Malabrigo Quickies: Cascade Lines
This month, we welcome a friend and familiar face! You might remember the Long Journey Shawl from our KAL in 2023, and we are so thrilled that we have another beautiful design to share with you this month!
Takako is a knitting designer based in Japan with over 150 published patterns. They love designing shawls and simple garments, often shaped by the rhythm of life across countries and cultures.
Cascade Lines is a stunning shawl knitted by Ultimate Sock. An asymmetrical triangle shawl blends structure and flow with a diagonal lace pattern and ribbed edging. This pattern features intuitive increases and a graceful line of cables on the right side. This shawl mimics the effortless elegance of cascading streams. It is shown in Arapey.
1: What is your favorite part of your Quickies design and why?
As a longtime fan of Malabrigo yarns, I was excited to design with one of my favorites. I enjoy creating small projects, and working within limited yardage was a fun challenge. I aimed to highlight both the beautiful color variations and the stitch pattern. Choosing the yarn and color was an essential and enjoyable part, but my favorite moment was knitting the sample itself.
2: What should knitters pay attention to when working this pattern? Do you have any tips or tricks to make knitting this pattern easier?
The main body is worked in a diagonal lace pattern, which is the trickiest part of the design. Some rows require different instructions for the first and last repeats, so following the pattern carefully is essential. I’ve included written instructions and a chart, so feel free to use whichever you prefer. I used two colors for this project, and while the choice is up to you, I recommend picking yarns that allow the stitch details to show clearly.
3: What do you think knitters will enjoy the most about this project?
Knitters will enjoy seeing the diagonal lace pattern emerge as they work through the project. Watching the texture and flow of the stitches take shape row by row can be very satisfying.
4: What does your design process look like?
My design process often starts with the yarn. I chose Ultimate Sock for this project because I’m familiar with it and wanted to highlight its texture and stitch definition. From there, I focused on creating a shawl that’s easy to wear. I paid special attention to shaping so the piece drapes well over the shoulders, and I placed the cable motif along visible lines to add visual interest when worn. I usually combine sketching with swatching to finalize my ideas before writing the pattern and knitting the sample.
5: Was there any particular inspiration you had when creating this piece?
The diagonal lace pattern was my starting point for this design. I wanted to create a sense of gentle, flowing movement across the fabric, like the natural motion of water. Interestingly, “cascade” is part of my Japanese surname, so the image of streaming water has a personal meaning. This inspired me to design a piece that feels light and fluid, with stitch patterns that echo the rhythm and grace of water in motion.
6: What is the one thing you wish people knew about you as a designer?
One thing I hope people know about me as a designer is that I value simplicity, while adding enough detail to keep the knitting enjoyable. I always aim to write clear and thoughtful patterns so that knitters can easily follow along and enjoy the process from beginning to end.
7. What beverage will you most likely have by your side while designing?
Most of the time, I have a cup of café au lait beside me while designing. It keeps me relaxed and focused.
Thanks for sharing another stunning design with us, Takako! You can find Cascade Lines on Ravelry here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cascade-lines
You can find Takako on
IG @takakoob
Ravelry ID: takakoob
