Beginner’s Lace Shawl
New to lace shawl knitting?
For those of us already addicted, it seems hard to believe that there is anyone who hasn’t already knit one . (Oh okay, maybe not Sarah Lund, She’s too busy solving murders and wearing proper sweaters.) However, we at Loop know that there are new knitters learning all the time. New Knitters who don’t want an overwhelming project. Shawls are perfect.
The Beginner’s Lace Shawl is designed for the knitter who has never knit a triangular lace shawl before and wants a simple pattern to help them understand the basics.
It is also a useful pattern if you have some precious yarn that you want to use every last bit of. The shawl can be finished when you are down to your last few grams.
Knitters should already be able to:
Knit & purl
Make Stockinette (st st) and garter stitch
Be familiar with increasing using Yarn overs (yo) and decreasing by knitting two stitches (k2tog) together.
Weave in yarn end
Knitters will learn to:
Select yarn and needle size
Make a tab cast on, which is a common way of beginning triangular lace shawls
Make a simple lace stitch with yarn over increases and centre stitch decreases
Follow a graph chart for lace knitting
Understand pattern symbols and abbreviations (This pattern is written with many of the full instructions with abbreviations in brackets afterwards, to help you get used to following abbreviations).
Cast off loosely so that the edge has room to expand
Block and dress the lace to complete it
Tools and materials
50 or more grams of yarn. Our examples are in Tilli Thomas Symphony kid mohair lace with beads in Golden Rod (above), and Isager Tvinni 57S light blue with grey (below).
Circular knitting needles, one or two sizes larger than listed on the ball band. Ideally a range of needle sizes is best in order to sample. Circular needles are preferred over straight needles because they can hold a large number of stitches.
T-pins (20+) and a large piece of cardboard or foam for blocking. Blocking wires make blocking shawls easier, but are not essential
The Beginner’s Lace Shawl made with 100g of Isager Tvinni yarn
There are two versions of the pattern available free to download and print:
N.B. These two versions have now been updated with corrections to the errata October 2015 – Happy Knitting!
The Beginner’s Lace Shawl Full Version gives you details and tips if you are new to triangular lace shawl knitting.
The Beginner’s Lace Shawl Short Version is shorter for printing if you are already familiar with lace shawl knitting.
~ Juju at Loop
This is a free pattern and all images and text are copyright of Loop Knitting Ltd. It is for personal and non-profit use only. This means you can knit it for yourself, as a gift or for charity. You may not sell a garment made from this pattern. You may not reproduce this for sale. Please ask if you wish to translate it or use to teach a class.
Thank you!
Wow! Just what I needed, lace , gansey and amigurumi are ny New Year 2013 knitting resolution.
The shawls are beautiful. I have never knitted lace before but cannot wait to have a go. Thank you so much.
Janet
Thank you for this pattern it is lovely and will be starting it soon. Plus thank you for making it seem so easy.
Row 7 should read knit 7
Thanks for sharing this with everyone. It is esactly what I am looking for.
thank you so very much! i have the beautiful Loop book and would like to make everything in it…. i am however, stumped by shawls. this will be a perfect beginning!
Thank you very much – just what I have been waiting for.
THANK YOU!!!! I have knit heaps of lace, but I too have been too busy knitting sweaters and socks to have ever knit a triangular shawl *blush*!! I am SO very much looking forward to digging into this pattern, just as soon as my current lace sweater is finished and blocked ….
Thanks for the beautiful pattern. This’ll be my very 2nd shawl, just put one to block.
I’m afraid I’m stuck though, just finished Row 23 of chart A and have been searching in vain for Row 24 as pattern says:
“Rows 9-24 form the repeat pattern rows of the lace shawl.”
Thanks once again,
pat
I am trying to knit a lace shawl on a chart. It says beginning with a multiple of 16 sets + 15. I don’t understand.
Hi Margaret,
I ran this by the shop but we weren’t quite sure what you meant. Could you email the shop directly at shop@loopknitting.com? We’d love to help with a bit more information!
please do ignore my earlier query, I answered it myself – it’s the purl row duh…
Thanks again.
Thank you for this great pattern. First time shawl knitter, my question is about how many row 9-24 repeats to do. In your sample picture how many were done. Thanks
Struggling with the last purl row- seems to put the loops off centre from previous row. Also do not understand the binding off process? Won’t I be left with aporox half the amount of dtitches and only 15cm of yarn to thread through???
Tried to download the beginners Lace shawl the first time beginners file and it’s saying it’s corupt. Am I doing something wrong?
It’s still working for us – you might try clearing your browser’s cache or downloading from another computer.
I have completed this to the last row, Row 14, before bind off and have run into problems and can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. At the end of Row 13, I have a total of 211 stitches. When I do row 14 as written, I end up with 11 sts. before center stitch, or 3 sts. extra. Can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. From the start of row 14, there are 105 sts., plus the 1 center stitch, for a total of 106 sts. before marker, and I have 105 sts. after marker. Not sure how second 105 sts. will work out as I haven’t gotten past the 1st 106. Can you help me figure out what I’m doing wrong? Up to this point I have not run into any problems and row counts have come out perfect with 4 extra sts. after each right side row. Thank you.
shawls are beautiful loved viewing your sight thanks!!
It’s a beautiful shawl. I get lost at times with the abbreviations. But should be able to work through this. Thanks for sharing this pattern. Will be greatly used with my handspun yarn.
Have made this using the Kettle Yarn Co. Westminster. No problems until the last row #14 of the border. The holes do not line up is it suppose to be this way or is there a pattern error.
Hi Barb
I’m struggling with row 14 too. I thought it was just me, so I’m relieved someone else can’t get it to work out. Can anyone help please?
Hi Rena,
Row 14 in the written instructions is slightly wrong, but if you look at the chart it makes more sense.
The YOs should simply be on top of the ones on row 13 and the rest is purled.
According to chart:
Row 14: K2, sm, P8, *yo, P5, yo, P1* repeat *to* until 8 stitches from centre stitch (the marker will be on the other side of the centre stitch, 9 stitches away)purl the centre stitch and P8, sm, repeat *to* until 8 stitches from the last marker, P8, sm, K2.
Hope this helps!
Chart A: “M” is an error correct?
Chart A: I can’t get past row 27. When I do row 11 I do not get 31 stitches.
I must be me but I find the instructions confusing. Thanks for any help. Gail
Row 14 in the written instructions is slightly wrong, but if you look at the chart it makes more sense.
The YOs should simply be on top of the ones on row 13 and the rest is purled.
According to chart:
Row 14: K2, sm, P8, *yo, P5, yo, P1* repeat *to* until 8 stitches from centre stitch (the marker will be on the other side of the centre stitch, 9 stitches away)purl the centre stitch and P8, sm, repeat *to* until 8 stitches from the last marker, P8, sm, K2.
I hope this helps.
Emma
I don’t understand how to do the yarn over on the 14th row over the yarn over on the 13th row. Can someonw clarify this?
Additional Errata – the cast off edge should read
K2, *pass 2sts back onto left needle,K2tog, K1. rep from * to end
It says a free pattern. How do I download it, please?
Hi! Scroll down to the end of the post and you’ll see two images of the girl wearing the golden shawl. Choose either the full or the abbreviated version, and simply click on the photo! The PDF will open automatically.
Hope that helps!
Loop x
What does m mean? I am struggling with instructions. I have made several shawls, so don’t understand why I can’t interpret this pattern.
Like others. I am confused with row 14. It does not work. Any suggestions?
I teach knitting at a local Michaels store, and I have a group of ladies who have been regular students for 1 1/2 years. Needless to say, they have “outgrown” the projects offered in our regular classes, and I’m constantly looking for new patterns and techniques to stretch their wings. They are interested in knitting a shawl, and this looks like a good candidate. I’m asking your permission to use this pattern for them.
Also, has the pattern been corrected? I see in the comments that there was an issue in row 14.
Thank you,
Kristin
Hi Kristin,
Thanks so much for asking and for choosing our pattern! We have emailed you regarding using this design in a class, so check you emails :)
Loop xx
I would sure like help I can’t even get to row 14 and have the correct count.
M1 is wrong.
Has anyone completed this beginner’s shawl?
I’m about to – having struggled with interpreting the pattern from the YouTube first (where I could not work out how to *get* to row 9), but eventually grasped the concept of the pattern repeat… Then got to row 14 of Chart B and am now relieved I’m not the only one who finds the instructions don’t fit the chart. So I’ll undo what I’ve purled so far, follow the logic rather than the instructions (I wondered how it could be that an 8-stitch pattern repeat could be topped with what looks like a 6-stitch pattern repeat and still be ‘aligned’), looking at the ‘columns’ of holes instead, and I will be very relieved to bind off – the third technique in this project I hadn’t used before!
I have now completed the shawl, and actually started another one with a finer yarn, now that I understand the pattern.
Having a search online revealed that there’s more than 1 method of k2tog bind-offs… I’ll be curious to see if the blocked shawl will reveal where I changed over between methods.
I have a new-found respect for lace knitters!
Hi Agnes,
We have updated the PDF so row 14 is now correct, but it would seem you’ve figured it out!
Happy knitting!
Loop x
Thank you for that – I am sure many keen knitters will be relieved! :o)
I am nearing the end of the next shawl, this time in lace weight yarn (another first), and it is a riddle that I still ‘lose’ the occasional stitch, but I am working without the pattern now. Haven’t blocked the first one yet, but I will be curious to see how the difference shows once they are both completely finished.
My daughter says to me,Mamma,I want a shawl to wear for my wedding.I have looked everywhere,I only have 1 year or so into knitting,I can make gloves,scarves,animals but,have yet tackle a shawl.I am so excited ,its not only the pattern but so step by step and gauging!I am smitten! Thank you.picture will be up on my Instagram @sonjakuvikloyd before October ,her wedding.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this lovely pattern:)
Thank you for sharing this lovely pattern:)
Very embarrassing to get stuck on the gauge swatch directions but I am. Is there a row 16 on the ws or am I to complete row 15 and then begin the pattern again without completing a row 16?
My instinct is to complete a row 16 and then begin again, but maybe I’m incorrect?
Thanks for clarifying.
Hi Janice,
The purl rows aren’t marked in the chart, so you need to add in a purl row after every knit row in the chart – in this case, that means adding in a row 16.
Hope that helps!
This is a beautiful shawl! However, row 14 of the second motif (the very last row) is simply incorrect — written or charted. You have to manage stitch count with YO’s. It took me a long while, lots of trial knitting and a headache but I worked it out.
Final Row 14: K2, sm, K7
*P1, YO, P2tog, P2, P2tog, YO, P1* Purl across the center thusly: P9, sl center marker, P7. Return to *-* motif to last marker, sm, K2
I also used stitch markers for every single pattern section (eight stitches), but on a couple rows you have to add a marker then shift them by 4 stitches (rows 9 and 17). If you’ve done any work with lace, I think it will be clear to you. (I do not think I would personally consider this to be a beginner pattern though.) The main motif is YO, K2, CDD, K2, YO, K1 throughout.
I used the K2tog bind off but knit the two stitches together through the back loop. It’s neater. Block heavily to pull down the scalloped points. I made this shawl using my own spindle-spun Corriedale wool as part of a knit along and everybody just loved it! It’s beautiful. Thank you for this pattern!
Hello Leslie,
Thanks for your comment. I hope an earlier errata point might also help clarify things:
Row 14 in the written instructions is slightly wrong, but if you look at the chart it makes more sense.
The YOs should simply be on top of the ones on row 13 and the rest is purled.
According to chart:
Row 14: K2, sm, P8, *yo, P5, yo, P1* repeat *to* until 8 stitches from centre stitch (the marker will be on the other side of the centre stitch, 9 stitches away)purl the centre stitch and P8, sm, repeat *to* until 8 stitches from the last marker, P8, sm, K2.
So you are increasing by two stitches per repeat?
That seems to be what it’s saying, but the lovely Loopettes at shop@loopknitting.com may be of more help.