Lacy Maple Leaf shawl

Lacy Maple Leaf Shawl by MaryG Knits

What is Being Made

The Lacy Maple Leaf shawl is a knitted wrap designed to transition seamlessly from daytime to evening wear. This triangular shawl combines decorative stitch work with functional warmth, making it an elegant accessory suitable for various occasions. The design features a distinctive maple-leaf motif along the edging, creating a nature-inspired aesthetic that appeals to knitters seeking both visual interest and wearability.

Knitting Techniques Used

This shawl employs several intermediate knitting techniques that work in concert to create its sophisticated appearance. The pattern utilizes braided cable work, which adds textural depth and visual complexity to the piece. Eyelet shaping creates openwork sections that contribute to the lacy quality of the design while maintaining structural integrity. The construction begins with a garter tab cast-on method, which produces a continuous garter-stitch edging that frames the shawl beautifully. The shawl is knitted flat rather than in the round, making it accessible to knitters who prefer working back and forth on circular needles rather than managing circular construction.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The foundation of this shawl relies on garter stitch (knitting every row), which creates the characteristic ridged texture and serves as the primary background stitch. The cable work requires cable twists, which are executed using either a cable needle or double-pointed needle to hold stitches while crossing them over one another. The eyelet stitches create small decorative holes that add visual lightness and contribute to the lacy aesthetic. A scalloped maple-leaf edging concludes the shawl, providing a finished edge that echoes the nature-inspired theme throughout the design. The pattern is organized in a 5-stitch repeat across the width, allowing for consistent patterning and balanced visual distribution.

Materials and Specifications

• Yarn: Approximately 384 yards of fingering weight yarn. The sample used one skein of Plymouth Yarn Stiletto in the colorway "Chanticleer" #700, which contains 70% superwash merino, 23% nylon, and 7% lurex. The nylon content provides durability, while the lurex adds subtle sparkle that makes the shawl suitable for evening wear.
• Needles: US #8 circular needles in 24-inch and/or 40-inch lengths. Circular needles are used despite flat knitting to accommodate the increasing stitch count as the shawl expands.
• Additional Tools: A cable needle or double-pointed needle for holding stitches during cable twists, and six stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping increases.
• Gauge: 16 stitches by 32 rows equals 4 inches when measured in garter stitch.

Pattern Format and Design Notes

The Lacy Maple Leaf shawl pattern is provided in both charted and row-by-row written formats, allowing knitters to choose their preferred method of following instructions. This dual-format approach accommodates different learning styles and preferences. The pattern was designed by Mary C. Gildersleeve and is copyright 2013. The efficient yardage requirement—less than 400 yards—makes this an excellent project for knitters seeking to create an impressive finished garment without committing to a large yarn investment, while the sparkly sock yarn elevates the design from everyday to special-occasion wear.