Big Bend

Big Bend Knitted Shawl by Laurie Beardsley

Design Inspiration and Project Overview

Big Bend is an advanced knitting pattern for a triangular shawl inspired by Big Bend National Park in Texas, USA. The design captures the visual diversity of the park's colorful ecosystems and the flowing presence of the Rio Grande River that borders it. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a finished shawl measuring 53 inches (135 centimeters) across the wingspan and 24 inches (61 centimeters) in depth.

Yarn and Materials Required

This pattern calls for 400 yards each of two colors of fingering weight yarn, allowing for creative color work that reflects the shawl's inspiration. The designer recommends selecting a fiber that blocks well, such as wool or a wool blend, to achieve optimal drape and definition. The edging should feature a solid or semi-solid colorway that coordinates with the main body color. The sample shown was knitted in Blue Mule Fiber XtraFine (75% Superwash Merino and 25% Mulberry Silk, with 437 yards per 100-gram skein), using one skein each of Big Bend for the body and Judge Roy Bean for the edging.

Additional materials include a US 4 (3.50 millimeter) circular needle at least 48 inches long, six stitch markers, a tapestry needle for finishing, and blocking supplies.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in garter stitch after blocking. While gauge is not considered critical for this design, variations will affect the total yardage required and influence the final size and drape characteristics of the finished shawl.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Garter stitch forms the foundation of this shawl, creating a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. This fundamental knitting stitch is worked by knitting every row, making it suitable for advanced knitters who are comfortable managing larger projects with multiple color sections and shaping techniques.

The pattern employs the use of stitch markers to track pattern repeats and construction sections throughout the knitting process. The triangular shawl construction likely incorporates strategic increases to create the wingspan and depth dimensions while maintaining the integrity of the garter stitch texture.

Difficulty Level

Classified as an advanced knitting project, Big Bend is designed for experienced knitters comfortable with managing larger yardages, color changes, and the spatial awareness required for triangular shawl construction. The combination of two coordinating yarn colors and the need to maintain consistent gauge across a substantial project makes this pattern best suited for knitters with established skills.