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IntermediateFree Shawl Knitting Pattern
You can purchase this shawl from my Etsy shop.
This knitting pattern guides you through crafting a semi-circular Brioche Shawl, blending elegance with intricate design. The shawl features a mix of 2-color brioche stitch and 2-color garter stitch, creating a striking pattern of stripes and checks. Worked in soft, complementary hues, it’s a project for knitters with some experience in brioche techniques. Follow the steps to weave a shawl that drapes gracefully, perfect for adding a touch of love to any outfit.
Skills required:
To knit this shawl, you have to know how to knit 2-color garter stitch, 2-color brioche stitch, and make brioche increases.
Size: width 88” (220 cm), depth 20” (50 cm)
Materials: Kauni (affiliate link) 8/2 Effektgarn 100% Wool sport weight yarn 440 yd (400 m)/100g, color Lilac – 2 skeins. (DC)
Kauni (affiliate link) Wool 8/2 Solids sport weight yarn, 660 yards (604 meters) /150 gr, color Natural – 1.3 skeins (LC)
Notions: stitch markers, yarn/tapestry needle.
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) circular needles 24” (60 cm) or longer.
Gauge:
22 sts x 44 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm) In 2-color garter st:
22 sts x 22 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm) In 2-color brioche st:
Note, that 1 row of brioche consists of 1 row of light color yarn (LC) and 1 row of dark color yarn (DC)
Abbreviations
Please note that I use Nancy Marchant terminology for brioche stitch. I highly recommend her books Knitting Brioche: The Essential Guide to the Brioche Stitch and Knitting Fresh Brioche: Creating Two-Color Twists & Turns, as well as her lessons on craftsy.com.
yf - yarn forward: bring the yarn to the front, between the tips of the needles.
yb - yarn back: take the yarn to the back, between the tips of the needles.
sl1yof - slip 1, yarn over, yarn to front: with working yarn in front, slip the next stitch purlwise, then bring the yarn over the needle and the slipped stitch, then bring yarn back around to the front, ready to purl the following stitch.
yfsl1yo - yarn forward, slip 1, yarn over: bring the working yarn between the tips of the needles to front of work, slip the next stitch purlwise, then bring the yarn over the needle and the slipped stitch. Leave yarn in back, ready to knit the next stitch.
brk - brioche knit: knit the stitch together with its accompanying yarnover
brp - brioche purl: purl the stitch together with its accompanying yarnover
brkyobrk – [brk1, yo, brk1] in the same stitch. 2 stitches are increased.
LS – light side
DS – dark side
LC – light color
DC- dark color
pm – place marker
sm – slip marker
k – knit
p – purl
sl1 – slip 1 (knitwise for the 1st stitch in a row).
m 1 (Make 1 increase) - Make a backward loop over the right-hand needle.
Pattern Notes
Two-Color Brioche Stitch – Basic Instructions
These instructions are included as a guide to the technique, and as instructions for swatching.
A single brioche row is worked in two passes, one in light color (LC) and the other in dark color (DC). Both colors are worked in one direction, then the work is turned and both colors are worked in the other direction, one by one. The light side (LS) of the project is first worked in light color (LC) yarn, then in dark color (DC) yarn. The LS of the work is where brioche knit (brk) stitches are worked in light color (LC) yarn.
Odd number of stitches
Set-up row (LC): k1, *sl1yof, p1, rep from *, to last 2 sts, sl1yof, p1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Set-up row (DC): sl1, yb, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * to last 2 sts, brk1, yb, sl last st. Turn.
Row 1 (LS, LC): k1, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * to last 2 sts, yfsl1yo, k1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Row 1 (LS, DC): sl1, yf, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * to last 2 sts, brp1, yb, slip last st. Turn.
Row 2 (DS, LC): p1, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * to last 2 sts, sl1yof, p1. DO not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Row 2 (DS, DC): sl1, yb, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * to last 2 sts, brk1, yf, sl last st. Turn.
Two-Color Garter Stitch
These are included as a guide to the technique, and as instructions for swatching.
Row 1 (LS LC): purl. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Row 1 (LS DC): knit. Turn.
Row 2 (DS LC): knit. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Row 2 (DS DC): purl. Turn.
Chain Selvedge
When working the selvedge stitches at the beginning and the end of the row, at the start of the LC rows, always bring LC under the DC.
Short Overview of the Pattern
The shawl is worked as one piece in a combination of 2-color brioche and 2-color garter stitch. It is knitted with horizontal alternating stripes of 2-color brioche and 2-color garter stitch and vertical brioche stripes going from one long edge to the other.
It looks as several DC yarns were used, but in fact this is one self-striping yarn with long color changes.
The shawl consists of: 1) the central semi-circular part, which is shaped by radial increases in 4 garter st sectors, which are divided by brioches, in the 1st and 4th LS DC rows of every horizontal garter st stripe; 2) triangle ends, which are shaped by 2 sts brioche increases (brkyobrk) at the beginning and the end of the row in every LS LC row. Increased stitches are incorporated in groups of 16 sts, which are worked as established throughout.
Shawl
Using 2 strands of yarn (LC and DC), cast on 49 sts.
Row SR: K1, p1, yf sl1yo, plm, (p1, yf sl1yo) × 21, p1, plm, yf sl1yo, p2. (49 sts)
Row SR: K1, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 21, yf sl1yo, slm, brk, yf sl1yo, p1.
Row 1: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 21, brk, slm, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (53 sts)
Row 1: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 21, yf sl1yo, slm, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 2.
Row 2: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 21, brp, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 2, p1.
Row 2: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 21, yf sl1yo, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 2, p1.
Row 3: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 21, brk, slm, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (57 sts)
Row 3: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 2, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 21, yf sl1yo, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, p1, yf sl1yo, p1.
Row 4: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 3, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 21, brp, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 3, p1.
Row 4: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 3, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 21, yf sl1yo, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 3, p1.
Row 5: Sl, brkyobrk, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 21, brk, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (61 sts)
Row 5: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 3, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 21, yf sl1yo, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 3, p1, yf sl1yo, p1.
Row 6: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 21, brp, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, p1.
Row 6: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 4, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 21, yf sl1yo, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 4, p1.
Row 7: Sl, brkyobrk, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 3, yf sl1yo, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 21, brk, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 3, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (65 sts)
Row 7: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 21, yf sl1yo, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, p1, yf sl1yo, p1.
Row 8: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 5, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 21, brp, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 5, p1.
Row 8: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 5, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 21, yf sl1yo, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 5, p1.
Row 9: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, p7, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p7) × 4, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, p7, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (69 sts)
Row 9: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k7, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, (k2, m1) × 3, k1) × 4, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k7, yf sl1yo, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 2. (81 sts)
Row 10: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, k7, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k10) × 4, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k7, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, p1.
Row 10: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p7, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p10) × 4, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p7, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p1.
Row 11: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, p9, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p10) × 4, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, p9, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (85 sts)
Row 11: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k9, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k10) × 4, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k9, yf sl1yo, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 2.
Row 12: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, k9, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k10) × 4, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k9, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, p1.
Row 12: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p9, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p10) × 4, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p9, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p1.
Row 13: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, p11, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p10) × 4, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, p11, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (89 sts)
Row 13: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k11, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k10) × 4, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k11, yf sl1yo, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 2.
Row 14: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, k11, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k10) × 4, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k11, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, p1.
Row 14: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p11, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p10) × 4, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p11, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p1.
Row 15: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, p13, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p10) × 4, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, p13, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (93 sts)
Row 15: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, (k3, m1) × 3, k1) × 4, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k13, yf sl1yo, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 2. (105 sts)
Row 16: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, k13, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k13) × 4, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k13, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, p1.
Row 16: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p13) × 4, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p13, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p1.
Row 17: Sl, brkyobrk, (yf sl1yo, brk) repeat to the last 2 sts, brkyobrk, p1. (109 sts)
Row 17: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, (brp, yf sl1yo) repeat to the last 5 sts, brp, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, p1.
Row 18: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) repeat to the last 2 sts, brp, p1.
Row 18: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) repeat to the last 2 sts, yf sl1yo, p1.
Rows 19-24: repeat rows 17-18.
Row 25: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, p7, plm, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p13, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p13) × 4, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, p13, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, plm, p7, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (125 sts)
Row 25: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k7, slm, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, (k4, m1) × 3, k1) × 4, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k13, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k7, yf sl1yo, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 2. (137 sts)
Row 25: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, p7, plm, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p13, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p13) × 4, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, p13, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, plm, p7, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (125 sts)
Row 25: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k7, slm, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, (k4, m1) × 3, k1) × 4, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k13, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k7, yf sl1yo, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 2. (137 sts)
Row 26: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, k7, slm, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k13, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k16) × 4, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k13, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k7, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, p1. (137 sts)
Row 26: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p7, slm, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p16) × 4, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p13, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p7, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p1. (137 sts)
Row 27: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, p9, slm, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p13, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p16) × 4, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, p13, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, plm, p9, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (137 sts)
Row 27: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k9, slm, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k16) × 4, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k13, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k9, yf sl1yo, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 2. (137 sts)
Row 28: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, k9, slm, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k13, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k16) × 4, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k13, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k9, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, p1. (137 sts)
Row 28: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p9, slm, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p16) × 4, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p13, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p9, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p1. (137 sts)
Row 29: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, p11, slm, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p13, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p16) × 4, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, p13, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, plm, p11, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (137 sts)
Row 29: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k11, slm, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k16) × 4, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k13, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k11, yf sl1yo, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 2. (137 sts)
Row 30: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, k11, slm, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k13, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k16) × 4, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k13, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k11, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, p1. (137 sts)
Row 30: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p11, slm, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p16) × 4, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p13, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p11, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p1. (137 sts)
Row 31: Sl, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, p15, slm, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p13, slm, (brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p16) × 4, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, p13, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm, p15, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, p1. (137 sts)
Row 31: Sl, yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k15, slm, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, (k5, m1) × 3, k1) × 4, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k13, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm, k15, yf sl1yo, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 2. (149 sts)
Row 32: Sl wyif, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, k15, slm, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k13, slm, (brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k19) × 4, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k13, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, slm, k15, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 2, brp, p1. (149 sts)
Row 32: Sl wyif, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p15, slm, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p13, slm, (yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p19) × 4, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p13, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm, p15, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 2, yf sl1yo, p1. (149 sts)
Repeat rows 17-32 five more times.
When repeating rows 25-32, the central part (between 2nd and 3rd markers) is shaped with increases in the 1st and 4th LS DC rows of this set (rows 25 and 31). There are 3 increases (m1) in each garter st sections of the central part (total 4 sections) and after each increase the number of sts between them is increased for one stitch: 4 sts in row 25, 5 sts in row 32, etc. The rest of the central part is worked as established.
The side parts of the shawl are worked as follows: the increases at the beginning and at the end of the rows (before 1st marker and after the last marker) are worked the same throughout the shawl. The parts between the 1st and the 2nd markers and between the 3rd and the 4th markers are the repeat of the same set of stitches:
LS LC: slm, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p13, slm, ….. slm, p13, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, slm,
LS DC: slm, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k13, slm, ….. slm, k13, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, slm,
DS LC: slm, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k13, slm, …. slm, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k13, slm,
DS DC: slm, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p13, slm, ….. slm, p13, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, slm,
There is one set of these stitches on both sides in the 25-32 rows repeat, there are 2 sets in the next repeat (41-48), 3 sets in the next one, etc.
Repeat rows 17-24 once.
With LC yarn only work 4 rows of garter stitch to finish the shawl
Bind off.
Finishing
Block.
Have fun!
1 - Central part, 2 - repeating stitches on the triangular parts
