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Open Ocean is an asymmetrical triangle shawl worked in DK yarn with a series of relaxing stitch patterns, including easy texture and simple lace, with a seaside theme. This beginner-friendly shawl is perfect for beach or travel knitting or knitting while chatting or watching TV.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knitted.

Difficulty: Advanced beginner. The stitch patterns are fully written out, not charted; they have very short repeats. There are detailed pictures of each stitch pattern.

Skills to have (or enjoy learning) for this pattern: k2tog, p2tog, yarn over, slipped stitches, kfb, pfb.

Yarn: Approximately 215 grams/ 535 yards/ 490 meters DK-weight yarn. The sample was worked with Miss Babs Yowza, a 100% superwash Merino wool with 560 yards/512 meters per 225-gram hank. Other wool or wool-blend yarns and bamboo or cotton blends would also work well for this design.

Finished dimensions: Approximately 36”/ 90 cm along the short edge, 56”/140 cm inside edge, 54”/ 135 cm outside edge, with a 20”/50 cm drop, after blocking. There is an option at the end of the pattern to increase the size of the shawl if desired, as well as several options for a smaller shawl.

Gauge: 20 sts and 26 rows to 4”/ 10 cm in stockinette stitch, unblocked. Gauge is not tremendously important, but if your gauge differs, the finished size and yarn usage may vary.

Needles: US 8/ 5.0 mm or size needed to achieve gauge. The shawl is worked flat.
It is possible to knit the shawl entirely on straight needles, but it will be more comfortable to use a long circular needle so that the stitches can spread out as the shawl grows. The sample was worked initially on a 40”/100 cm needle, switching to a 60”/150 cm long needle towards the end.

Questions? Please ask! Designer email is included in the pattern.

Thank you to tech editor Bonnie Davis and to the fabulous test knitters of this shawl: CEMommy1701, geneslady, kerkin, sheilacampbell, and woodcart. If you might be interested in test knitting, join the Softyarn Designs newsletter list, where all of my tests are announced. When you sign up for the newsletter, you also get a free pattern that’s not available elsewhere (Simple Hat Worked Flat) plus subscriber-only promotions and other fun stuff. Join the list here.