Cringle Shawl in Rowan Moordale - ZB297-00011-UK - Downloadable PDF

Cringle Shawl by Martin Storey – Rowan Moordale Knitting Pattern (ZB297-00011-UK)

The Cringle Shawl is a beautifully structured knitted shawl designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. Released in 2021, this pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and multi-colour stripe work. The shawl is worked in DK weight yarn using Rowan Moordale, a yarn celebrated for its warm, rustic character and natural tonal depth.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a wrap-style shawl, a versatile and elegant accessory that can be worn draped over the shoulders, wrapped around the neck, or styled in a variety of ways. Shawls of this construction are typically worked flat from a small cast-on, gradually increasing in width to create a sweeping triangular or elongated shape. The Cringle Shawl achieves its distinctive character through a carefully planned stripe sequence that cycles through multiple colourways, producing a rhythmic, graphic visual effect.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Moordale in four colours, used across two colourway options. The main colourway uses:

• Yarn A – Feather 001: 4 x 100gm balls (the dominant background shade)
• Yarn B – Thai 005: 1 x 100gm ball
• Yarn C – Turmeric 003: 2 x 100gm balls
• Yarn D – Bronzed 006: 2 x 100gm balls

An alternative colourway is also provided, again using four shades of Rowan Moordale:

• Yarn A – Feather 001
• Yarn B – French Navy 016
• Yarn C – Pillar Box 020
• Yarn D – Pea 021

The alternative colourway offers a bolder, more contrasting palette compared to the warm, earthy tones of the main version. Both options use the same stitch and stripe construction, so knitters can choose freely based on personal style preference.

Needles and Tension

The shawl is worked on one pair of 4mm (UK no. 8 / US 6) straight needles. The stated tension is 22 stitches and 38 rows to 10cm, measured over the stitch pattern. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important in a shawl of this type, as it directly affects the drape, dimensions, and overall appearance of the finished piece. Knitters are encouraged to work a tension swatch before beginning.

Techniques and Construction

The Cringle Shawl is worked flat in rows, beginning with a cast-on of just 5 stitches, which is characteristic of top-down or point-up shawl construction. From this small starting point, the shawl grows outward through incremental shaping worked across each row. This approach creates a satisfying sense of progress as the fabric widens steadily with each repeat.

A key technique used throughout the pattern is the slipped stitch: on right-side rows, stitches are slipped purlwise with the yarn held at the front of the work. This technique is fundamental to the texture and structure of the shawl, creating a subtle woven or elongated stitch effect that adds visual interest without requiring complex manoeuvres. Slipped stitches are a popular tool in knitting for adding texture, reducing row count on certain stitches, and creating clean, defined lines — all of which contribute to the polished finish of the Cringle Shawl.

Stripe Sequence

The stripe pattern is a central design feature and is worked in a precise, repeating sequence across 144 rows, which then repeats throughout the shawl. The sequence is structured as follows: