Clarendon

Clarendon Shawl by Jen Lucas

What Is Being Made

The Clarendon Shawl is a textured knit shawl designed by Jen Lucas for transitional seasons, specifically crafted to bridge the gap between summer's delicate lace work and fall's preference for substantial, textured pieces. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a finished shawl with a wingspan of 54 inches and a depth of 14 inches, making it a generous accessory suitable for layering as temperatures cool.

Construction and Design Approach

The Clarendon Shawl is worked from the bottom edge upward, employing a thoughtful construction method that showcases cable work as a central design feature. The pattern demonstrates how cables can be integrated without a reverse stockinette frame, resulting in a textured edge that adds visual interest and dimension. As the shawl develops, the cables transition smoothly into stockinette stitch for the short row body section, creating a balanced design that combines structural texture with classic simplicity.

Techniques and Stitches Used

• Cable knitting: The primary textural element, worked without reverse stockinette framing for an enhanced edge appearance
• Stockinette stitch: Used in the body section, particularly in the short row construction
• Short rows: Employed to shape the shawl body and create depth
• Bottom-up construction: The shawl begins at the lower edge and progresses upward, allowing knitters to monitor size and adjust as needed

Materials and Tools Required

The Clarendon Shawl requires 450 yards of DK weight yarn, which accommodates both the 6-ply and DK yarn weight categories. The pattern was photographed using Knit Picks City Tweed DK, a blend of 55% Merino Wool, 25% Superfine Alpaca, and 20% Donegal Tweed in the colorway Lemon Curd, requiring 4 balls of 50-gram weight (123 yards per ball).

Essential tools include a US Size 5 (3.75mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches or longer, a cable needle for managing cable stitches, and a tapestry needle for finishing. The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, though the pattern notes that gauge is not critical—variations will primarily affect yardage requirements and final dimensions. Blocking wires, pins, or similar blocking aids are recommended for finishing.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, the Clarendon Shawl is appropriate for knitters with foundational skills who are comfortable working with cables and short-row shaping. The pattern assumes familiarity with basic knitting techniques and cable manipulation.