Shawl Shapes Explained: Symmetrical Triangles

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Some of our most popular and versatile shawls are symmetrical triangles. From small pieces you can tie around your head as a kerchief or around your neck as a bandana, to shawls large enough to wrap your torso and tie behind your back, there is a triangular shawl to suit everyone.

Above: Pierpoint Shawl by Dani Berg

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

Start at the Point and Increase Upward

Perhaps the simplest way to knit or crochet a triangle is to start at the point with just a few stitches and increase at each edge until it’s the size you want. This is a good approach if you have a limited amount of yarn, since you can just keep going until your yarn runs out.

Romi Hill designed the Squall Line Shawl using this approach for the main body of the shawl, then adding the lovely, scalloped lace edging that runs along the sides.

The rate of increasing on each side of your shawl will determine the depth of your triangle. In knitting, if you increase at the beginning and end of every other row, the point of your shawl will be close to a 90º angle as shown in the illustration. If you increase at the beginning and end of every row, the angle at the point will be closer to 130º, and your triangle will be shallower.

Start at the Upper Edge and Decrease to the Point

For this approach, begin with enough stitches for the wingspan at the upper edge of the triangle, and decrease down to the point. This approach is best when you have ample yarn available. If you run out of yarn before you reach the point, your shawl might look oddly truncated.

In the Moondrop Shawl designed by Lori M. Carlson, crochet picot clusters are framed in a large-scale mesh. By working one less repeat of the motif in each tier, the design cascades beautifully to the point.

Just like triangles worked from the point up, the rate of decreasing will determine the depth of your shawl and the angle of the point.

Start at the Center Back and Work Down and Outward

This is the most popular approach to symmetrical triangles. Start with a few stitches at the center of the top edge, then increase at the sides and at the center, working down and outward.

Look closely at the illustration above. Do you see that this is essentially two triangles knit from the point to the long edge, as in our first approach? The two sides are separated by a “spine”, which can be a single stitch, or a narrow panel of stitches.

These shawls usually feature symmetrical patterning on either side of the spine. This is easily seen in Sigrid Arnott’s Tahitian Shawl. Notice the distinctive miter where the rows turn the corner at the center of the shawl.

That miter can also be seen in the Geranium Shawl by Anne Jones. The large diamond lace motifs mirror beautifully on either side of the spine.

This shawl shape is not just for lace patterns. Amy Christoffers designed her Desert Sunset Shawl with bands of slip stitch colorwork for a fun, casual shawl. Note the tell-tale miter at the center of the shawl which tells you this piece was knit from the center back outward.

Working from the center back outward is another good strategy when you have a finite amount of yarn. Your shawl can keep growing until the yarn supply runs low, and you’ll always end up with a triangle.

Start at One Tip and Work Across to the Other Tip

This side-to-side approach to the triangle is one of my favorites, but it doesn’t show up very often. You begin with a few stitches at one tip and increase along one edge until you reach the half-way point. Then you decrease along that edge to the other tip.

Stefanie Bold took this approach in designing her Maritime Stripes Shawl in Tunisian crochet. The standout element in this design is the miter that runs parallel to the long edge, independent of the overall shaping. So good.

The Holmes Shawl by Sierra Morningstar is another example of this construction. In this cozy and casual design, inspired by a topographical map, garter stitch and stockinette stitch combine to form concentric triangles.

Tip-to-tip is another strategy best reserved for a project where you have plenty of yarn. If you run short of yarn before you reach the point at the end, you’ll waste time trying to figure out how to hide this when you wear the shawl.

What Direction Will Your Next Shawl Take?

Whether you work from the point up, from the top down, or from tip to tip, triangular shawls are a mainstay in every knit or crochet wardrobe. Which one will you make next?

Sandi Rosner
Technical Content Editor, Yarn

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Ready for your next shawl project? Here are some tempting triangles: