Loro

Knitting
July 2018
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
23 stitches and 42 rows = 4 inches
in garter stitch
US 5 - 3.75 mm
1360 yards (1244 m)
One size: 113” / 287 cm long and 12” / 30.5 cm wide, measured after blocking
English
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Explore color with stripes and chevrons! Loro is a lightweight, drapey rectangular wrap knit on the bias, transitioning from garter stitch stripes to dimensional two-color brioche chevrons. I love garter stitch and brioche together in one accessory: they create almost the same amount of squish! This shawl pattern is named after my favorite Pinback song, Loro. It is a magical, flowing melody, full of waves of notes, rhythms, and vocals.

There are some gorgeous kits available through Hue Loco, click here!

Skill level: Beginner Brioche friendly! Basic brioche skills are not required. Techniques used: knit, purl, simple knitting increases and decreases, brioche knit (brk), brioche purl (brp), simple brioche increases and decreases (no br4st dec!!), knitting on the bias. I wrote this pattern to be very approachable to brioche beginners!! There is lots of garter stitch in between each brioche chevron stripe!!

Construction Notes: This lightweight rectangular wrap is knit on an extreme bias from side to side, cast on edge to bind off edge. Once the sts are cast on, 2 sts are decreased at the right edge, while 2 sts are increased at the left edge, to create an extreme angle for the stripes to follow. You will begin with garter stripes using 3 colors, then move on to thicker garter stripes which are alternated with the brioche chevron stripes. Each brioche chevron stripe uses the same Main Color as the garter stripe before it, but you will be changing the Contrast Color on every stripe! These big blocks or Sections are repeated 3 more times, with the three-color garter stripes in between to separate them, ending with another three-color garter stripe border. After blocking, the brioche chevron stripes create a texture and dimension that pulls the garter stitch stripes into waves!

This pattern is both written and charted for your convenience! Only the brioche chevron stripes are charted.

One size: 113” / 287 cm long and 12” / 30.5 cm wide, measured after blocking. Schematic included in pattern. Notes are provided to make it wider and shorter if that is your preference.

Yarn: 1360 yds / 1245 m Fingering / Sock weight yarn
Color A: 220 yds / 201 m
Color B: 200 yds / 183 m
Color C: 200 yds / 183 m
Color D: 180 yds / 165 m
Color E: 190 yds / 174 m
Color F: 180 yds / 165 m
Color G: 190 yds / 174 m

Shown in: Hue Loco
A: 1 skein Phyllis Sock in Blush (pink solid; 75% Merino wool, 25% Nylon; 463 yds / 423 m per 100g)
B: 1 skein Spun Sock in Cocoa Bear (light taupe; 80% Merino wool, 10% Nylon, 10% Cashmere; 400 yds / 365 m per 100g)
C: 1 skein Phyllis Sock in Truffle (dark taupe)
D: 1 50g skein Phyllis Sock in Chickadee (white)
E: 1 50g skein Phyllis Sock in Starling (speckled pink)
F: 1 50g skein Phyllis Sock in Sand Piper (green)
G: 1 50g skein Phyllis Sock in Wood Nymph (purple)

Choosing colors for your wrap:

  • To create this shawl, I chose 3 (100g) skeins of solid fingering weight yarn in complimenting colors (A, B, & C), and 4 (50g) skeins of speckled yarns (D, E, F, & G)! These last half skeins are the Bird Watching set, which is available at hueloco.com.
  • You could easily use 5 (100g) skeins total, using 1 skein as your Colors D / F, and 1 skein for E / G. Or choose 5 colors in a speckled fade or slight gradient and see what happens!

Needles: 24” / 60 cm or longer US 5 / 3.75 mm circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge. Circular needles are used for two-color brioche knitting.

Tools: tapestry needle, row counter

Gauge: 23 sts x 42 rows = 4” / 10 cm; measured in garter stitch (taken after blocking).

Many many thanks to Nicole of Hue Loco for providing the beautiful yarn and inspiration for this pattern! I would also like to thank my amazing tech editor, Meaghan Schmaltz notsorryknitter, and all of my awesome test knitters!!! I would not be able to do all of this without all of you. :) Be sure to check out their projects for some serious color inspiration!!