Triangle with Wings #1 from the top down

The second variation on the traditional right angle triangle has “wings,” which makes the top edge of the shawl curve up around the shoulders helping the shawl stay in place more easily. This type of shawl is also occasionally called a heart shaped shawl, but I’ve always seen wings rather than a heart.

To shape a Triangle with Wings, you work the first half of your shawl as if you were working a Right Triangle, then at your halfway point, you increase the rate at which you work the shaping along your top edge, from every other row, to every row. This additional shaping produces the wings of your shawl.

Knitting Instructions

CO 7sts.
{4 border sts + 2 sections + 1 spine}
R1: k2, yo, k1, yo, pm, k1, pm, yo, k1, yo, k2.
R2: purl across.
R3: k2, yo, k to marker, yo, sm, k1, sm, yo, k to last 2sts, yo, k2.
R4: purl across.
Rep R3&4 to half your desired shawl depth.
R5: k2, yo, k to marker, yo, sm, k1, sm, yo, k to last 2sts, yo, k2.
R6: p2, yo, p to last 2sts, yo, p2.
Rep R5&6 to desired dimensions.
Bind off loosely.

Triangle with Wings from the bottom up

To create a bottom up triangle with wings is totally possible, but the math to figure out the number of stitches to cast on at your hem is a bit tricky. I found the easiest way to calculate the number of hem stitches was to think of the shawl in two halves: top & bottom.

For the top half of the shawl (which would be the second half you work) you’ll decrease 4 stitches every other row. For the bottom half of the shawl (the first half you work) you’ll decrease 6 stitches over two rows.

Calculating your row count

Determine your final gauge and desired depth along center back spine.
[Desired depth] / 2 = [Z]
[Z] x [1.4142] = [magic number]
[Magic number] x [row gauge] = [# of rows]
[# of rows] / 2 = [# of rows in each shawl half] AND [half # of rows in shawl]

Calculating your stitch count for the top shawl half

[half # of rows in shawl] / 2 = [# of dec rows in top shawl half]
[# of dec rows in top shawl half] x [4sts decreased per dec row] = [# of sts decreased in top shawl half]
Make sure this number is divisible by 4.

Calculating your stitch count for the bottom shawl half

[half # of rows in shawl] / 2 = [# of dec reps in bottom shawl half]
[# of dec reps in bottom shawl half] x [6sts decreased per dec rep] = [# of sts decreased in bottom shawl half]
Make sure this number is divisible by 6.

Calculating your cast on

[# of sts decreased in top shawl half] + [# of sts decreased in bottom shawl half] = [# of sts decreased total]
[# of sts decreased total] = [# of sts to CO]

Calculating your stitch marker placement

[# of sts to CO] / [2 shawl sections] = [# of sts in one section aka Y]

Knitting Instructions

CO [# of sts to CO].
R1: ssk, kY minus four, k2tog, pm, ssk, kY minus four, k2tog.
R2: p2tog, p to last 2sts, p2togtbl.
R3: ssk, k to 2sts before marker, k2tog, sm, ssk, k to last 2sts, k2tog.
R4: p2tog, p to last 2sts, p2togtbl.
Rep R3&4 to [# rows in each shawl half] AND also until [# of sts decreased in bottom shawl half] have been decreased.
R5: ssk, k to 2sts before marker, k2tog, sm, ssk, k to last 2sts, k2tog. R6: purl across.
Rep R5&6 to 4sts AND also [# of rows] have been worked.
Bind off loosely.

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