Thoughts Have Wings Shawl

Thoughts Have Wings Shawl by MsYarn Designs

Project Overview

The Thoughts Have Wings Shawl is a beginner-friendly knitted shawl designed by Dawn Cottone. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a generous triangular shawl with a wingspan of 80 inches (203 centimeters) and a depth of 15.5 inches (40 centimeters), making it an ideal accessory for layering or wrapping.

Construction Technique

This shawl employs a side-to-side construction method, meaning the piece is worked horizontally rather than from the top down or bottom up. The design begins with stripes that gradually increase in width, transitioning into a lace section before decreasing again with additional stripes. This construction approach creates visual interest through color changes and textural variation.

Stitch Techniques

The Thoughts Have Wings Shawl utilizes two primary stitch patterns:

• Garter Stitch: Used for the striped sections, this fundamental knitting stitch creates a textured, reversible fabric. Garter stitch is worked by knitting every row, making it an excellent choice for beginner knitters.
• Lace Panel: The central section features a lace pattern worked over 12 rows, repeated eight times. This lace work adds an elegant, openwork element to the shawl while remaining accessible to beginners.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Light Fingering Weight yarn (3 ply), a delicate yarn weight ideal for creating drape and elegance in shawls. The yardage requirements are distributed across three colors:

• Main Color: 325 yards (297 meters)
• Contrasting Color 1: 155 yards (142 meters)
• Contrasting Color 2: 155 yards (142 meters)

The sample shown in the pattern was knitted using The Fibre Co Canopy, a premium blend of 50% Alpaca, 30% Merino, and 20% Viscose from Bamboo (200 yards per 50 grams). The color palette includes Sarsaparrilla for the main color, Wild Ginger for the first contrasting color, and Laguna for the second contrasting color.

Needles and Gauge

This project requires US 5 (3.75mm) circular needles in a 24-inch (70-centimeter) length. The circular needle is used to work the shawl flat, providing adequate space to hold the increasing number of stitches as the shawl widens. A gauge of 20 stitches by 34 rows over 4 inches in garter stitch is recommended, though the pattern notes that gauge is not crucial. Variations in gauge will affect the final yardage requirements and measurements, allowing for flexibility based on individual knitting tension.

Additional Notions

A tapestry needle is required for finishing and weaving in yarn ends. The pattern also recommends carrying non-working yarn loosely along the edge during color changes to maintain even tension and facilitate future yarn pickup for stripes.

Skill Level

Rated as a beginner project, the Thoughts Have Wings Shawl is accessible to knitters new to shawl construction. The combination of garter stitch sections and a straightforward lace panel makes this an excellent introduction to both striped colorwork and lace knitting techniques.