"Caroline Shawl" - Shawl Knitting Pattern For Women in Willow & Lark Plume

Caroline Shawl – Knitted Lace Shawl Pattern by Willow & Lark

The Caroline Shawl is an elegant, elongated lace shawl knitting pattern designed for women, part of the Wonder Collection by Willow & Lark. Worked flat in a delicate ribbed lace construction, Caroline is a sophisticated accessory piece that showcases the interplay of texture and openwork to stunning effect. The finished shawl measures 46 cm (18 in) wide and a generous 200 cm (78¾ in) long, making it a graceful wrap suitable for draping over the shoulders or wearing as a scarf.

What Is Being Made

The Caroline Shawl is a rectangular lace shawl, designed to be a refined, wearable accessory. Its elongated dimensions make it versatile for everyday elegance or special occasions. The pattern combines ribbing and lace motifs to produce a richly textured fabric with a delicate, airy quality — a hallmark of fine mohair-blend knitwear.

Techniques Used

• Lace knitting: The primary technique throughout the Caroline Shawl, lace knitting involves strategically placed yarn-overs paired with decreases to create decorative openwork holes and flowing, intricate patterns within the fabric. The result is a lightweight, breathable textile with beautiful visual depth.
• Worked flat: The shawl is knitted flat on a pair of straight needles, meaning it is worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round. This construction is well-suited to rectangular shawl shapes and allows the lace pattern to be followed consistently from the right side.
• Ribbed lace pattern: The design integrates ribbing with lace to create a structured yet open fabric. The ribbed element adds elasticity and definition, while the lace sections introduce lightness and decorative texture.
• Cabling references: The pattern notes describe Caroline as mixing lace and cabling techniques, lending additional textural complexity to the overall design.

Stitches Used

• Lace stitches: Yarn-overs and paired decreases form the core stitch vocabulary of the pattern, creating the signature openwork motifs.
• Rib stitches: Knit and purl combinations are used to create the ribbed framework that structures the lace pattern.
• Alternate-row working: The abbreviation alt (alternate) is referenced in the pattern, indicating that certain stitch instructions are worked on alternating rows, a common technique in flat lace knitting to control pattern placement.

Materials – Yarn

The Caroline Shawl has been specifically designed for use with Willow & Lark Plume, a lace-weight yarn composed of 70% Mohair and 30% Silk, available in 25 g (0.9 oz) balls. The pattern calls for 6 balls of Plume. The suggested colourways are Berberis Red 316 and Tea Dance 308, both of which would complement the delicate halo and sheen that mohair-silk blends are celebrated for.

Willow & Lark Plume's mohair content gives the finished shawl a soft, luminous halo effect, adding warmth without weight. The silk component introduces a subtle lustre and drape, making the fabric feel luxurious against the skin. Because the fibre, weight, twist, and composition of the yarn directly affect the finished fabric, the pattern notes emphasise the importance of using Willow & Lark Plume specifically to achieve the intended result.

Materials – Needles

• Needles: One pair of 3.25 mm (UK 10 / US 3) straight knitting needles, or the size required to achieve the correct tension.

Tension

The recommended tension is 30 stitches and 40 rows to 10 cm (4 in), measured over the pattern using 3.25 mm (US 3) needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for the shawl to reach its intended dimensions of 46 cm × 200 cm.