Skill level: Intermediate (read more about skill levels of knitting patterns here)
This time I wanted to teach you something I haven’t seen anywhere before – knitting triangle shawl edging with cables. Yes, there have been tutorials on how to start knitting simple triangle shawl, but these have been for garter stitch edging. Not for cable trim edging.
This cast on technique grew out from my cable edge with twisted trim pattern. Make sure you check out this, too. But I have to warn you though, it may seem overwhelming…
Why should you learn this? I don’t know. It’s fun. So, are you up for a challenge? If not, you might be interested in my other patterns HERE.
Find the video tutorial below 🙂 ↓
Abbreviations:
- k – knit;
- inc – increase (any way you like);
- YO – yarn over;
- sk2p – slip stitch, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over;
- 4/4 RC – slip 4 to cable needle and hold back, k4, k4 from cable needle;
- 4/4 LC – slip 4 to cable needle and hold front, k4, k4 from cable needle;
Get the printer-friendly tutorial here:
Cast on 4 stitches using the crochet cast on method and leaving enough tail for sewing.
*1st stitches are slipped stitches – RS (right side) knitwise and WS (wrong side) purl-wise.
Knit on RS and purl on WS in a total of 16 rows (the last row is a purl row).
Knit 4 stitches..
…pick up and knit 8 stitches from one side…
(like so)
…pick up and knit 4 stitches from the cast on (by removing the contrast yarn from crochet cast on).
That’s it for the cast on part. Now you’ll be knitting actual shawl.
Purl 1 row.
- 1: 4/4 RC, inc1, 4/4 LC; (doesn’t seem much of an art, right?) (17 sts)
*Repeat cables on every 8th row (by the way – if you don’t have a cable needle at hand then you can use these tools)
- 2: purl;
- 3: k8, YO, k1, YO, k8; (19 sts)
- 4: purl;
- 5: k8, YO, k3, YO, k8; (21 sts)
- 6: purl;
- 7: k8, YO, k1, YO, sk2p, YO, k1, YO, k8; (23 sts) [On video: k8, YO, k5, YO, k8; (23 sts)]
- 8: purl;
- 9: 4/4 RC, YO, k2, YO, sk2p, YO, k2, YO, 4/4 LC; (25 sts) [On video: 4/4 RC, YO, k7, YO, 4/4 LC; (25 sts)]
- 10: purl;
- 11: k8, YO, k3, YO, sk2p, YO, k3, YO, k8; (27 sts) [On video: k8, YO, k9, YO, k8; (27 sts)]
- 12: purl;
- 13: k8, YO, k4, YO, sk2p, YO, k4, YO, k8; (29 sts) [On video: k8, YO, k11, YO, k8; (29 sts)]
- 14: purl;
- 15: k8, YO, k5, YO, sk2p, YO, k5, YO, k8; (31 sts) [On video: k8, YO, k13, YO, k8; (31 sts)]
- 16: purl;
Continue this way increasing on all the RS rows after first 8 stitches and before last 8 stitches until you have the length of the shawl you need. Remember – cable twist is worked on every 8th row.
What do you think now?
Let’s see the tip of the shawl. Right now it is flat and weird.
Thread the needle with the yarn tail from cast on process. Find the other tip.
Sew tips together and up to the middle part (I actually don’t know how to say it, so I hope pictures will help).
Check out the video tutorial here
That will make two things:
1) it would be nice and neat;
2) it would be little heavier so it won’t curl up;
I hope I was clear enough in this tutorial. If something was confusing, let me know and I will try to help you.
Have a wonderful shawl and see you next time!
If you liked this technique then check out the pattern for a Spring Shawl – you’ll love it 🙂 Click here
Thank you! I try my best to keep it up!
Can hardly wait for more patterns and helpful advise!
Amazing and I can’t wait to try your technique. Thank you so much.
Love all three tutorials. I have a triangle Shawl I made for a friend and would love to add your cable lace edging. Any thoughts on how ? Even though I have only been knitting 3 years, I AM pretty good at doing swatches and following directions. Thank you.
Hi, Susan. I have to think a bit. If I understood you correctly then your triangle shawl is finished. Then there are two ways. First one is you knit the border (as long as you’ll need) and then sew it on to finished shawl. Second option is to attach the edge as you knit it. I don’t know, how to explain it in words. I can make a tutorial, if you need it.
Your design is so pretty. I have been trying to do it but row 1 seems to have 17 stitches and row three seems to have 19 stitches that need to be worked. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you so much for your help. Would you be able to tell me when to slip markers (sm) as well please?
Sorry it took me so long to answer you – I needed to remind myself a bit… You are absolutely correct. I had typing error in that row (row 3) and you should have 19 stitches. I’m so sorry for this error. I can’t believe no one noticed before. I’ve corrected this now.
Hi me again…is there supposed to be a YO before the last 8 knit stitches. Thank you!
Yes, except row #1
Hi, I am working on your pattern and I think you may have left out a YO before the last 8 stitches on row 11! I tried it several times and the stitches on either side of the markers were uneven. When I added the YO it worked out.
Thanks, I fixed it… 🙂
Beautiful. I’m not the best knitter but do I understand correctly that this is the pattern for the whole triangle shawl? What are your finished measurements approximately? And do you keep repeating rows 9-16 until it gets the length you want? Thanx.
No, it’s not the whole shawl, but it’s easy to make it a shawl. It’s just the beginning I came up. You’ll just repeat these steps until it’s big enough. I’ve been asked this a lot, so I think I may make it a shawl with some extra lace pattern 🙂
I love this idea, but can’t find the one where you fixed row 11. If I may, this is how it should read: k8 yo k to marker {which is 4 stitches}, slip marker yo k3tog yo slip marker k4 yo k8. just a reminder that each succeeding odd row will add 1 extra stitch on either side of the k3tog {1 yo after the 1st 8 stitches and 1 yo before the last 8 stitches so that in making the triangle bigger there are more stitches between the spine and the 8 stitch cable. I hope I didn’t step on any toes, but it took me a bit to figure that out and I think the folks above were having the same problem. Still love the idea and will be giving it a try.
Thanks Karla, it’s an old post and I can deep dive in later – there might be mistakes yes, I don’t have anyone to proof read when I’m playing with the ideas… Any advice and improvements are welcome 🙂
I love cables and shawls–what a perfect combination. Can’t wait to try it out.What yarn did you use?
I believe it was DROPS Baby Merino – I’ll test all my theories with that. https://www.garnstudio.com/yarn.php?id=91
I my goodness I can’t wait to try this- Thank You!!!
Hi Many thanks for the amazing cable technique . I can’t wait to start this pattern and maybe develop it with an additional lace pattern.
I am going to try this.
Hi Erica, let me know how you’re doing 🙂
Hi. I’ve finally gotten back to working with this again. Row 5 reads: k8, YO, place marker, k3, place marker, YO, k8; (*now the markers are separating 3 stitches in the middle – make sure it stays this way*). my question is how do I keep 3 stitches in the middle? am I moving stitches on either side of the middle markers before working the k3tog? Thanks for help.
Hi Karla, sorry for the delay (I was sick).
3 sts in the middle are *YO, k3tog, YO*. So, those 3 sts on row 5 are for preparation.
From this point on you will be working like this:
work until you reach the first middle marker, slip it, YO, k3tog, YO, and slip the other marker; work ’til the end;
On WS you will be working until your first marker, slip it, purl 3, slip marker, and work ’til the end.
I hope this helps.
Do you have a video on how to make the shawl?
Hi Debra, I have one planned and I will notify my email list once I add a video (or any updates I do). Make sure you’ll subscribe to my email list if you already haven’t done so.
Thanks for a tutorial, I’ll try it as soon as possible. Regards. Loredana.
What kind of yarn and what size needles are needed for this pattern?
This shawl looks beautiful and can’t wait to make it.
It’s not set in stone and you can use what you like. I just wanted to show this technique. I used DROPS Baby Merino and needles in size 3 mm / US 3.
Love it😍is it possible to knit the ‘inside’ of the shawl in garter stitch?
Yes, absolutely. 🙂
Please tell me what kind of yarn you used and what size needles.
I used DROPS Baby merino and 3,5 mm needles.