Floating Ribs

This pattern is a triple love letter – first, to the amazing way brioche ribs interlace and float above one another, second, to precious handspun yarn, and third, to my very sweet but horrendously destructive cat.

I designed this shawl to use up every possible yard of handspun salvaged from a formerly favorite shawl in which my cat chewed several holes.

Floating Ribs features a faux i-cord edging, a central column of increases, and uses two colors of yarn to create a subtle striped effect. The elongated heart-shape of the shawl keeps it on your shoulders, and it’s a great size for multi-season wear – scrunch it up and wear it as an oversized winter scarf, or wear it around your shoulders as a transitional layer for fall and spring.

About this Pattern 

Skill Level: Intermediate, with some experience knitting brioche.

Skills Needed: Basic knitting skills, plus brioche knits and purls (brk and brp, brioche knit–yarn over–brioche knit (brkyobrk), Brioche knit four stitch increase (br4st), Judy’s Magic Cast-on, i-cord, and grafting.

Finished Size: 62 inches / 158 cm tip to tip, and 18 inches / 46 cm deep at the center point.

Yarn: MC – Infinite Twist Halo Heather Handspun, 100% Merino wool, 300 y. CC - Infinite Twist Umbra, 300 y.

Needles: U.S. size 7 / 4.5 mm circular needle, at least 80 cm long, or any size yielding correct gauge, plus one set of DPNs in same size as circular needle.

Gauge: 7 CC ribs & 19 CC rows over 4 inches / 10 cm in brioche stitch pattern after blocking.

Notions: At least one locking stitch marker, yarn needle.

Download the pattern