Shawl Shapes Explained: Asymmetrical Triangles

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Asymmetrical triangle shawls have been wildly popular in recent years. At any gathering of knitters or crocheters, you’re likely to find at least of few of these casually wrapped and gathered around their proud makers’ necks. These are great designs for showcasing a beautiful variegated or hand dyed yarn; since the length of the rows is always changing, the color is unlikely to pool.

Above: Entwined Shawl by Susanna IC from Interweave Knits Holiday 2017

In this installment of our series on shawl shapes, we’ll explore different approaches to making asymmetrical triangles. We’ll also look at some lovely examples of asymmetrical triangle shawls from the Interweave Archives.

Start at the Narrow Point and Increase

Most asymmetrical triangle designs begin at the point with just a few stitches and increase at one side edge until it’s the size you want. This is a great approach if you have a limited amount of yarn, since you can just keep going until your yarn runs out.

Many shawls knit from the point to the wide edge increase at the rate of one stitch every other row. Changing the rate of increase will change the proportions of your triangle.

Maria Leigh used this approach in designing the Winter Park Shawl. She knit a pointed lace edging along each side of the stockinette stitch shawl, working the shaping increases just inside the edging.

The Crocus Pocus Shawl by Tian Connaughton also begins at the narrow point and increases along one edge. This design alternates two different crochet stitch patterns, one in a solid color and the other in a variegated yarn.

Hermia’s Shawl, designed by Paula Pereira, applies this shaping formula to a delicate knit lace pattern.  A scalloped lace edging replaces a standard bind off along the wide end for a graceful finish.

I have to include Jen Lucas’ Flibbertigibbet Shawlette in this round-up for two reasons. First, the name makes me smile. Second, she finishes the triangle with an edging of circular dangles that I can’t wait to try.

Start at the Wide Edge and Decrease to the Point

For this approach, begin with enough stitches for the wide end of the triangle, and decrease down to the point. This approach works best when you have an ample supply of yarn. If you run out of yarn before you reach the point, you’ll have made a scalene quadrilateral instead of a triangle.

If you tend to lose steam before finishing a big shawl project, this shape could be your solution. You’ll work the longest rows when you’re excited, the project is fresh, and you’re still getting to know the pattern. By the time you’re starting to get that “are we there yet?” feeling, the rows are short and progress is faster.

The Currents Shawl by Courtney Spainhower is a lovely example of this shape. She begins with a ribbed border, then moves into an embossed leaf pattern which transitions to panels of garter stitch and ribbing.

Melissa Leapman’s Sandy Shores Shawl also starts at the wide end and narrows to the point. Long tassels on each corner add a wonderfully playful touch.

Starting at the wide end gives you a perfect place to display a lace pattern that naturally scallops along the cast-on edge. The Peaks and Valleys Shawl by Lana Jois starts with a wide band of scalloped lace. An element of the lace pattern is continued up the straight edge of the shawl, with simple spaced garter ridges in the field.

Start at the Point, But Make it Longer

When these shawls are shaped with increases or decreases every other row, the overall shape can be a little squat, particularly if you’re working in garter stitch or another stitch pattern with a compressed row gauge. To elongate your triangle, start at the point and work shaping along both edges.

Increase along one side on every row. On the other side edge, decrease every other row. This produces a long narrow triangle, which is a great shape if you tend to wear your shawl like a scarf instead of wrapped around your shoulders.

Laura Reinbach’s Blake Shawl shows you the statement-making possibilities of a solid color and simple texture stitches when applied to a long, narrow triangle.

The elongated triangle showcases color stripes beautifully, since the stripes intersect the edges at interesting angles. The Kline Shawl, designed by Jennifer Dassau, combines a hand dyed yarn with a strong solid color for a shawl that will look fabulous any way you wrap it.

What Shape is Your Next Shawl?

Whether you knit or crochet, prefer cables, lace, texture or Tunisian, asymmetrical triangles are a great addition to a modern shawl wardrobe. Which one is next up in your queue?

Sandi Rosner
Technical Content Editor, Yarn

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