Queensway Shawl

Queensway Shawl by Holli Yeoh

What is Being Made

The Queensway Shawl is an advanced-level knitted lace shawl designed to be generously proportioned and luxuriously draped. With finished measurements of 22 inches wide by 78 inches long (56 cm x 198 cm), this shawl is engineered for maximum cocoon-like coverage and elegant styling versatility. The design celebrates the exceptional qualities of mohair yarn, creating a cloud-like garment with marshmallow-soft textures that showcase the fiber's natural loft and drape.

Techniques Used

This advanced knitting project employs several sophisticated techniques characteristic of lace shawl construction. The pattern utilizes a provisional cast-on method, which allows for seamless integration of stitches and is typically executed using waste yarn or a crochet hook. The shawl is worked using lace knitting techniques that create openwork patterns and delicate stitch structures. The design incorporates two-circular-needle technique as an optional working method, allowing knitters to manage the expanding width of the shawl comfortably. Beading is featured as an optional embellishment, with provisions for adding 180 beads throughout the main shawl and an additional 110 beads on the edging for those seeking extra sparkle and definition.

Stitches Used

The Queensway Shawl is primarily constructed in stockinette stitch (St st), which serves as the foundation fabric. The laceweight yarn and advanced difficulty rating indicate that the pattern incorporates lace stitches and openwork elements that create the characteristic transparency and delicate drape associated with lace shawls. These techniques work in concert with the yarn's natural properties to produce the desired cloud-like effect.

Materials and Specifications

This project requires laceweight mohair yarn totaling 1000 yards (915 meters). The shawl is shown knitted in Knit Picks Aloft, a luxurious blend of 72% Super Kid Mohair and 28% Silk, with each ball providing 260 yards (237 meters) of yardage at 25 grams. Four balls of yarn are needed to complete the project.

The needle requirements include:

• 5 mm (US 8) straight or 16-24 inch (40-60 cm) circular needles for the main knitting, or size as needed to obtain proper gauge
• 4 mm (US 6) circular needles—two sizes smaller than the main needles—in 60-inch (150 cm) length, or alternatively two 40-inch (100 cm) circular needles for the two-circulars technique
• Size E-4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook for executing the provisional cast-on

Additional notions include waste yarn for the provisional cast-on method and optional beading supplies: 180 beads (6/0 size) for the main shawl and 110 beads (6/0 size) for the edging.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 14 stitches and 23 rows equaling 4 inches (10 cm) when worked in stockinette stitch using the larger needles and measured after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements and the correct drape of this lace shawl.