each. This chart-based approach allows knitters to follow the colorwork design visually, making it easier to track pattern repeats and color placement throughout the shawl construction.

Difficulty Level