When I learned the garter tab cast on, I was itching to make a top down shawl! I started this project without a clear plan and this design is what came out of my needles. It features loads of simple garter stitch, a textured simple brioche rib, lacy eyelet transition rows and a casual/sporty garter border that goes seamlessly all the way around. If you’ve never knit a top-down garter tab shawl before, have no fear! This one comes with a video tutorial so even adventurous beginners can give it a go.
Check out the video tutorial Here!
Download a free copy of the pattern Here
Materials
590 yards (540m) of a self striping DK or light worsted weight yarn like Lion Brand’s Mandala
5mm circular needles long enough to accommodate a ton of stitches, 35in (90m) or more. You’ll also need 4 stitch markers to mark the increases.
Sizing and Gauge
Finished shawl using one ball of Mandala should be about 65in (1.6m) along the top and 30in (76cm) from top to tip.
The gauge is 16sts by 32 rows on a 4×4″ (10x10cm) swatch in garter stitch.
This pattern is worked from the top down starting with an optional garter tab cast on. We will place markers to indicate where to increase. We’ll increase every other row until the shawl is the desired size (or you just run out of yarn) and then perform a garter border bind-off. This pattern uses the simple brioche knit stitch abbreviated “brk” which indicates you’ll knit the yarn over and slip stitch together.
Pattern
Garter tab cast on
Cast on 5 sts. Knit 10 rows. After the last row, don’t turn your work. Instead, pick up 5 sts along the side of your work, then pick up 5 sts along your cast on edge. (15 sts total)
If you prefer to start without a garter tab, simply cast on 15 sts and begin the pattern here.
Row 1: K5, pm (place marker), yo k2, yo, pm, k1, pm, yo, k2, yo, pm, k5
Row 2: K all
Row 3: K5, sm (slip marker), yo, k to next marker, yo, sm, k1, sm, yo, k to next marker, yo, sm, k5.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 for a total of 17 rows (8 garter ridges)
Eyelet row
On the next even (non increase) row: K5, sm, k1, *yo, k2tog* to the yo before the marker. K1, sm, k1, sm, k1, *k2tog, yo* to the yo before marker. k1, sm ,k5.
Next odd (increase) row: k5, sm, yo, knit every stitch including yarn overs up to marker, yo, sm, k1, sm, yo.K every st up to next marker, yo, sm, k5
Brioche section set up row
K5, sm, k1, *yo sl1, k1* to 1 before marker. k1, sm, k1, sm, k2. *yo sl1 k1* to marker. sm, k5
Brioche rib row 1: k5, sm, yo, k1, brk (brioche knit), *yo, sl1, brk* rep between ** to 2 sts before marker. Yo, s1, k1, yo,sm,k1,sm,yo,k1, *yo, sl1 brk* to 1 before m, k1, yo, sm, k5
Brk row 2: k5, sm, k2, *yo sl1 brk* rep between ** to 2sts before marker, yo sl1, k1, sm, k1, sm, k1 *yo sl1 brk* to 3sts before marker, yo sl1, k2, sm, k5
Brk row 3: k5, sm, yo k1, *yo s1 brk* to 1 before, k1, yo, sm, k1, sm, yo, k1, *brk yo sl1* to 1 before marker, k1, yo, sm, k5
Brk row 4: k5, sm, k1, *yos1brk” to last 3, yo s1, k2, sm, k1, sm, k2, *yos1brk* to last 2, yos1k1, sm, k5
Repeat brioche rows 1-4 once more for a total of 8 brioche rows plus the set-up row.
Eyelet row after brk section: k5, sm, yo, *k1, brk* to 2 before marker, k2, yo, sm, k1, yo, k2 *brk, k1* to m, yo, sm, k5
On the next even row: k5, sm, k1, *yo, k2tog* to the yo before the marker. k1, sm, k1, sm, k1, *k2tog, yo* to yo before marker. k1, sm ,k5
Next odd row: k5, sm, yo, knit every stitch including yarn overs up to marker, yo, sm, k1, sm, yo. k ever st up to next marker, yo, sm, k5
Alternate garter stitch sections and brioche sections separated by eyelet rows. Make every other garter section twice as wide (16 ridges).
When your shawl is as long as you’d like (or you run out of yarn) bind off after an eyelet row.
Bind off while adding garter border:
co 5 sts, *k4, k2tog. Turn your work and k5*
Rep till bound off
