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| Photo above © Brooklyn Tweed/Jared Flood |
Tree Rings by Andrea Rangel is a dramatic circular knitting pattern inspired by the classic pi-shawl construction associated with Elizabeth Zimmermann.
Instead of relying primarily on open lace, Tree Rings builds visual interest through changing textures, geometric movement, chevrons, and a decorative knitted-on edging. The finished piece can be worn as a large circular shawl or used as an impressive knitted throw.
Pattern Availability
Tree Rings is currently available as a paid PDF knitting pattern from Brooklyn Tweed. Amazing Knitting provides this project guide and links readers to the legitimate designer/publisher source rather than reproducing the copyrighted pattern instructions or charts.
Tree Rings at a Glance
Pattern: Tree Rings
Designer: Andrea Rangel
Publisher: Brooklyn Tweed
Collection: Wool People, Volume 6
First Published: November 2013
Craft: Knitting
Category: Circular Shawl / Throw
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Yardage: Approximately 1,820 yards / 1,664 m
Suggested Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm and US 10 / 6 mm
Finished Size: Approximately 62 inches in diameter
Construction: Center-out, worked in the round
Current Availability: Paid PDF pattern
About Tree Rings
Designed by Andrea Rangel, Tree Rings takes the basic idea of a circular pi shawl and gives it a strongly textured, contemporary appearance.
The design draws the eye outward from the center through changing areas of texture and geometric patterning. As the circumference increases, the knitted fabric develops the layered appearance that inspired the name Tree Rings.
Although officially categorized as a shawl or wrap, its generous circular dimensions also allow it to function beautifully as a decorative throw.
Finished Size
The published finished diameter is approximately:
62 inches / 157.5 cm
That makes Tree Rings a substantial project. It is considerably larger than a typical accessory and requires both a significant amount of yarn and increasingly long circular needles as the work grows.
Yarn and Yardage
The original version was designed for Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, a worsted-weight wool yarn.
The published requirement is:
Approximately 1,820 yards / 1,664 metres of worsted-weight wool
The original sample used 13 skeins of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter.
Because texture is such an important part of this design, yarn choice affects more than the finished size. A yarn with good stitch definition helps the changing surface patterns remain visible after blocking.
Needles
Tree Rings uses two main needle sizes:
- US 7 / 4.5 mm — suggested for the welted stockinette sections and edging
- US 10 / 6 mm — suggested for the center lace and horizontal chevron sections
The project begins with double-pointed needles and progresses to circular needles as the number of stitches increases.
The official materials list includes both 32-inch and 60-inch circular needles in the required sizes.
Gauge
Because Tree Rings contains several different stitch patterns, the official pattern provides more than one gauge measurement.
For example, the published gauge for the welted stockinette section is:
18 stitches × 26 rounds = 4 inches / 10 cm after blocking
Other sections have their own row or round gauge because lace, twists, and textured stitches behave differently.
How Tree Rings Is Constructed
Tree Rings is worked from the center outward in the round. This means the circumference becomes progressively larger as the project grows.
Near the outer edge, the construction changes. The lace edging is worked back and forth and attached to the live shawl stitches as it progresses.
This method creates an integrated decorative border without simply binding off the large circular body and sewing on a separate edging later.
Texture Instead of Traditional Lace
One of the most interesting features of Tree Rings is its emphasis on texture.
Many circular pi shawls are dominated by open lace motifs. Tree Rings instead combines welted stockinette, twists, chevrons, lace, and other structural changes to create movement across the circular fabric.
The result is a project whose appearance changes depending on the light and the direction from which the textured stitches are viewed.
Skills That Help
Tree Rings is best suited to a knitter who is already comfortable with the basics and wants a substantial project. Useful skills include:
- Knitting in the round
- Working with double-pointed needles
- Using long circular needles
- Increasing stitches
- Following charted stitch patterns
- Working textured stitches and twists
- Basic lace techniques
- Managing a large number of live stitches
- Working an attached edging
- Blocking a large circular project
Important: Brooklyn Tweed notes that the stitch patterns for this design are charted. If you strongly prefer written-out row-by-row stitch instructions, check the current pattern details before purchasing.
Shawl or Blanket?
Tree Rings occupies an interesting space between a shawl and a blanket. Brooklyn Tweed presents it as a textured pi shawl, while its 62-inch circular size makes it large enough to work beautifully as a decorative throw.
Many knitters are therefore drawn to the design not only as something wearable, but also as an heirloom-style circular blanket.
Is Tree Rings a Free Knitting Pattern?
No. Tree Rings by Andrea Rangel is currently a paid knitting pattern.
The official Brooklyn Tweed listing currently offers the pattern as a downloadable PDF. Pattern prices and availability can change, so check the publisher's current page for the latest information.
Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the pattern's copyrighted charts, stitch counts, or row-by-row instructions.
Get the Official Tree Rings Pattern
The safest source for the current version, pattern support, and any published corrections is Brooklyn Tweed.
View Tree Rings at Brooklyn Tweed →
Looking for a Free Knitted Blanket?
If you found this page specifically because you were searching for a free blanket pattern, you can explore the free blanket projects collected in the Amazing Knitting archive instead.
Explore Free Blanket Knitting Patterns →
You may also enjoy round knitted blankets, textured blanket patterns, and lace blanket knitting patterns.
Before You Start
Tree Rings is a large project, so read through the official pattern before buying the full yarn quantity. Check your gauge, make sure you have the necessary needle lengths, and become familiar with the charts before the number of stitches becomes large.
Also check the current Brooklyn Tweed pattern page for the latest version and any published errata before beginning.
Pattern credit: Tree Rings was designed by Andrea Rangel and published by Brooklyn Tweed in Wool People, Volume 6. The existing photograph on this Amazing Knitting page is credited to Brooklyn Tweed / Jared Flood. Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the designer's copyrighted charts or knitting instructions.