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The Dark Winter Warrior Shawl was inspired by my mom. She and my dad come to visit weekly to play games and/or watch movies with my kids and me. Whenever we watch movies, she likes to cuddle up with one of my younger kids under a blanket. Even in the summer, when the house is cooled by air conditioning, we will find a blanket for her to snuggle under. So I decided to create something that would be especially for her while she visits and also when she feels a bit chilly at home.

I named the shawl Dark Winter Warrior because the wearer feels like a Warrior against the cold! The brioche stitches add squishiness and keep all the warmth in. The shawl, when knitted according to the sample size, is oversized at a generous 117” x 21” (after blocking). Because of this length, the shawl can be wrapped around and around as many times as desired. There are an unlimited number of ways to wear this type of shawl. Some examples are shown in the pictures, but you can wrap it however you like.

I really enjoyed designing this pattern with little snowflake motifs in syncopated brioche and bordered with wrapped brioche stitches. My pattern testers were amazing with suggestions on how to make the instructions clear and easy to follow. It has written instructions, four separate charts with keys, an abbreviation key, and special video tutorials for the techniques used. I hope you love making Dark Winter Warrior and I hope you feel like a Warrior when you wear it!

PATTERN INFO:

Level: Advanced

Finished size: ~ 96” x 16” before blocking (117” x 21” after blocking)

Materials: Hobby Lobby’s Yarn Bee Soft & Sleek DK (4 oz., 478 yds (437m)/ball) or a similar yarn

Tip: this sample yarn is quite light for a DK, so a fingering weight yarn may work just as well.

Main Color (MC): “Ocean Wave/16” ~ 3 oz.

Gradient Colors:

A: “Ivory/01” (white) ~ 2 oz.

B: “Linen/04” (light gray) ~ 4 oz.

C: “Cloud Control/03” (medium gray) ~ 4 oz.

D: “Mink/05” (dark gray) ~ 4 oz.

E: “Cedar/06” (almost black) ~ 2 oz.

F: “Black/02” (black) ~ 2 oz.

Tools: – Circular Knitting Needles size US 6 (4 mm) AND US 4 (3.5 mm)

– Double Pointed Knitting Needles size US 6 (4 mm)

– Yarn Needle

Gauge: 22 sts x 28 rws in brioche stitch before blocking

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Pattern notes:
This beautiful shawl was inspired by my mom, who loves to wrap up in cuddly blankets throughout the year, but especially in the winter. She can now be a “Winter Warrior” with the warmth and squishiness that brioche naturally gives. This shawl is large at over 90” for those who like to wrap their shawls around more than once. There are a total of ten “Combos” that give a gradient effect as they go from lighter colors to darker colors and then back to lighter. The ends are highlighted with a pretty pop of contrast color and twisted stitch ribbing. You may eliminate any number of “Combos” to make the shawl shorter if you wish. There are three parts to each “Combo”. The first and last parts consist of a unique wrapped brioche stitch and the middle part has a snowflake motif repeated thrice using syncopated brioche. If you are unfamiliar with these techniques, you may watch the video tutorials I have linked within the pattern. When working the “Combos”, pay close attention to which colors are indicated, as they change for each “Combo”.
The beginning and ending ribbing are worked with larger circular needles and the brioche portion is work with the smaller circulars.

A note about the Charts in this pattern:
I have created a new way to use charts for two color brioche, so I feel they need some explanation. When knitting two color brioche, only one color is used at a time. The first color is knit across the row, which I have denoted as “a” rows. Then all stitches are slipped to the other end of the circular needle so that the work is not turned. The second color is then knit across the row, which I have denoted as “b” rows. The work is then turned so that the wrong side is showing. An “a” row is worked and then a “b” row is worked.
Therefore, each row in the charts consists of both an “a” row and a “b” row. In other words, you’ll be working each row of the chart twice. Once with the first color and then once with the second color.
All Right Side rows are worked from right to left on the chart, and all Wrong Side rows are worked from left to right.
Follow the keys on the charts closely to know what each symbol/color means for each row. As you’ll notice, the meanings of the symbols change depending on whether you are on an “a” row or a “b” row and whether you are on a Right Side row or a Wrong Side row.
This way of charting two color brioche allows for the design to be seen more clearly, and once you have gotten into the rhythm of it, becomes intuitive based on how the chart looks.