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About: I love knitting cables because of the intricate paintings they weave into the fabric of my work. However, I’m not a fan of using a cable needle—it is just one more notion to keep track of, and get lost in the couch (and then poke my butt).

That is why I love the stitch pattern featured in the Kaka Kīrehe Shawl. It combines slip stitches (for speediness) and 2-stitch cables (for simplicity) to create a truly stunning and eye-catching motif. The shawl is an elegant asymmetrical shape, alternating between sections of stockinette and a slip-stitch cable motif, which can be worked without the use of a cable needle.

The Kaka Kīrehe Shawl is a collaborative effort between Aroha Knits and June Cashmere. Kaka Kīrehe is Maori for “animal fiber,” named after the yarn itself, and June is Kyrgyz (a language in Kyrgyzstan) for the same. The yarn is truly luxurious (100% cashmere), and a delight with which to knit.

Adventurous beginners will be able to knit this shawl with confidence, due to the repetitive nature of the shawl body, while practicing the motif several times over the course of the shawl, finding the rhythm in the stitches, and learning a new technique.

More experienced knitters who enjoy the melodic nature of stockinette, with bursts of a more engaging stitch pattern, will find this to be a meditative project. It is easy to pick-up and take on the go, and relaxing enough for a quiet evening in front of the TV.

It is recommended to choose a solid color for the slip stitch motif sections, in order for it to shine. While the simplicity of the stockinette stitch sections allows you the creative freedom to be as imaginative with your colorway choices as you like, so you can transform your yarn into a piece of art.

Needle: Size 4 (3.5 mm) on 24” (60cm) or 32” (80cm) circular needle. Circular needle is recommended to accommodate the large amount of stitches.

Yarns Used: June Cashmere Lace Weight (Light Fingering/3 ply; 100% Cashmere goat; 308 yards/280 meters/50 grams). 2 skeins in Slate (MC), 1 skein in Scarlet (CC).

Yardage: 575-616 yards/525-563 meters in MC; 280-308 yards/256-280 meters in CC.