This fun rectangular shawl blends marled seed stitch with double-knit zigzags to create an eye-catching, reversible wrap. The colorwork is inspired by Anna Maltz’s “marlisle” technique, but uses double knitting instead of stranded colorwork so that there is no wrong side. The seed stitch background is worked with both colors of yarn held together, and then each color is used separately to create the double-knit zigzag motif. The suggested yarns pair an ombré pink with an ombré gray to create an interesting gradient effect. As a finishing touch, a tassel is added to each corner of the shawl. The dimensions of the wrap can easily be modified to create a narrower scarf or a wider blanket, as desired.
Time: 2 Week Project
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 14” [36 cm] width x 64” [163 cm] length
Gauge: 14 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in marled seed st
Materials
Yarn: Caron Colorama Halo (71% Acrylic, 18% Nylon, 11% Polyester; 481 yards [440 meters] / 8 ounces [227 grams]): 28001 Orchid Frost (MC, 2 skeins), 28006 Graphite Frost (CC, 2 skeins)
Needles: US size 10.5 [6.5 mm] needles
Notions: Tapestry needle, 5” [13 cm] template for making the tassels
Special Stitches
The seed stitch background fabric and selvedge edge stitches are always worked with the MC and CC yarns held together.
To transition from the marled seed stitch into the double-knit colorwork motif, treat each loop of yarn in the stitch on the left needle as though it were 1 stitch of a double-knitting stitch pair; work into the MC loop with the MC yarn by itself, and work into the CC loop with the CC yarn by itself.
Work the double knitting as described in the chart key. Each box of the chart represents 1 stitch pair. Knit and purl each stitch pair as indicated by the charted colorwork motif. Holding the yarns as for stranded knitting, move both the MC and CC yarn for each stitch, so that the unused color is carried invisibly between the layers of stitches. Keep both yarns in back when knitting, and bring both yarns to the front when purling.
Work left-leaning decreases to convert the double-knitting stitch pairs back into marled seed stitch:
SSP – slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, purl these 2 stitches together through back loop
SSK – slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loop
Pattern Notes
The shawl is worked flat from end to end.
The selvedge edge stitches are worked with the MC and CC held together throughout, and the first stitch of each row is always slipped knitwise with yarn in front.
The pattern begins with the dark end of the MC yarn and the light end of the CC yarn (and finishes with light MC and dark CC) to maximize the contrast between the MC and CC throughout the shawl. For a more traditional light-to-dark gradient fade along the body of the wrap, pair the gradient MC yarn with a solid CC yarn instead.
The width of the shawl may be modified by changing the cast-on by any multiple of 16 stitches. The length of the shawl may be altered by working fewer or more repeats of the zigzag pattern until the desired length has been achieved.
Pattern
With dark MC and light CC held together, CO 52 sts.
Work Rows 1-44 of the chart 9 times, or until shawl reaches desired length.
Work Rows 1-4 of the chart once more.
BO in seed st pattern. Cut MC and CC, leaving a 6″ [15 cm] tail.
Finishing
Weave in all ends.
Block shawl as needed.
With dark MC, make the first tassel: Wrap the yarn around the 5” [13 cm] template 40 times. Cut a 12” [30 cm] piece of yarn and a 24” [61 cm] piece of yarn. Thread the 12” [30 cm] piece of yarn under the top edge of the wrapped yarn and tie securely, then carefully remove from the template. With the 24” [61 cm] piece of yarn, securely tie a knot around the bundle of yarn approximately 1” [3 cm] from the top tie, then wrap the tails around the knot 3 times with both strands held together, and then use tapestry needle to bury the tails into the tassel. Cut the bottom of the bundle and then trim the tassel as needed to create a neat edge.
Repeat this step with light MC, dark CC, and light CC to create 4 tassels in total.
Securely attach 1 tassel to each corner of the shawl.