Top Down Triangular Shawls

A top down triangular shawl actually consists of 2 triangles. Look at the chart below, see how it consists of two halves and both halves are identical? These two halves are separated by a central stitch  which is often called a ‘spine’. In some patterns, like my Amore Shawlette, the 'spine' may be substituted by a insertion but the principle of shaping works the same whether the 'spine consists of 1 stitch or several.

There are a couple of different ways of starting a top down triangular shawl. 

This is my preferred method:

Cast on 7 stitches. On each right side row you will be increasing 4 stitches by working yarn overs inside the first 2 stitches and last 2 stitches and either side of the centre stitch. See the chart below.

This chart  is worked like this:

Row 1: k2, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k2.

Row 2 & all WS rows: k2, p to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 3: k2, yo, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, yo, k2.

Row 5: k2, yo, k5, yo, k1, yo, k5, yo, k2.

Row 7: k2, yo, k7, yo, k1, yo, k7, yo, k2.

The grey squares of the chart means no stitch. The 'spine column' has a red border.

To save space in my patterns, I only draw up one of the two triangles. This enables me to make the charts larger.

The pattern instructions would be written like this:

Work each row as follows:

RS: k2, work chart, k1, work chart, k2

WS: k2, p/k to last 2 sts, k2

This means that all the right side rows would be worked like the one mentioned and like-wise for the wrong side rows.

The schematic below shows cast on, cast off, increase lines and direction of knitting.

Want to knit a top down triangular shawl? I've got lots to choose from: The Forget Me Not Shawlette, Simplicity (which gives you a choice of top down triangular shawlette or a half hexagon shawlette), Trinity,  Ocean Waves and Carmen are all worked in sock yarn, while Lazuli, Golitha Falls, Candace, Sophia and The Garden Party Shawl are worked in laceweight yarn.

The Amore Shawlette has a narrow insertion band instead of the single spine stitch and Dazzle and Snow Queen have much wider insertion sections which gives the shawl more of a semi-circular shape.

Arabella is a free top down triangular shawl knitted in dk weight yarn with a simple dropped stitch pattern.