Moorland

Moorland Shawl by Brian Smith Designs

Project Overview

Moorland is an intermediate-level knitted shawl designed by Brian Smith Designs. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a generous triangular shawl with a wingspan of 204 centimeters and a maximum depth of 83 centimeters after blocking, making it a substantial wrap suitable for layering or draping.

What Is Being Made

The Moorland shawl is a top-down triangular design that begins with a small cast-on and expands through strategic increases to create a large, wearable wrap. The shawl features a central stitch column running down the middle with symmetrical increases on either side, a classic construction method for creating balanced, geometric shawl shapes.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Garter stitch foundation: The pattern begins with 10 rows of garter stitch to create a stable, textured edge
• Picked-up stitches: After the garter stitch base, stitches are picked up from the purl bumps and cast-on edge to establish the working stitches for the main body
• Increases for shaping: Make one right (M1R) and make one left (M1L) increases are used throughout to create the expanding triangular silhouette
• Knit into the stitch below (K1b): This technique adds textural interest and creates a subtle patterning effect within sections of the shawl
• Marker placement: Strategic use of stitch markers helps track the central column and increase points, essential for maintaining symmetry across the expanding width
• Blocking: The finished shawl is blocked to open up the stitches and achieve the final wingspan and depth measurements

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Moorland pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches executed with intermediate-level shaping techniques. The primary stitches include knit and purl, combined with increases (M1R, M1L) and the textural knit-into-the-stitch-below technique. The construction uses garter stitch for the cast-on edge and transitions into primarily stockinette stitch for the main body, with the gauge measured at 17 stitches and 28 rows over 10 centimeters in blocked stockinette stitch. A single center stitch is maintained and slipped throughout, creating a vertical line that divides the shawl symmetrically.

Yarn and Materials

Yarn: The pattern calls for Eden Cottage Yarns Coniston in fingering weight, specifically in the shade Moorland. Two skeins are required to complete the project. Fingering weight yarn, also known as 4-ply, is a fine yarn that creates delicate, detailed stitches and allows for intricate stitch definition.

Needles: A 3.75 millimeter circular needle measuring 120 centimeters in length is used throughout the pattern. The long circular needle accommodates the expanding stitch count as the shawl grows from the initial 3 cast-on stitches to its full width.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. While it uses basic knitting stitches, the combination of symmetrical increases, marker management, and the textural knit-into-the-stitch-below technique requires solid foundational skills and the ability to read and follow a multi-row repeat pattern with precision.