Triangular Shawls
Triangular shawls are easy to make. The simplest way to do it is to start at the bottom point and work your way up. Cast on 3 stitches; knit one row; then increase one stitch at or near the beginning of every row. The problem is that a triangular shawl made this way doesn’t stay on the body very well.
A triangular shawl that stays on the body is one that starts at the center top and works its way down. Increase 4 stitches on every other row. Knitting books call these Faroese shawls. The simplest style goes like this:
Faroese Shawl 1
Using any yarn and the recommended needles or needles that are larger, cast on 6 stitches.
Place a marker between the 2 center stitches (Stitches 3 & 4).
Row 1 and all rows: Sl1, m1, k to 1 st before marker, m1, k1, sm, k to end.
When shawl is long enough, knit two rows even.
Bind off.
This makes a garter stitch shawl, which is pretty in a variegated or heathered yarn.
The more typical faroese shawl pattern goes like this:
Faroese Shawl 2
Using any yarn and the recommended needles or needles that are larger, cast on 5 or 7 stitches.
Place markers around center stitch.
Row 1: K.
Row 2: K1, yo, k to marker , yo, sm, k1, sm, yo, k to last st, yo, k1.
Rep Rows 1-2 until the shawl is the desired length.
Knit last 4 rows even (without increasing), and bind off.
Finishing
For both styles, weave cast-on tail through first row and tug to close the notch at the center top. Weave bind off tail through fabric and snip loose ends.
Variations:
For a less lacy version of Faroese Shawl 2, use a different increase.
For a stockinet version of either shawl, purl every other row.
For a striped shawl, change colors at the end of any row.
For a subtle bit of elegance, separate the center increases or move the outer increases further from the edge. Work a cable, lace panel, or other stitch pattern between the center increases or along the outer edge.
For a decorative touch, work a lace pattern into the bottom third of the shawl. On each half of the shawl, place a marker where the lace pattern begins and ends. Work the lace between the markers only. When the shawl has grown enough to work a full lace pattern repeat on either side of the markers, move them out the right number of stitches and continue knitting the lace between the markers only.
For all over excitement, work a stitch pattern (lace or otherwise) throughout the shawl. Use stitch markers to start and end the patterned areas (as described above. The Gossamer shawl is made this way), or work as much of the pattern as possible between the increases.
For a shawl with an edging, do not bind off. Instead, cast on for an edging. On alternate rows, knit the last edging stitch together with the next live stitch from the shawl. Bind the edging off at the end.
