Shawl Geometry: Wedge Crescent
This is the seventeenth post in a series about different shawl shapes and how to knit them. All the posts in the series can be found right here.
Eight Equal Wedge Crescent Shaped Shawl from the top down
This crescent is created with eight equal wedges shaped with eight single increases (or decreases). Rather than evenly spacing your shaping all the way around your shawl, like you would for a Wedge Circle, (or a Wedge Doughnut), you work eight equal wedges – four wedges shaped in one direction, and four wedges shaped in the opposite direction.
Knitting Instructions
CO 13sts.
{4 border sts + 8 sections + 1 spine}
R1: k2, (pm, yo, k1) 4 times, pm, k1, (pm, k1, yo) 4 times, pm, k2.
R2: purl across.
R3: k2, (sm, yo, k to marker) 4 times, sm, k1, (sm, k to marker, yo) 4 times, sm, k2.
R4: purl across.
Rep R3&4 to desired dimensions.
Bind off loosely.
Eight Equal Wedge Crescent Shaped Shawl from the bottom up
Calculating your cast on
Determine your final gauge and desired depth down the center back.
[Row gauge] x [desired depth] = [# of rows]
[# of rows] / 2 = [# of dec rows]
[# of dec rows] x [8sts decreased per dec row] = [# of sts decreased]
Make sure this number is divisible by 8.
[# of sts decreased] = [# of sts to CO]
Calculating your stitch marker placement
[# of sts to CO] / [8 shawl sections] = [# of sts in one section aka Y]
Knitting Instructions
CO [# of sts to CO].
R1: (pm, ssk, kY minus two) 4 times, (pm, kY minus two, k2tog) 4 times.
R2: purl across.
R3: (sm, ssk, k to marker) 4 times, (sm, k to 2sts before marker, k2tog) 4 times.
R4: purl across.
Rep R3&4 to 8sts.
Bind off loosely.
I personally adore how this shawl sits on the shoulders. It hugs the shoulders but doesn’t feel like it’s got a lot of excess fabric that you need to deal with.
This is the last pattern post in the Shawl Geometry series. Thank you so much for following along. If you enjoyed the series, consider buying the ebook. It’ll mean I can create and provide more how-to blog posts, and maybe do another series in the future, (though perhaps a slightly shorter one.)
The previous post: 1/2 Circles
The introduction to the whole series: Introduction
Hi, thanks for sharing, I love the shape and your post is very helpful. BTW I count 8 increases but 7 sections.
I’m so glad you love the shape and find the post helpful.
In regards to shaping, the center back section of the Wedge Crescent is made up of two equal sections placed back to back along the center back spine. You can either think of this as one section with increases on either side (making the section and the shaping unique from all other sections), or as two sections that mirror each other (making the section shaping the same as every other section on the corresponding side).
When you think about the center back section as two shaping sections mirrored, the instructions can be written as in the post. For example: R3: k2, (sm, yo, k to marker) 4 times, sm, k1, (sm, k to marker, yo) 4 times, sm, k2.
When you think about the center back section as one unique shaping section, the instructions would be written differently. Example (using the same stitch marker set up as above): R3: k2, (sm, yo, k to marker) 3 times, sm, yo, k to marker, sm, k1, sm, k to marker, yo, sm, (k to marker, yo, sm) 3 times, k2.
Which you choose would depend on the shawl design and if the design of each section as all the other sections, or if the design on the center back section is unique.
Hope this clarifies.
Hello,
Im knitting this 8 equal wedge crescent shawl right now with 3.5 mm needles,baby yarn in plain stockinette.After having 65 stitches per 8 sections,Im finding my shawl too frilly,good depth from back,but lesser from front.
Can I change increase row to every 5th or 9th row instead of every other row to reduce width?Or should I use short row shaping in front sections on both ends.Pls help,im really stuck.
You can always adjust the shaping rate of your shawl to achieve the shape you’re looking for. If I were in your poisition, I’d first place my knitting on waste yarn and lightly block the shawl to get an accurate sense of the final, blocked shawl shape. From there, I’d consider what adjustments I’d want to make. Which shaping adjustment is right for your shawl will depend on your knitting preferences and design vision. Happy knitting! And good luck!