Knit Wavy Chevron Lace Shawl

Knit Wavy Chevron Lace Shawl by Emma Wright

What is Being Made

The Knit Wavy Chevron Lace Shawl is a lightweight, rectangular wrap designed by Emma Wright. This shawl measures approximately 42cm wide by 140cm long, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a scarf. The design features a distinctive wavy chevron lace pattern that creates visual movement throughout the fabric while maintaining an elegant, airy aesthetic.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs fundamental lace-making techniques accessible to beginner knitters. The primary technique involves the wavy lace stitch, which combines decreases and yarn overs to create the characteristic chevron and wave formations. The pattern uses purl two together (p2tog) decreases to shape the chevron points and yarn over (yo) increases to form the lace holes that give the shawl its open, breathable quality. The shawl is worked in a straightforward flat construction using straight needles, with all shaping achieved through the repeating stitch pattern rather than complex shaping techniques.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) – the fundamental stitch forming the base rows
• Purl stitch (p) – used in alternating rows and within the lace pattern
• Purl two together (p2tog) – a left-leaning decrease creating the chevron points
• Yarn over (yo) – creates the decorative lace holes and eyelets
• Wavy lace stitch – the four-row repeat pattern combining the above stitches to form the main fabric

Materials and Tools

This project requires sport weight yarn in the colorway Johannas Sage from The Yarn Collective. The pattern calls for four 100g hanks of yarn, providing sufficient yardage for the full 140cm length. Knitters will need 4mm (US 6) straight needles to achieve the correct tension. The pattern specifies a tension of 30 stitches and 30 rows over 10cm (4 inches) when working the wavy lace stitch on 4mm needles. Additional materials include yarn for finishing, including yarn for creating four corner tassels (each measuring 14cm when completed) that add a decorative flourish to the finished shawl.

Construction Details

The shawl begins with casting on 126 stitches using 4mm needles. The wavy lace stitch pattern is then worked as a four-row repeat: Row 1 features a knit row on the right side, Row 2 is a purl row, Row 3 contains the main lace pattern with repeating units of three purl two together decreases followed by six yarn over and knit combinations, and Row 4 is a knit row. This four-row sequence repeats continuously until the shawl reaches the desired length of approximately 140cm, after which stitches are cast off. The finishing process includes fastening off all loose ends and blocking or pressing the completed fabric according to yarn care guidelines. Four decorative tassels are then created by folding 8 x 24cm lengths of yarn in half and wrapping them with additional yarn, with one tassel secured to each corner of the shawl.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as beginner level, making it an excellent introduction to lace knitting. While the wavy lace stitch involves decreases and yarn overs, the straightforward four-row repeat and simple construction make it manageable for knitters new to lace techniques. The rectangular shape requires no complex shaping or decreasing, and the flat construction on straight needles keeps the project accessible.