The Louvre Shawl by Karen Johnson Bennett

The Louvre Shawl

Knitting
November 2022
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
US 8 - 5.0 mm
750 - 840 yards (686 - 768 m)
1 size
English
This pattern is available for $5.00 USD buy it now

This knitting pattern and video tutorial is for a “square rectangle” shaped shawl, that starts from just 5 stitches but, is not constructed as you would think - making the lines and squares visually bend and change when wrapped.

I confess I designed the shawl and on trying to describe and name it, I realized I’d seem the visual concept somewhere back in my memory and finally remembered where I’d seen it before. I have had the pleasure of visiting Paris, France on several occasions and consequently the architecturally striking Louvre Museum where the famous painting “The Mona Lisa” is housed. From the outside, the museum looks like a glass pyramid rising from the underground, with an angled, square glass pane façade. This is how I named it.

This is knit in Malabrigo “Rios” which has amazing color and exceptional stitch definition. The knit stitch pattern is one I created myself – modified from a smaller version of the textured square pattern and with some added techniques that help the stitches pop.
There is an accompanying video tutorial to help set up the first 26 rows, that set the pattern.

The video includes tips on how to:
Set up the initial starting pattern and increasing repeats
Continue in the 12 row pattern repeat with increases
make beautiful, professional looking edges

This is a great way to improve knitting skills while making a striking shawl in what is essentially a knit and purl pattern.