Kinetic Energy Shawl -- PDF knitting pattern

Zigzagging slipped stitches dance back and forth between lines of lateral braids and sections of ribbing in this exuberant shawl. This project is perfect for showing off a variegated yarn with one or two coordinating colors.

This asymmetrical shawl is knit from one tip to the opposite side with increases every row along the top edge and decreases every 4th row along the bottom edge. Only one color is worked at a time. This shawl is a perfect playground for working with color.

Gauge is not critical for this pattern, but using a different yarn weight or needle size will affect the size of the finished shawl.

The lateral braids, otherwise known as Estonian braids, are optional.

This shawl works best with a drapey yarn that will block out well. I would avoid high twist yarns, which may increase the shawl’s tendency to curl.

This shawl can be made with a minimum of two colors (a main color and a single contrasting color). My sample used two contrasting colors (about 135 yds / 123 m of CC1 and 265 yds / 242 m of CC2). The instructions note where I switched from one color to the next. Knitters are welcome to use as many colors as they please and have every lateral braid be a different shade!

All instructions are both written and charted.

Size

68” / 173 cm in length and 24.5” / 62 cm deep at its deepest point

Yarn

460 yds / 421 m of sport weight yarn in the main color and 400 yds / 366 m in the contrasting color(s)

Sample shown in Malabrigo Arroyo (335 yds / 306 m per 100 g skein; 100% superwash merino) in Pearl Ten (069) MC, 2 skeins, Lotus (120) CC1, and Borrajas (050) CC2

Needles

US Size 5 / 3.75 mm circular needle, at least 32” / 80 cm in length

US Size 4 / 3.5 mm circular needle, at least 32” / 80 cm in length

Gauge

22 sts x 29 rows per 4” / 10 cm in Rib pattern after blocking and using larger needles

21 sts x 39 rows per 4” / 10 cm in Slipped Stitch pattern after blocking and using larger needles

Notions

Yarn needle