How to Knit a Ribbed Knit Shawl
Shawls give warmth and comfort and a hand knit shawl is a wonderful addition to any wardrobe. Even beginner knitters, with just a mastery of knit and purl stitches, can create a shawl to wear, donate to a charity or give as a gift. Using bulky yarn ensures a warm finished project. To knit a shawl with some stretch to it, craft it using a basic ribbing pattern.
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Instructions
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Select your yarn. For a warm shawl, choose a chunky yarn. For a shawl knit with bulky weight yarn, be sure to have between 700 and 800 yards of the same dye lot to create a finished piece that is about 20 inches wide and 70 inches long.
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Choose U.S. size 10.5 knitting needles. You may wish to use circular needles to make it easier to handle. If so, knit back and forth as though using straight needles.
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Cast on 52 stitches.
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Knit the first 3 stitches (K3).
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Purl the next stitch (P1).
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Knit the next 3 stitches (K3).
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Purl the next stitch (P1).
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Keep working in the knit 3 (K3), purl 1 (P1) pattern to the end of row one.
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Knit row two in the K3, P1 pattern.
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Continue knitting each row in the K3, P1 pattern until the shawl is about 70 inches in length.
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Bind off all stitches. Begin to do this by first knitting the first two stitches of your row. Take your left needle and insert it into the first stitch on the right needle. Lift that stitch over the last stitch you knit and off the right needle. You will be left with only one stitch on your right needle.
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Knit the next stitch in the row so you again have two stitches on your right-hand needle. Insert the left needle into the first stitch, as before, and lift it over the last stitch and off the needle.
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Continue doing this until only one stitch remains. Cut your yarn, leaving a 5-inch tail and pull through the loop of the last stitch, securing the piece.
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Thread a yarn needle with the tail of yarn and weave in the edges. Do this by simply pulling the tail of yarn through your knitted piece to hide the end.
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Tips & Warnings
You can change the ribbing pattern by using a K2, P2 rib for a different look.
Use two strands of yarn held together and worked as one strand for a warmer shawl.
Consider making an extra shawl and donating it to a local hospice or nursing home.
If you like, add fringe to the edges of the shawl.
Stay away from pure wool or wool blend yarns, unless you know the person who will be wearing the shawl his not allergic to animal fibers.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ball of yarn image by kellykramer from Fotolia.com
