HIGHLIGHT SHAWL

Highlight Shawl is a simple yet expressive triangular shawl designed to let color take the lead. With three size options (bandana, shawlette, and small shawl), it’s a flexible accessory that can be worn year-round and adapted to your wardrobe and knitting mood.

The shawl is worked from the top down and features clean, rhythmic stripes that are easy to memorize and satisfying to knit. The pattern includes three striping options: thin 4-row stripes, bold 20-row stripes, or a mixed sequence combining thin and thick stripes (16 + 4 rows). You can also create your own stripe rhythm and use more than two colors, making this an ideal project for playing with leftovers and personal color stories.

Highlight Shawl can be knitted in a single strand of DK weight yarn for a crisp, defined fabric, or with yarn combinations such as fingering weight held together with mohair or suri alpaca for a softer, lighter result. The size is easy to adjust by adding more stripes or simply knitting until you run out of yarn, making it a low-pressure, highly customizable project.

This pattern is for knitters who enjoy straightforward construction with room for creativity, and for anyone looking for a quick, wearable piece that adds color and interest to everyday outfits. Style the bandana size with a tee or button-down, wear the shawlette tucked into a jacket, or drape the small shawl over your shoulders for extra warmth on cool evenings.

Highlight Shawl is the kind of accessory you’ll knit once and then want in several more colorways.

Size
Thin stripe version or thick stripe version:
Bandana (Shawlette, Shawl)
Total height along the spine: 23 (30.5, 38.5) cm / 9 (12, 15.25) inches
Total length: 70 (92, 113) cm / 27.5 (36.25, 44.5) inches

Thick + thin strip version:
Bandana (Shawlette, Shawl)
Total height along the spine: 21.5 (29, 37) cm / 8.5 (11.5, 15) inches
Total length: 66 (87.5, 109) cm / 26 (34.5, 43) inches

Yarn
Note: If you are working with a combination of yarns, for example fingering held together with mohair or suri, you will need the listed amount of both yarns.

Thin stripe version (4-row stripes): 40 (60, 110) m / 40 (70, 120) yards of MC and 30 (70, 90) m / 30 (80, 100) yards of CC.

Thick stripe version (20-row stripes): 50 (50, 120) m / 50 (50, 90) yards of MC and 20 (80, 80) m / 20 (90, 90) yards of CC.

Thick + thin strip version (16+4 row stripes): 60 (110, 160) m / 70 (120, 170) yards of MC and 10 (10, 20) m / 10 (10, 20) yards of CC.

Blue and yellow sample (Thick stripes, shawl size 1): 1 ball of Sandnes Garn Alpakka Silke (70% baby alpaca, 30% silk; 200 m / 220 yards per 50 g), shown in colorway 144 and 1 ball of Isager Silk Mohair (212 m / 232 yards per 25 g, 75% mohair, 25% silk), shown in colorway 816, and 1 ball of Knitting For Olive Cotton Merino (70% organic cotton, 30% merino; 250 m / 275 yards per 50 g), shown in colorway Dusty Banana and 1 ball of Gepard Garn Kid Seta (70 % kid mohair, 30% silk; 210 m / 230 yards per 25 g), shown in the colorway 116.

Blue and red sample (Thin stripes, shawl size 3): Sandnes Garn Cashmere (100% cashmere; 110 m / 125 yards per 25 g), shown in colorways 5882 and 4219, 2 balls of each color.

Brown sample (Thick + thin stripes, shawl size 3): 1 ball each of Sandnes Garn Alpakka Silke (70 % alpaca wool, 30% silk; 200 m / 219 yards per 50 g), shown in colorways 3161 as MC and 1015 as CC held together with Filcolana Tilia (210 m / 230 yards per 25 g, 70% mohair, 30% silk), shown in the colorway (100 % merino; 250 m / 273 yards per 50 g), shown in colorway 354 Light Truffle as MC and 1 ball of Isager Silk Mohair (75% mohair, 25% silk212 m / 232 yards per 25g), shown in colorway 0 as CC.

Needles
4 mm / US6 circular needle with a cable of at least 80 cm / 32 inches

Gauge
15 sts x 26 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches of Stockinette stitch, knitted flat, gently blocked.

Notions
2 stitch markers
tapestry needle
blocking tools
waste yarn for the Provisional Cast On