Lark Shawl in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino (EN) - RB002-00004-ENP - Downloadable PDF

Lark Shawl in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino by Erika Knight – Knitting Pattern Summary

About This Pattern

The Lark Shawl is a beautifully shaped, large knitted shawl designed by Erika Knight and published by Rowan as pattern RB002-00004-ENP. It is a downloadable PDF pattern rated as beginner level, making it an accessible and rewarding project for knitters who are just building their skills. The finished shawl is an impressive 213 cm (84 in) wide and 88.5 cm (34¾ in) long at its deepest point, creating a generous, wrap-worthy piece suitable for use as a shawl or a lightweight throw.

Design Overview

The Lark Shawl is worked as a single, asymmetrically shaped piece. It begins with just two cast-on stitches and is gradually increased along one side edge to build the characteristic triangular or crescent shawl shape. Once the deepest point is reached and marked, stitches are then decreased along the same edge to mirror the shaping and complete the form. This method of construction — growing and then tapering — gives the shawl its elegant, draped silhouette.

Techniques Used

• Shaped shawl construction worked from a two-stitch cast-on, increasing along one side edge to create the full width, then decreasing back down
• Increasing knitwise — knitting into the front then back of a stitch (inc knitwise)
• Increasing purlwise — purling into the back then front of a stitch (inc purlwise)
• M1 (Make 1) and M1P (Make 1 Purlwise) increases used throughout to shape both the ridge and rib sections
• K2tog (knit two together) decreases used during the shaping-down section
• P2tog (purl two together) decreases also used in the decrease section
• Taking increased stitches into pattern as the shawl grows, maintaining stitch pattern integrity throughout
• Use of a stitch marker to denote the deepest point of the shawl before beginning decreases

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Ridge pattern — used in the early stages of construction to build the initial section of the shawl; tension is measured as 23 stitches and 44 rows to 10 cm over this pattern
• Rib pattern — a 2x2 rib (knit 2, purl 2) that forms the main body of the shawl once the initial section is established; tension is measured as 28 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm over this pattern
• A knit stitch border is maintained at both ends of every row throughout the rib section, providing a neat, stable edge
• The interplay between the ridge pattern and the rib pattern gives the shawl subtle textural interest while remaining straightforward to work

Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino yarn, a 4-ply weight yarn, in 14 x 50g balls. The shawl shown in the pattern photography is worked in the colourway Pickles 123. Baby Cashsoft Merino is a luxuriously soft blend that combines the warmth of merino wool with the delicate softness of cashmere, making it an ideal choice for a shawl intended to be worn close to the skin.

The recommended needles are a pair of 3½mm (UK no. 10/9, US size 4) straight needles. Knitters are encouraged to check their tension carefully against both the ridge pattern and rib pattern measurements before beginning, as achieving the correct tension is important for the finished shawl to reach its stated dimensions.

Who Is This Pattern For?

Rated as a beginner knitting project, the Lark Shawl is ideal for newer