Your Destiny - Koi Shadow Shawl Pattern - Download

THE DESIGN

The Myth of the Dragons Gate, the Koi in Chinese folklore symbolizes overcoming adversity and reaching one’s destiny. The tale is included in the pattern.

The shawl produced in 8ply (see gauge notes below) measures approximately 2m along the longest side by 90cm from the point to the top. Different yarns, gauges and tensions will produce a different size shawl. (4ply version measures approximately 1.6m by 82cm) 

TECHNIQUES

This pattern involves, knit, purl, simple increases and decreases, yarn overs and cast on and cast off.

You will be working with two colours, knit with one colour for two rows, then the other colour for two and repeat.

YARN

You can use most yarns; this will just affect the size of the finished project. Shadow knitting depends on height difference; therefore, I would not recommend anything under 4ply. Fibre content is not important, though fluffy yarns may detract from the effect. For guidance, please see the following:

Knit in 8ply, at a tension of 23 stitches, 31 rows to 10 x 10 cm, stockinette stitch.
Yarn A - 750m, Yarn B - 750m

Usually in 8ply, this will require 4 x 100g skeins of each colour, 8 skeins in total

If you were to use a 4ply will require 2 x 100g skeins of each colour, 4 skeins in total

Please ensure you check lengths of the yarn used as the above is only a guide. Individual tensions will also alter the amount of yarn required. All quantities are approximate as there are many factors that impact.

MATERIALS

1) Knitting needles!!!!

Yes that is it, apart from some scissors and a needle to weave in ends. I use a circular knitting needle so you do not have to support the weight when your project gets bigger.

Needle size. As a general rule, as definition is important, I go down one needle size, to the one recommended for the yarn. This of course will depend on your personal tension. For example most 8ply yarns recommend a 4mm needle. I would use a 3.75mm needle.

I recommend a 1.2m cable. When the project gets large, this reduces the chance stitches coming off the needle accidentally.

Yarn A is your first colour you will knit with. Often the background.

Yarn B is your second colour. I will call this the ‘drawing’ colour.

Ensure that you start with the right yarn to get them in the correct place. See below for guidance for this particular pattern.

COLOUR RECOMENDATIONS

The pattern includes instruction on which yarn you can use as A or B. For this design you can swap the colours depending on the result that you like.