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Riven : an asymmetrical triangle-shaped shawl knit using two-color brioche faux cables that undulate down as the shawl grows.

Many thanks to Erin littlesparks for suggesting this beautiful name for the pattern!! Riven means to split apart or divide, like water cutting through the land, or cables dividing the fabric.

Grab 2 skeins of fingering / sock weight yarn for this delectable brioche faux cable shawl!! The yardage / meterage listed includes 10% overage to account for differences in gauge and tension. You may not use all of your yarn for this project. If you do swatch before you cast on the shawl, I recommend knitting a smaller swatch than normal, or using extra yarn you may have on hand. Please note that some of my test knitters ran out of yarn, so I highly recommend swatching before you cast on! See the last photo here for the yarn I used for my sample.

Skill Level:
Intermediate. Brioche increases and decreases are used to create the faux cable look, with increases on the Main Side, and decreases on the Contrast Side.

Techniques Used:
knit, purl, brioche knit, brioche purl, brioche increases and decreases (no br4st dec!!), sideways triangle shawl shaping, twisted german cast on, elastic bind off

Video Tutorial for all two-color brioche increases and decrease used:
https://bit.ly/UndaCowl

Construction Notes:
This asymmetrical triangle shawl is knit on the bias, casting on very few stitches, then increasing stitches only on the right edge of the shawl until binding off. The fascinating brioche faux cables will begin immediately and grow in number as the shawl grows. The increases and decreases you work to create the faux cable look are a bit different than what you might be used to: the increases will be worked on the Main Side, while the decreases are worked on the Contrast Side! This helps the cable to look like the stitches are going behind each other. You will continue this repetitive pattern until binding off.

Asymmetrical triangle shawls are my favorite shawl shape! I love styling this one around my neck and shoulders kerchief-style, with the cables cascading downwards. It’s so easy to throw on over your favorite outfit!

This pattern has both written instructions and a charts for your convenience.

» One Size:
54” / 137 cm wingspan and 33” / 84 cm deep, measured after blocking.

» Gauge:
16 sts x 21 rows = 4” / 10 cm; measured in even two-color brioche stitch knit flat (taken after blocking).

MATERIALS:

» Yarn: Fingering / Sock weight
790 yds / 723 m
Main Color (MC): 400 yds / 366 m
Contrast Color (CC): 390 yds / 357 m

» Shown in:
MC: 1 skein Hue Loco Spun Sock in Ohana (blue speckled; 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 400 yds / 366 m per 100g)
CC: 1 skein Savvy Skeins Lush MCN in Pandemonium (purple variegated; 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 435 yds / 398 m per 100g)

» Needles:
32” / 81 cm US 4 / 3.5 mm circular needles

Circular needles are used for brioche knitting, and to accommodate a large number of stitches.

Adjust needle size as needed to obtain proper gauge.

» Tools:
tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming, row counter or your preferred method of keeping track of your pattern, 7 stitch markers for noting pattern repeats

Many many thanks to Nicole from Hue Loco and Ali from Savvy Skeins for the yarn support and design inspiration!! I also want to thank my amazing Tech Editor, Meaghan Schmaltz, for her efforts and expertise. And finally, a HUGE thank you to my awesome test knitters!!! Be sure to check out their projects for some serious color inspiration!!

I also want to thank my wonderful husband, Brian Robinson, for taking these photos while visiting the beautiful state of Maine this past summer.