Birch Shawl in Rowan Kidsilk Haze - Downloadable PDF

Birch Shawl in Rowan Kidsilk Haze by Sharon Miller – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Birch Shawl is an elegant, large-format knitted shawl designed by Sharon Miller and worked in Rowan Kidsilk Haze, one of the most beloved lace-weight yarns in the knitting world. This downloadable PDF pattern is available free of charge and is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with basic lace techniques and are ready to explore more refined shaping and stitch patterns. The finished shawl measures an impressive 203 cm (80 inches), making it a truly generous wrap suitable for draping over the shoulders or wearing as a statement accessory.

Two Design Versions

The pattern offers two distinct versions of the Birch Shawl, each producing a different fabric texture and visual effect while sharing the same lace stitch structure and overall shaping:

• Stocking Stitch Version: In this version, the wrong-side rows are purled, creating the classic smooth knit fabric on the right side that allows the lace motif to stand out with crisp definition. This version was photographed in Majestic 589.
• Garter Stitch Version: Here, all wrong-side rows are knitted rather than purled, producing a ridged, reversible fabric with a softer, more rustic texture. This version was photographed in the discontinued shade Dreamboat 587; Bill 703 is suggested as a replacement colorway.

Both versions are worked using the same 8-row repeat and the same decrease shaping, so knitters can choose their preferred fabric texture without altering the fundamental construction of the shawl.

Materials Required

Yarn

The pattern calls for Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a luxurious lace-weight yarn renowned for its delicate halo and beautiful drape. It is a blend of kid mohair and silk, which gives the finished fabric an ethereal, lightweight quality perfectly suited to shawl knitting. You will need 3 x 25 g balls for either version of the shawl. The yarn's fine weight and inherent sheen make it an ideal choice for lace work, as it adds a subtle luminosity to the open stitch pattern.

Needles

The shawl is knitted on 1 pair of 5 mm (UK no. 6 / US 8) needles. Using a needle size larger than might be expected for a lace-weight yarn is a deliberate choice that opens up the lace motif and allows the delicate yarn to breathe, producing the characteristic airy drape associated with heirloom-style shawls.

Tension

The recommended tension is 20 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm, measured over the pattern using 5 mm (US 8) needles. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important in a shawl of this scale, as even a small variance can significantly affect the finished dimensions of a piece measuring over two metres in length.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Lace Pattern Repeat

The heart of the Birch Shawl is an 8-row lace pattern repeat that incorporates both decorative yarn-overs and paired decreases to create the characteristic leaf or birch-inspired motif. The stitch pattern is worked as follows across the 8-row repeat:

• Row 1 (right side): Sets up the lace motif using yarn-forward increases (yfwd) paired with decreases.
• Rows 2, 4, and 6: Knit across (used in both versions as plain rows on certain right-side passes).
• Row 3: Features K2tog tbl, K2tog, and double yarn-forward sequences — (K1, yfwd) twice, K1 — to build the lace openwork.
• Row 5: Continues the tapering of the lace motif using K2tog tbl, K2tog, and centred yarn-overs.