Design Notebook: Shawl of Secrets

It's been said before (a few times) but needs repeating - the hardest thing about being a commissioned designer is not being able to share the excitement over new projects. Oh, how I longed to show you this design as I was working on it last summer - I loved knitting it SO much. At that point, it wasn't just the project that was a 'secret' but also the yarn, which hadn't been released. So it's very apt that the pattern, available today as part of YARN The After Party series,  is called the Shawl of Secrets


As you can see, this is a stocking- and garter-stitch triangle shawl made from Scheepjes Secret Garden* (which I adore - read more about the yarn here). As you might expect, using basic stitches, this is a pattern that's suitable for all levels - if you can knit, purl and yarn over, you can make it - there's nothing terribly complicated here. So why might you need a pattern in order to make it? 

Firstly the shawl showcases six different colourways, put together in a way that flows effortlessly. They are as follows:

  • 1 x Rambling Blooms (705)
  • 1 x Summer House (707)
  • 1 x Hidden Pathway (701)
  • 1 x Secluded Lake (703)
  • 2 x Lavender Beds (704)
  • 1 x Herb Garden (702)

You will also need 4.5mm circular needles at least 100cm long  (to knit flat) and a couple of stitch markers. I also used a larger needle tip (6mm) for the bind off, but that's optional.

Of course, each shawl will be unique, depending on the individual yarn balls used for each colourway, but the order that I've put them in will ensure they work well together, whichever section of the colourway is at the start of the ball (they are easy-start centre-pull balls, by the way).


If you've ever made a triangle shawl with a self-striping yarn, you'll know the second challenge with this design. A triangle shawl grows steadily so that self-striping yarn looks very different at the top of the shawl, to the bottom. Rather than fight this I used it as part of the design. In other words, I did the maths to give the colour changes and alternating stitches intentional placement so that the colour changes don't look odd or jarring.

It turned out exactly as I had hoped and was one of the most satisfying things I'd knit for a long time. The yarn is gorgeous to work with (find some tips here) and the shawl drapes beautifully. I hope it will be just as loved by anyone who makes it. 

Of course, the second most difficult thing about being a commissioned designer is waiting to wear something you fell in love with - I finished it just in time for the courier to take it away. I only got to swish it around for a few minutes after it was ready, so I really can't wait for the sample to arrive back from the Netherlands. I might never take it off (and it's not even black or grey)!


The 'Shawl of Secrets' pattern is available in three languages - English, Dutch and Swedish as a PDF Download from Ravelry or as a printed pattern booklet in English and Dutch from Scheepjes stockists. What's more, you can get it for the bargain price of  £1 or €1. Download or add it to your favourites / queue here. You can see my own photos of the sample here, and remember to PIN some of the images above to your Pinterest boards if you'd like to share the love. Thanks so much x

EDITED: If you like this, you might also like my pattern A Great Big Cwtch which uses the same yarn! Find it here

*Affiliates: Scheepjes yarns and the printed pattern are available at LoveKnitting USWool WarehouseDeramores and other Scheepjes stockists. Thank you for using my affiliate links, which cost you nothing extra and help to support the blog. I really appreciate it. 

23 comments

  1. I love this one Sarah! Just bought the yarn to make one for myself :)

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  2. It looks fantastic may just give it a go after my queue of projects. Thanks xx

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    1. *enabling alert* It doesn't take long or require too much concentration - you can probably sneak it in between more taxing things ;)

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    2. He he he you are a bad influence!

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  3. That looks stunning. I've just bought it and I'm going to make it for my mum for her birthday, she'll love it, thank you so much

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  4. I love how you've played with the colours!

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    1. Thanks, I wanted to use as many of the colourways as possible :)

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  5. This is absolutely stunning, love the styling in the photos too!

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. Yes, Scheepjes have great photography. I feel lucky to have my work shown in their publications :)!

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  6. Sarah, just to say that the Wool Warehouse link goes straight to Ravelry. Is that right?

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  7. Sarah, I am so excited about the fact that you can finally share your gorgeous shawl. I absolutely LOVE it!

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    1. Thank you!!!!! I can't wait to wear it now :) xxxx

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  8. I'm a few inches in to my shawl, and I'm finding that the edge is tighter than the rest of it. I've undone it and started again several times and I'm knitting the edge as loose as I can and it's still tighter. Am I doing something wrong?

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    1. Hi Debbie, I sent you an email to help you out, as soon as I saw this comment, but didn't get a response. Please can you check your messages if you still need help? Sarah x

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  9. I started it two days ago and I realy love it. The design is wonderful and so easy. The yarn does all the tricks and I love it to see how each ball has different colors hidden. I think everybody gets his own different shawl, indeed a shawl of secrets ;-)

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    1. Yes Carin, indeed! Each time I see another one I get so excited to see how it looks! Glad you're loving it so far! :)

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  10. Sarah I notice that I run short with the color 703 and from color 707 I never have enough for the border. Did you also have trouble with the amount?
    Because a friend of mine just emailed me, asking if I had enough yarn because she is running out of a color too. We both knit on 4.5 mm too.

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    1. Hi Carin, I've replied by email too, but will put this here incase it's helpful to others.

      I had some yarn left over in all of the colours so I checked with others who had finished it already and there was one person who ran out of the last colour a few sts from the end of the bind off, but had left a long tail at the beginning, so put it down to that.

      If you're already at the border, it depends how much you have left to knit. You might consider binding off a row early, or using up one of the other left overs instead.

      For anyone who hasn't started yet and is concerned, as long as you're consistently knitting at the same gauge as the sample, you should have a bit of yarn left over in each colour at the end. It's not fatal if you don't (eg if your knitting relaxes and your tension changes) but you may need to 'fudge' the border rows a bit if this happens.

      Hope that's helpful!

      Sarah
      x

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  11. Hi.
    Why on Gst 5 does the increase jump from being 24 stitches to 64 stitches? Do you just keep repeating the garter stitch section.....it doesn't say this?
    Many thanks.

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    1. Hi Cathy, the sections are not all equal, so just have faith in the stitch count written in the table and you won't go wrong. Happy knitting! xxx

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