Whatu Shawl by Francoise Danoy

Whatu Shawl

Knitting
February 2021
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
30 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches
in St. St
US 3 - 3.25 mm
US 5 - 3.75 mm
420 - 437 yards (384 - 400 m)
Adjustable size
low vision format available
English
This pattern is available for free.

In an effort to find a balance between more financial accessibility and sustainable pricing, I now offer a “Pay What Works” model for my paid-for designs. This allows for financial flexibility while still valuing and respecting the work and energy I and others provide in the making of this pattern.

I have chosen a select number of my patterns to put up for free, which you can access in my Free Pattern Library here.

If you wish to leave a thank you for my work, you can leave a small tip on Ko-Fi, or become a monthly supporter on Patreon and receive a free pattern download each month.

The Kākahu Shawls is a two one-skein wonder shawl collection, inspired by my experiences with traditional Māori weaving. During the last few months of 2020 I took an online class with Aho America on creating our first ornamental kākahu. As I learned the new techniques and skills, I was struck by how many of the weaving stitches looked a lot like knitting stitches. So I set out to see how I could translate these into knitting stitches. And thus this mini collection was created.

Shawl #1 in this collection is the Whatu shawl. See shawl #2 here.

The Whatu “stitch” is a common weaving technique in creating kaakahu, as it holds the threads down. The Whatu Shawl is an asymmetrical triangular shawl utilizing a variation of the lateral braid to create the slip stitch effect running horizontally across the body.

YARN

  • Fingering/4-ply
  • Camellia Fiber Company White Tweed Sock (84% Merino, 16% Donegal Nep; 437 yards; 400 m/100 g).
  • 1 skein in Seafoam

NEEDLES

  • US 3/3.25 mm and US 5/3.75 mm size or size needed to obtain gauge, 24 in./60 cm circular needle

GAUGE

  • 30 sts and 36 rows = 4 in./10 cm in St. st using US 5/3.75 mm after blocking.
  • Gauge is not crucial to these projects, but varying gauges can have an effect on final measurements and yardages.

NOTIONS

  • Darning/tapestry needle
  • 4 Stitch Markers

Print, mobile and LVA versions available to download.

LVA version includes:

black text

san serif, 22-24 point font, with no italics

fully written directions, no chart required