Arden Triangle Shawl

A cozy worsted-weight triangle worked from the center nape down. The body is simple garter stitch—reversible, springy, and quick to knit—then a chevron lace border opens into feathered points at the bind-off. Wear it as a shawl or a generous scarf.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Finished Measurements

Blocked: 70" (178 cm) wingspan × 24" (61 cm) deep at center spine.

Size is flexible: a slightly tighter or looser gauge changes the shawl, not the fit. Extra body length is discussed in Notes.

Yarn

Worsted weight (CYC 4), approximately 500 yd / 457 m (about 10 oz / 280 g).

Wool or a wool blend is strongly recommended so the fabric holds its blocked shape. Solid, heather, or tonal colorways show the lace best; strong variegation will hide the chevrons.

Sample yardage: 2 skeins of a 250 yd (229 m) put-up, or 3 skeins of a 180–200 yd (165–183 m) put-up. If your gauge is denser than stated, a third (or extra) skein is cheap insurance.

Needles

• US 8 / 5 mm circular needle, 32–40" (80–100 cm) long, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Optional: US 9 / 5.5 mm or US 10 / 6 mm needle for a looser bind-off

A circular needle is used to hold a large number of stitches; the shawl is worked flat.

Notions

• 2 stitch markers (center spine)
• Optional: extra markers to tag lace repeats
• Tapestry needle
• Blocking mats, T-pins, and blocking wires (wires strongly recommended)

Gauge

16 sts and 32 rows = 4" (10 cm) in garter stitch, after blocking.

Gauge is not a garment-fit issue, but it does control size and yardage. After 32 rows of the body, the center spine should measure about 4" (10 cm). If the fabric feels stiff, go up a needle size for drape.

Abbreviations (US)

Notes

• Worked flat, from the center top down.
• Every RS row increases 4 sts: one yarn over inside each 3-st garter border, and one yarn over on each side of the center spine stitch. Stitch counts are given at key points with a check.
• Garter stitch = knit every stitch, every row.
• Two markers enclose the center spine stitch. Slip them as you meet them. The spine stitch is knitted on every row (garter spine).
• The 3-st borders are knitted on every row so the top edges stay firm and match the body.
• Chevron Lace is a multiple of 8 sts + 1, worked separately on each half. Each RS row adds 2 sts to each half. Knit extra stitches at both ends of a half until 8 new stitches have accumulated; those 8 sts become one new repeat. This happens every 8th lace row (every 4th RS lace row).
• Do not count the structural increase yarn overs (the four YOs next to the borders and spine) as part of the lace panel.
• Larger shawl: To keep the lace multiple, add body rows in groups of 4 RS/WS repeats (8 rows, +16 sts). Each group adds one 8-st lace repeat per half. Budget extra yarn (about 40–50 yd / 37–46 m per group).
• A tight bind-off will shorten the wingspan. Use a larger needle or the stretchy method given.

Stitch Guide

Chevron Lace

Multiple of 8 sts + 1, worked over each half of the shawl.

Row 1 (RS): *K1, yo, k2, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo; rep from * to last st of the panel, k1.

Row 2 (WS): Purl.

One 8-st repeat, stitch count unchanged: k1 + yo + k2 + (sl 1, k2tog, psso) + k2 + yo = 8 sts in and 8 sts out ✓

The final k1 is the “+1” of the panel.

Instructions

Garter Tab

Using US 8 / 5 mm, CO 3 sts.

Knit 6 rows (3 garter ridges). Do not turn after the last row.

Rotate the tab 90° clockwise. Pick up and knit 3 sts along the left long edge (1 st in each ridge).

Rotate 90° clockwise again. Pick up and knit 3 sts along the original cast-on edge.

9 sts (3 live + 3 side + 3 cast-on ✓).

The tab sits at the nape and closes the usual hole at the center top.

Set-Up

Set-Up Row 1 (RS): K3, yo, k1, yo, pm, k1 (center spine), pm, yo, k1, yo, k3. 13 sts (9 + 4 increases = 13 ✓).

Set-Up Row 2 (WS): Knit.

Garter Body

Body Row 1 (RS): K3, yo, knit to marker, yo, sl m, k1, sl m, yo, knit to last 3 sts, yo, k3. (4 sts increased)

Body Row 2 (WS): Knit.

Repeat Body Rows 1–2 63 more times. 265 sts (13 + 4 × 63 = 265 ✓).

Check: 265 − 7 border/spine sts = 258; 258 / 2 = 129 sts in each half (8 × 16 + 1 ✓).

The center spine should measure about 16" (40.5 cm) from the cast-on. End with Body Row 2 (WS).

Lace Border

Change the wrong-side fabric in the two halves from garter to purl (stockinette ground) so the chevrons open. Keep the 3-st borders and the center spine in garter.

Lace Row 1 (RS): K3, yo, work Chevron Lace Row 1 over the next 129 sts, yo, sl m, k1, sl m, yo, work Chevron Lace Row 1 over the next 129 sts, yo, k3. 269 sts (265 + 4 = 269 ✓).

On this first lace RS row each 129-st half is exact: 16 repeats of 8 sts + 1 = 129 ✓.

Lace Row 2 (WS): K3, purl to marker, sl m, k1, sl m, purl to last 3 sts, k3.

Lace Row 3 (RS): K3, yo, work Chevron Lace over the left half, yo, sl m, k1, sl m, yo, work Chevron Lace over the right half, yo, k3. (4 sts increased)

How to place extra stitches: Each half now has 2 more sts than a multiple of 8 + 1. Knit those extras, splitting them as evenly as possible at the two ends of that half (1 knit st just inside the edge YO, 1 knit st just inside the spine YO). As the half grows, you will have 1 extra at each end, then 2, then 3. On the following RS row the extras total 8 and a new full repeat fits with only the pattern’s final k1 left over.

Lace Row 4 (WS): K3, purl to marker, sl m, k1, sl m, purl to last 3 sts, k3.

Repeat Lace Rows 3–4 fourteen more times (15 increase RS rows after Lace Row 1, 32 lace rows total including Rows 1–2). 329 sts (265 + 4 × 16 = 329 ✓).

Check at bind-off: 329 − 7 = 322; 322 / 2 = 161 sts in each half (8 × 20 + 1 ✓). End with a WS row.

You have worked 16 RS lace rows and gained 4 full 8-st repeats in each half (16 → 20 repeats ✓).

Bind-Off

With RS facing, bind off all 329 sts very loosely. Use a needle 1–2 sizes larger, or the stretchy bind-off below.

Stretchy (Russian) bind-off: K2tog through the back loops, *slip the stitch from the right needle back to the left needle, k2tog through the back loops; rep from * until 1 st remains. Fasten off.

Do not tug the bind-off tail; the long edge must be able to stretch to the full wingspan.

Finishing

Weave in ends, leaving them until after blocking so you can hide them on the WS of the blocked fabric.

Blocking (required)

The lace will look bunched and the triangle will look small until it is wet-blocked.

1. Soak the shawl in lukewarm water with a little wool wash for 15–20 minutes. Do not agitate.
2. Lift it out, support the weight, and press (do not wring) out water. Roll in a towel and press again until it is damp, not dripping.
3. Lay it on blocking mats as a shallow triangle, center spine straight, bind-off edge at the bottom.
4. Run blocking wires through the two 3-st garter side edges and through the bind-off edge. Pin the wires to:
   • Wingspan: 70" (178 cm) along the bind-off edge, tip to tip
   • Depth: 24" (61 cm) from the garter-tab nape to the center of the bind-off
5. Along the bind-off, pin out the chevron points so each “V” of the lace is visible. The border should look open, not gathered.
6. Let it dry completely before removing pins (usually 24 hours).
7. Trim or weave remaining ends.

After blocking, the garter body is a smooth field of ridges and the lace border reads as stacked chevrons / feathers along the long edge.

Schematic (blocked)

                 nape (garter tab)
                      /\
                     /  \
                    /    \         depth 24" (61 cm)
                   /      \
                  /        \
                 /          \
        --------            --------
         wingspan 70" (178 cm) along bind-off

Quick Reference Counts

Happy knitting.