Leucate

Leucate Shawl by Sabrina Schumacher

Design Overview

Leucate is an asymmetric triangle shawl inspired by the contrasting landscapes of Leucate, a renowned kitesurfing destination in southern France. The design captures the dynamic interplay between opposing natural elements—the calm waters of the Étang basin and the energetic sea, influenced by winds from different directions. This conceptual foundation translates into a knitted textile that celebrates textural and visual contrast through strategic pattern placement and color blocking.

What Is Being Made

A knitted asymmetric triangle shawl featuring multiple textures and color sections. The shawl is designed to be worn as a versatile layering piece, with the asymmetric shape allowing for varied styling options. The finished garment showcases the interplay between smooth and textured sections, creating visual interest and dimensional depth.

Construction Method

Leucate is knitted sideways, meaning the shawl is worked from one side to the other rather than from the top down or bottom up. This construction method allows the designer to build the asymmetric triangle shape while incorporating color changes and textural transitions in a controlled, progressive manner. Sideways knitting provides flexibility in shaping and makes it easier to manage the geometric asymmetry of the design.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stockinette stitch – smooth, flat sections that provide visual contrast to textured areas and represent the calm water elements
• Lace pattern – creates the "foam crowns" motif, representing the foam crests created by north-west winds from the Pyrenees
• Garter stitch ribs – textured sections representing light waves, created by the south-east wind patterns
• Color changes – the shawl incorporates multiple yarn colors worked throughout the pattern; the designer provides a video tutorial on yarn carrying technique at color changes to maintain clean transitions and prevent loose floats
• Striping – color sections are strategically placed to enhance the visual representation of the landscape contrasts

Yarn and Materials

The sample is knitted using De Rerum Natura Albertine Fingering, a premium yarn blend composed of 90% Merino Bio and 10% Mulberry Silk. This yarn weight is classified as 4-ply fingering weight, offering 200 meters (219 yards) per 50-gram ball. The silk content adds subtle sheen and drape to the finished shawl, while the merino provides warmth and elasticity.

The sample uses three colors from the Albertine range:

• Brume (Color 1) – 40 grams / 160 meters / 174 yards
• Aurore (Color 2) – 50 grams / 200 meters / 219 yards
• Ocre (Color 3) – 45 grams / 180 meters / 197 yards

The total yardage used across all three colors allows for the complete asymmetric triangle shawl with textured sections and color blocking as designed.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. Knitters should be comfortable with fundamental techniques including stockinette stitch, garter stitch, and lace pattern work. The sideways construction and color-change techniques require attention to detail and familiarity with managing multiple yarn colors within a single row or section. The video tutorial provided for yarn carrying at color changes is a valuable resource for knitters less experienced with this technique.

Design Inspiration and Narrative

The Leucate shawl transforms a geographical and meteorological concept into textile form. The pattern documentation notes the contrasting wind patterns and water conditions at Leucate—north-west winds creating foam crests in the Étang while the sea remains slightly wavy, and south-east winds reversing these conditions. The knitted design unites these opposites through deliberate textural choices: smooth stockinette sections contrast with foam-crown lace patterns and garter-stitch ribs representing waves, creating a wearable representation of environmental duality.