Firstly, I should say that although I have given this post a ‘Pattern’ label, it is really just a ‘how-to’ showing how to make a semi circular shawl using lace patterns of your choice. It is not a step by step pattern. I like knitting shawls this way because it gets quicker and quicker as you go on but if the instructions below look like gobbledygook this is probably not for you! Likewise, if you are a beginner knitter or unfamiliar with knitting lace patterns it may not the best project for you to start with and I would suggest trying out some swatches of lace patterns first.

Secondly, (in case anyone isn’t put off already!) I should say I have made all of these shawls with 100% wool yarn. When they are finished they can be a bit scrumpled so I wash them then lay them flat and reshape and leave them to dry. A proper blocking would be even better. I can’t guarantee how this would work with other fibres such as cotton/acrylic/bamboo.

Use the needle size recommended on your yarn band and this will allow you to calculate the finished shawl size. The number of rows you knit will be equal to half the length of the garter stitch border. If you need more rows than outlined below, it is important to work the extra rows at the beginning.

These shawls are based on Elizabeth Zimmerman’s pi shawl. My shawls are semi-circular and I begin at the bottom edge (circumference) so I am working towards the centre and the number of stitches + the number of rows decrease as I go.

Please read ALL the instructions below fully before you begin.

Cast on 398st.

Knit 7 stitches, place maker, work 384st from your chosen lace pattern, place maker, K7.

[For help with choosing lace pattern repeats: 384 = 128×3 or 96×4 or 64×6 or 48×8 or 32×12 or 24×16 If you need to add or lose a stitch or two to get your lace pattern symmetrical just increase or decrease to the number you need and adjust to bring your work back to the right number of stitches in the ‘knit 2tog rows’ at the beginning of each section]

From now on work the outer band – the 7 stitches before the first marker and the 7 stitches after the last marker – in garter stitch.

At the same time, work the sections indicated below in lace patterns of your choice.

On the first row of each section: K7 stitches (before the first marker), K2tog until last marker, K7 stitches.

In the shawls shown, I have put in a band of garter stitch rows at the beginning of each section (where you knit 2tog across the row).

Final row: K7, work 3 stitches tog, K7.

Cast off knitwise knitting the three centre stitches together as you go.

Join garter stitch band in centre.

Wool on Sundays will be back tomorrow :)