In case this isn’t incredibly obvious by now, I love knitting shawls. I’m obsessed with playing with the geometry possibilities, the outfit possibilities, and the chance to show off some beautiful yarn on the canvas that is a big, flat piece of knitting. This new shawl pattern began as a wee experiment with making a shawl featuring increases along one side of the work every few rows, which forms a right triangle. I love the fact that the yarn over increases are hidden in this piece’s chain edge, and I love that its wide, diagonal ribs are formed by simply alternating groups of 6 knit and purl stitches, hence the name Sixth Degree Shawl. I hope you enjoy knitting this as much as I did!
This is knit with exactly two skeins of Cestari Monticello yarn, a 75% cotton / 25% flax blend that’s great for warm weather knitting. I got this yarn from Yarnthology, a site specializing in eco-friendly, ethically sourced, cruelty free, and/or American made yarns. (I’ll have more on Yarnthology, including a giveaway, later this week!)
The shallow slope of the Sixth Degree Shawl’s increases make for a super wearable shawl. The short leg is long enough to reach past the hips, covering the torso when worn as a wrap. The pointy end, so to speak, hangs in place nicely when you wear it. I can’t wait to cuddle up with this shawl all summer in hyper air conditioned spaces and stash it in my bag when venturing out into hot temps!
Sixth Degree Shawl – the free pattern
Finished dimensions: 27.5 inches wide by 72 inches long
Gauge: 16 sts x 32 rows over 4″ in stockinette stitch on US 7 needles after wet blocking
Supplies
US size 7 circular needles with 32 inch cords
2 skeins (approx. 500 yds) Cestari Monticello in Partridge Blue – 75% cotton/25% flax, comes in 100g, 250 yd skeins
stitch markers (optional but recommended)
scissors
blocking supplies
Abbreviations
CO – cast on
sts – stitches
k – knit
yo – yarn over
pm – place marker
m – marker
p – purl
sl – slip
rpt – repeat
wyif – with yarn in front
tbl – through the back loop
BO – bind off
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
(X sts) – X is the number of sts that are now in the row
Pattern
As you work on this shawl, place and slip markers as you prefer to keep track of k and p sections.
Set up section
CO 3 sts.
1-3. sl 1 wyif, k1, k1 tbl.
4. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl.
5-7. sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.Repeat rows 4-7 until there are 12 sts.
Body of shawl – adding first stockinette stripe
8. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (13 sts).
9. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p1, k to last st, k1 tbl.
10. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
11. rpt 9.12. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (14 sts).
13. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p2, k to last st, k1 tbl.
14. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
15. rpt 13.16. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (15 sts).
17. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p3, k to last st, k1 tbl.
18. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
19. rpt 17.20. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (16 sts).
21. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p4, k to last st, k1 tbl.
22. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
23. rpt 21.24. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (17 sts).
25. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p5, k to last st, k1 tbl.
26. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
27. rpt 25.28. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (18 sts).
29. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p6, k to last st, k1 tbl.
30. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
31. rpt 29.Body of shawl – adding garter stripe
32. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (19 sts).
33. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k1, p6, k to last st, k1 tbl.
34. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
35. rpt 33.36. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (20 sts).
37. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k2, p6, k to last st, k1 tbl.
38. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
39. rpt 37.40. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (21 sts).
41. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k3, p6, k to last st, k1 tbl.
42. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
43. rpt 41.44. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (22 sts).
45. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k4, p6, k to last st, k1 tbl.
46. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
47. rpt 45.48. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (23 sts).
49. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k5, p6, k to last st, k1 tbl.
50. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
51. rpt 49.52. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (24 sts).
53. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k6, p6, k to last st, k1 tbl.
54. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
55. rpt 53.Body of shawl – adding subsequent stockinette stripes
56. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (25 sts for first stockinette stripe).
57. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p1, (k6, p6) to last 6 sts, k5, k1 tbl.
58. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
59. rpt 57.60. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (26 sts for first stockinette stripe).
61. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p2, (k6, p6) to last 6 sts, k5, k1 tbl.
62. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
63. rpt 61.64. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (27 sts for first stockinette stripe).
65. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p3, (k6, p6) to last 6 sts, k5, k1 tbl.
66. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
67. rpt 65.68. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (28 sts for first stockinette stripe).
69. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p4, (k6, p6) to last 6 sts, k5, k1 tbl.
70. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
71. rpt 69.72. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (29 sts for first stockinette stripe).
73. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p5, (k6, p6) to last 6 sts, k5, k1 tbl.
74. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
75. rpt 73.76. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (30 sts for first stockinette stripe).
77. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, p6, (k6, p6) to last 6 sts, k5, k1 tbl.
78. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
79. rpt 77.Body of shawl – adding subsequent garter stripes
80. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (31 sts for first garter stripe).
81. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k1, (p6, k6) to last 12 sts, p6, k5, k1 tbl.
82. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
83. rpt 81.84. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (32 sts for first garter stripe).
85. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k2, (p6, k6) to last 12 sts, p6, k5, k1 tbl.
86. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
87. rpt 85.88. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (33 sts for first garter stripe).
89. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k3, (p6, k6) to last 12 sts, p6, k5, k1 tbl.
90. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
91. rpt 89.92. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (34 sts for first garter stripe).
93. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k4, (p6, k6) to last 12 sts, p6, k5, k1 tbl.
94. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
95. rpt 93.96. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (35 sts for first garter stripe).
97. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k5, (p6, k6) to last 12 sts, p6, k5, k1 tbl.
98. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
99. rpt 97.100. (RS) sl 1 wyif, yo, k to last st, k1 tbl (36 sts for first garter stripe).
101. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k5, k6, (p6, k6) to last 12 sts, p6, k5, k1 tbl.
102. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k to last st, k1 tbl.
103. rpt 101.Repeat adding subsequent stockinette and subsequent garter stripe sections (rows 56-103) until there are 8 stockinette stripes or until you are nearly through your second skein of yarn.
Finishing
End by knitting across 6 rows (both right and wrong sides), binding off (BO) last WS row. Weave in all ends and block to finish.
The yarn used for this pattern was provided by Yarnthology. Tune in Wednesday, May 11 for a review & giveaway of their service and the yarn used to make this shawl!
Thank you for the pattern…it’s lovely.
Thank you so much for this wonderful pattern, Heidi.
How do I print the pattern without all the advertisements and photos? Val
Copy and paste the blue pattern section into a word processor before printing. If you want to also copy and paste the pattern abbreviations section, I recommend copying and pasting that first above the blue pattern section. Unlike recipe bloggers, there aren’t nice plugins yet that accommodate image free knitting pattern printing, so this is the best solution for now. But I’m working on it! :)
Happy knitting!
Lovely shawl. Thank you for sharing it with us.
At the Black Mountain Yarn Shop and loving your free pattern!
Bello Heidi,
Thank you for this lovely patter!
Could you please explain to me what tbl means?
When you tbl in the last stich, does it mean that you knit twice the same stich( into the front loop first and back loop afterwords), or does it mean that you knit the stich just once into the back loop?
Thank you for your answer.
Valeria( Italian, living in France)
It means through the back loop. Here’s a good tutorial: http://newstitchaday.com/k-tbl-knit-through-back-loop/ :)
Hi Heidi,
Thanks very much for this lovely pattern. Does it lie flat or curl up?
There’s a subtle curl to the pointy end, but it lies pretty flat overall.
Completely obsessed by this pattern at the moment it goes everywhere with me….love it!
Very pretty. This pattern works well for my senior care residents.
I cannot print this pattern – I have no problem with other patterns. really want to knit this. would appreciate
it being sent to me. thank you very much – mae
I love this pattern. Could you please,please send me stitch instructions for a rectangular shape as our church prefers this shape and I have been looking for so long to find a beautiful stitch pattern and yours is the one I love. Bless you!
Hi Linda!
All you need to do is cast on a multiple of 12 sts + 6 and do the following:
WS rows: (k6, p6) k6.
RS does: k across.
Enjoy!
Heidi
Thank you so very much for the free pattern. I was in the middle of admiring you modeling your shawl as I scrolled down to find the pattern free … Jumping with excitement.
again, thank you
Hi Heidi. LOVE this pattern! Im using a rustic hand spun alpaca on a size 3 needle. How can I make this shawl bigger ?
Thank you so much!
Best,
Jenn
Please disregard my previous question I realized that when I printed the pattern it left out the last page. I see that I can make the shawl bigger by repeating rose 56 through 103 apparently as many times as I would like until it’s the right size! ❤️ I love this pattern thank you so much!
Best,
Jenn
No worries! I love this kind of meditative project – let me know when you finish. I always love seeing finished knits. :) -Heidi