This is the eight post in a series about different shawl shapes and how to knit them. All the posts in the series can be found right here.

Side to Side Triangle

To shape the Side to Side Triangle, you cast on at one corner, increase along one edge until you reach your halfway point, (the second corner), then you decrease along that same edge to your third corner.

This particular shaping is wonderfully versatile, and easily customizable. You can customize the number of stitches you cast on, the rate of shaping along the bottom edge (which changes the angle of the bottom point), and the symmetry or asymmetry of your whole shawl.

Explanation about different rates of shaping

Increase every row (left). Increase every 2nd row (top right). Increase every 4th row (bottom right).

One of the easiest ways to manipulate and customize the Side to Side Triangle is by varying the rate of your shaping.

You can do this by varying the number of rows you work between your shaping rows. Varying the number of rows you work between your shaping rows changes slope of the sides of your shawl, which in influences the angle of the bottom tip of your triangle.

The more often you work your shaping, the steeper the edge of your shawl will be. Conversely, the less frequently you work your shaping, (increasing the number of rest rows between shaping rows) the shallower your shawl’s edge will be.

Symmetrical Side to Side Triangle

Symmetrical shawl calculations

Determine your final gauge, desired length, and desired rate of shaping.
[Row gauge] x [desired length] = [# of rows]
[# of rows] / 2 = [# of rows in each shawl half]
[# of rows in each shawl half] / [desired rate of shaping] = [# of shaping reps to work in each shawl half]

Knitting Instructions

CO 3sts.
Set Up Row: k2, pm, yo, k1.
Increase Section
Work [desired rate of shaping minus one row].
Increase Row: k2, sm, yo, k to end.
Rep previous two lines to [# of shaping reps to work in each shawl half].
Decrease Section
Decrease Row: k2, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Work [desired rate of shaping minus one row].
Rep previous two lines to [# of shaping reps to work in each shawl half].
Final Row: k2, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Bind off loosely.

Knitting Instructions with shaping worked every 2nd row

CO 3sts.
Increase Section
R1: k2, pm, yo, k1.
R2: purl across.
R3: k2, sm, yo, k to end.
R4: purl across
Rep R3&4 to half desired length
Decrease Section
R5: k2, sm, k2tog, k to end.
R6: purl across.
Rep R5&6 to 3sts.
Bind off loosely.

Tips for using up ALL of your yarn

If you want to ensure that you get as much shawl as possible out of the yarn you have on hand, this is an excellent shawl shape to knit.

Use a kitchen scale to weigh your yarn before you start. Then work your increase section, as you’re knitting, weigh your yarn every couple of repeats. When you’ve reached half your original yarn weight, begin working your decrease section. Basing your knitting off of the weight of your yarn ensures that you use all your yarn.

If you’re a bit worried about having enough yarn to finish, begin your decrease section a couple of grams before you’ve fully used half your yarn. This gives you a bit of wiggle room for tension changes and to play yarn chicken with.

Asymmetrical Side to Side Triangle

You can also create an asymmetrical side to side triangle, simply by working either half of this symmetrical side-to-side shawl.

Point to End Asymmetrical Calculations

Determine your final gauge, desired length, and desired rate of shaping.
[Row gauge] x [desired length] = [# of rows]

Point to End Asymmetrical Knitting Instructions

CO 3sts.
Set Up Row: k2, pm, yo, k1.
Work [desired rate of shaping minus one row].
Increase Row: k2, sm, yo, k to end.
Rep previous two lines to desired dimensions and [# of rows].
Bind off loosely.

End to Point Asymmetrical Calculations

Determine your final gauge, desired length, desired depth at wide end, and rate of shaping.
[Row gauge] x [desired length] = [# of rows]
[Stitch gauge] x [desired depth at wide end] = [# of sts to CO]

End to Point Asymmetrical Knitting Instructions

CO [# of sts to CO].
Set Up Row: k2, pm, k2tog, k to end.
Work [desired rate of shaping minus one row].
Decrease Row: k2, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Rep previous two lines to 3sts, and until [# of rows] have been worked.
Bind off loosely.

The previous post: Triangle with Wings #1
The next post: Edge to Edge Squares