Jimi is a top-down triangular shawlette that was designed specifically as a comprehensive tutorial pattern for new knitters who are ready to step up their skills. Of course, Jimi isn’t just for beginners—it can also be knitted by experienced knitters who are looking for a quick knit that is perfect for gifts, stash busting and TV knitting.

Jimi’s versatile shape and size can be worn as in many different configurations—wrapped about the neck as a scarf with the tip either in front or in back, or draped over the shoulders as a shawl. The shawlette is knitted with 2 complimentary/contrasting colors of worsted weight yarn, each using about half of the total yardage of 340-375 yards (311-342 m), which is (approx. 170-185 yards (156-169 m) of each of the 2 colors.

I started teaching beginning knitting classes earlier this year. It’s been a blast, watching people pick up needles for the first time and start exploring the wondrous thing that is knitting. I decided to design a simple yet stylish shawlette for when they were ready to graduate from rectangular scarves to something more challenging, but not too frightening or frustrating. If you can knit and purl with ease, you can knit this pattern. With Jimi, the new knitter will learn how to:

• Knit a triangular shawl shaped with yarn over increases
• Alternate skeins in a neat and easy way for 2-color, 2-row stripes
• Work decreases paired with yarn overs to create mesh lace
• Weave in yarn tails neatly in garter stitch
• Work a better bind off than the first one everyone learns
• Use stitch markers

Because Jimi was conceived as a teaching pattern, there is a 3-page tutorial section after the instructions. This tutorial includes:

• Links to great videos showing how to work all the stitches and techniques used to make Jimi
• A photo-tutorial that clearly shows how to alternate skeins while carrying yarn up the side
• Detailed blocking instructions and photos
• How to increase the size in 2 ways and how to recalculate stitch counts

Jimi is shown worked in 2 different colors of worsted weight yarn, but may be worked in any weight you like. Try using a variegated or self striping yarn with a coordinating solid yarn for a completely different look. No matter what weight yarn is used, the size may be easily customized and made much larger for a super warm shawl that can be used in place of a jacket on cool days.

For the green/gray version, I used a total of 360 yards (329 m) of the Collins Worsted, which is a fairly heavy worsted yarn. For the purple/orange variegated version, I used a total of 345 yards (316 m) of Malabrigo Rios, which is a fairly standard weight worsted. Each of the two colors used about half of the total yardage.