Protopopov

Protopopov Lace Shawl by Susan Pandorf

What Is Being Made

The Protopopov is an elegant lace shawl designed by Susan Pandorf, featuring a graceful swirl of lace patterning. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a rectangular wrap measuring 12 inches wide by 72 inches long when blocked, making it a versatile accessory suitable for draping around the shoulders. The shawl is constructed as a single continuous piece knit from end to end, combining both structural ribbing and decorative lace motifs.

Knitting Techniques

This beginner-level knitting project employs fundamental techniques accessible to newer knitters while incorporating beautiful lace elements. The shawl begins with a two-row ribbed edge to create a stable foundation, then transitions into the main lace pattern. The construction method involves working from a charted pattern, requiring knitters to read right-side rows from right to left and wrong-side rows from left to right—standard practice in lace knitting. The pattern utilizes a center repeat section worked multiple times across the width, flanked by right-hand and left-hand stitch sections to create balanced symmetry in the finished piece.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) — forms the selvedge edges and ribbed foundation
• Purl stitch (P) — creates the ribbed texture at the beginning and appears throughout wrong-side rows
• Lace stitches — worked according to the provided chart pattern to create the graceful swirl design characteristic of the shawl
• Ribbing — K1, P1 alternating pattern used for the initial two rows to establish structure

Materials and Specifications

The Protopopov requires 3 skeins totaling 450 yards of Malabrigo Silky Merino or any comparable DK weight yarn. Knitters should use US size 6 needles to achieve the proper gauge. The pattern specifies that each pattern repeat blocks to 2 inches wide, providing a clear measurement standard for gauge checking before beginning the main project. The combination of DK weight yarn with size 6 needles creates a fabric with excellent drape suitable for a lace shawl, while the Silky Merino fiber choice adds lustrous sheen and softness to the finished wrap.

Pattern Structure

The shawl begins with a cast-on of 65 stitches, with the first and last stitch of every row worked as knit stitches to create clean, finished edges. The main motif is worked from a chart, with the center repeat section (marked by red lines on the chart) repeated five times across the width. This structured approach ensures consistent patterning while the flanking right-hand and left-hand stitch sections frame the design symmetrically. All wrong-side rows maintain a simple knit-purl-knit edge structure with purling across the middle, allowing the lace pattern to develop clearly on the right-side rows.