Pictured above: Sula Shawl, Millefolium Shawl, Bonnie Banks Shawl and Vespertine Shawl
Ya’ll, I love shawl knitting. Over the years I’ve made many, many shawls and shawl patterns. To me they’re comfort knitting. No need to match gauge, no need to knit a certain size. Just making beautiful fabric that can wrap around anyone’s shoulders. The top down triangular shawl is a popular first shawl pattern. It’s an easily memorized pattern, and it’s simple to insert different stitches and modify it.
My presentation with Knitter’s Paradise Summit is all about the garter tab cast on and triangular top down shawl. This is a post with written directions that you can refer back to any time you’re ready to start a triangular shawl. (Whether you joined the summit or not!) These directions are for the little sample(s) pictured below, but just keep knitting and you’ll get a full size shawl!! The samples below are worked with yarn overs to help visualize the increases, but you can work a make 1 instead if you prefer the look of a fabric without yarn overs.
Without further ado, here are some basic directions for shawls you can knit in any weight! If you’re looking to knit a full sized shawl, I recommend 600-900 yards of yarn, depending on the weight yarn you are using.
(Disclosure: I am a promotional partner for the Knitter’s Paradise Summit event and may earn a commission on purchases made through my link, at no extra cost to you.)
Standard Top Down Triangle Shawl
Garter Tab Cast On: CO 3 sts. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 6 rows. On the next RS row, knit 3 sts, turn the work 90 degrees clockwise, pick up and work 1 st for each garter ridge (3 sts), turn the work 90 degrees clockwise, and pick up 3 sts along cast on edge - 9 sts total.
Setup row (WS): K3, pm, p1, pm, p1, pm, p1, pm, k3.
Begin Increases:
Row 1 (RS): K3, *sm, yo, knit to next marker, yo, sm,* k1, repeat between **, k3 - 4 sts increased.
Row 2 and all WS: K3, sm, purl to last marker, sm, k3.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures desired depth to edge.
Garter Stitch Edge:
Row 3 (RS): K3, *sm, yo, knit to next marker, yo, sm,* k1, repeat between **, k3 - 4 sts increased.
Row 4 and all WS: Knit across, slipping markers.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures desired depth.
“Heart” Shaped Shawl
Garter Tab Cast On: CO 3 sts. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 6 rows. On the next RS row, knit 3 sts, turn the work 90 degrees clockwise, pick up and work 1 st for each garter ridge (3 sts), turn the work 90 degrees clockwise, and pick up 3 sts along cast on edge - 9 sts total.
Setup row (WS): K3, pm, p1, pm, p1, pm, p1, pm, k3.
Begin Increases:
Row 1 (RS): K3, *sm, yo, knit to next marker, yo, sm,* k1, repeat between **, k3 - 4 sts increased.
Row 2 and all WS: K3, *sm, yo, purl to next marker, yo, sm,* p1, repeat between **, k3 - 2 sts increased.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures desired depth to edge.
Garter Stitch Edge:
Row 3 (RS): K3, *sm, yo, knit to next marker, yo, sm,* k1, repeat between **, k3 - 4 sts increased.
Row 4 and all WS: K3, *sm, yo, knit to next marker, yo, sm,* p1, repeat between **, k3 - 2 sts increased.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures desired depth.
Happy knitting! Please tag me if you cast on a triangular shawl and share what you make! I’d love to see it.