Basketweave Prayer Shawl in Plymouth Encore Worsted - F468

Basketweave Prayer Shawl in Plymouth Encore Worsted – Pattern F468

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio guides knitters through creating a generous, cozy Basketweave Prayer Shawl using Plymouth Encore Worsted yarn. Prayer shawls are a beloved knitting tradition, often crafted as gifts of comfort, warmth, and care. This particular design combines a classic basketweave texture with a straightforward rectangular construction, making it an accessible and rewarding project for knitters with basic stitch knowledge.

What Is Being Made

The finished piece is a large rectangular prayer shawl measuring approximately 23 inches wide by 70 inches long. At this size, it is generously proportioned to wrap around the shoulders or drape across the lap, providing both physical warmth and a sense of comfort. The basketweave texture gives the shawl a rich, dimensional surface that looks intricate but is achieved through a simple alternating block pattern of knit and purl stitches.

Techniques Used

• Double-stranding: The entire shawl is worked holding two strands of Plymouth Encore Worsted together throughout. This technique creates a thicker, warmer fabric and works up more quickly than a single strand, while also giving the finished shawl a substantial, plush hand.
• Basketweave stitch pattern: The signature texture is created by alternating blocks of knit and purl stitches that shift position every ten rows, producing the classic woven, checkerboard-like appearance associated with basketweave knitting.
• Loose cast-on and bind-off: The pattern specifically instructs knitters to cast on and bind off loosely, which ensures the edges remain flexible and do not pull in or restrict the drape of the shawl.
• Binding off in pattern: The final bind-off is worked in pattern, maintaining the visual consistency of the basketweave texture all the way to the last row.
• Weaving in ends: As a finishing step, all yarn ends are woven in for a clean, polished result.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) – the foundational stitch used throughout both the texture blocks and the border.
• Purl stitch (p) – alternated with knit stitches to build the basketweave blocks.
• Garter stitch border (k4): A four-stitch garter border is maintained on each side of every row, providing a neat, non-curling edge that frames the textured center panel cleanly.
• Basketweave block repeat: The pattern is built on a 14-stitch repeat of 7 knit stitches and 7 purl stitches, which reverses every 10 rows to create the interlocking block effect. The total stitch count is 57 stitches cast on.

Materials

• Yarn: Plymouth Encore Worsted – 6 balls of 100g each, shown in colorway 6001. Encore Worsted is a popular acrylic-wool blend known for its softness, durability, and ease of care, making it an ideal choice for a gift shawl that will be worn and laundered regularly.
• Needles: US size 13 straight or circular needles, or the size needed to achieve gauge. The large needle size, combined with the double strand, produces a thick, warm fabric efficiently.
• Gauge: 2.5 stitches per inch over stockinette stitch using a double strand. Because the shawl is a generous rectangle without fitted shaping, gauge is flexible, though it will affect the final dimensions.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is rated as suitable for knitters comfortable with basic knit and purl techniques. The 20-row basketweave repeat is easy to memorize after the first few repetitions, and the bold needle size and doubled yarn mean the shawl grows quickly on the needles. The pattern is offered free with yarn purchase from Plymouth Yarn and is available as a downloadable PDF, making it convenient to access and print at home.