646 Chapel Falls Shawl - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Charlemont Hand-Dyed

Pattern #646 Chapel Falls Shawl – Knitting Pattern by Kirsten Hipsky in Valley Yarns Charlemont Hand-Dyed

The Chapel Falls Shawl is a beautifully designed rectangular knitted shawl created by Kirsten Hipsky and published by Valley Yarns. Finished at a generous 18 inches wide by 72 inches long, this elongated shawl is an elegant accessory that showcases the natural beauty of hand-dyed yarn through a rhythmic lace stitch pattern and a sophisticated two-color striping approach. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated as advanced beginner, making it an ideal next step for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to explore simple lace and two-color techniques.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a long, rectangular shawl worked entirely flat from one short end to the other. The finished fabric features a scalloping lace stitch pattern running along its full length, interrupted by subtle, unequal stripes that gradually transition into a dramatic block of solid color at one end. The result is a shawl with visual movement and depth — one that looks complex but is built on a repeating six-row sequence that knitters will quickly commit to memory.

Design Details and Color Work

The Chapel Falls Shawl uses two skeins of Valley Yarns Charlemont Hand-Dyed yarn — one in Waterfall (Color A) and one in Lily Pond (Color B). The stripe sequence is intentionally unequal and organic: Color A dominates the early portion of the shawl, with Color B introduced gradually through the stripe repeat. As Color A is exhausted, the shawl transitions fully into Color B for a bold, solid-color finale. This design decision means no two shawls will look exactly alike if different colorways are chosen, and it makes excellent use of every yard of hand-dyed yarn.

A notable technical detail in the color work is the handling of the first stitch on every right-side row: both Color A and Color B are held together for this single stitch. This clever technique prevents long yarn floats from running up the selvedge edge as the unused color is carried up the side of the work. Knitters are advised to maintain relaxed tension when carrying the non-working yarn to ensure both edges of the shawl remain even after blocking.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: The shawl is knitted back and forth in rows, making it accessible for knitters who prefer straight or circular needles used flat rather than in the round.
• Lace knitting: A repeating lace motif creates the signature scalloped texture. The lace repeat is worked over a 12-stitch unit plus 3 stitches, cast on as 111 stitches total.
• Stripes: Two colors are alternated in an unequal stripe sequence that evolves naturally as each skein is used up, producing an organic, gradient-like transition rather than rigid, uniform stripes.
• Two-color selvedge technique: Holding both colors together on the first stitch of right-side rows is a practical finishing technique that keeps the edge tidy and avoids puckering.
• Blocking: The pattern specifically calls for rigorous blocking after finishing, which is essential for lace knitting. Blocking opens up the yarn overs, defines the scalloped edges, and brings the shawl to its full finished dimensions.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) and purl (p) – the foundational stitches forming the fabric base
• Yarn over (yo) – creates the decorative eyelets that define the lace pattern and form the scalloped edges
• sl1-k2tog-psso – a centered double decrease worked by slipping one stitch as if to knit, knitting two together, then passing the slipped stitch over; this stitch creates the pointed, chevron-like center of each lace repeat and balances the yarn overs on either side
• Garter selvedge stitches – the first and last stitch of every row are knitted, creating a neat, stable edge on both sides of the shawl

Materials