Panther, Shadow Knitting, Illusion Knitting, Motif Shawl

This pattern guides you step by step through creating a unique motif shawl featuring a panther, using the technique of shadow or illusion knitting. With this special method, the motif only becomes visible when viewed from the side – a striking effect with real wow-factor!

Warning! Illusion knitting is addictive.
I haven’t even finished writing this pattern yet, and I’m already working on the next shawl. Once you get the hang of it, there’s no stopping you! ;)

The poem "The Panther" by Rilke has always fascinated me. So it's no surprise that a panther has found its way onto one of my scarves. Naturally, without the bars behind which there is no world.

To knit this shawl, you only need to know how to knit and purl.
You should also be able to make yarn overs and knit/purl through the back loop or slip stitches accordingly.

You can either use the edge stitches I describe in the pattern or choose your own preferred edge stitch method.
The edging to stabilize the shawl is crocheted using single crochet stitches. It would be helpful if you have some basic crochet skills as well.

The pattern consists of 10 pages.
I decided not to include a chart, as it would be too cluttered and hard to read.
The stitches for each row are written out in text form.
Example: 10k, 2p, 2k, 1p,... and so on.

The finished shawl measures approximately 175 cm (width) x 78 cm (depth) in my version.

I used two solid-colored yarn cakes for this shawl, which I had custom-wound by "Anika's Wollstübchen – Die kunterbunte Welt der Farbverlaufsbobbel". You can find her group on Facebook under that name—feel free to check her out! (50% cotton / 50% acrylic)

(It’s best to ask your yarn winder for a custom color combination or simply use the yarn you like with a yardage of 500 meters per color. Keep in mind that depending on the thickness of the yarn, your finished shawl may end up larger or smaller.)

Each color consisted of 4 strands and had a length of 500 meters.

The two colors you choose should have a strong contrast to each other. Black, for example, pairs beautifully with bright or light colors. If you want to use white, it's better to combine it with dark shades to ensure the motif stands out clearly.

You’ll also need a circular knitting needle in size 4 mm and a crochet hook in size 3.5 mm.