Rocket Shawl in Rowan Creative Linen - ZB298-00016-FR - Downloadable PDF

Rocket Shawl in Rowan Creative Linen by Lisa Richardson – Pattern Summary

The Rocket Shawl is a beautifully elongated rectangular shawl designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. Worked in the brand's signature Creative Linen yarn, this piece combines a relaxed, airy aesthetic with a rhythmic lace-style stitch pattern that makes it a rewarding project for knitters looking to move beyond the basics. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated intermediate in difficulty.

What Is Being Made

The finished piece is a large rectangular étole (shawl or stole), measuring 65.5 cm wide and 200 cm long. Its generous dimensions make it versatile — it can be worn draped over the shoulders, wrapped around the neck, or styled as a lightweight summer scarf. The sample shown in the pattern photography is worked in Apple 629, a fresh, natural-toned colourway that complements the organic character of the yarn beautifully.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for 6 × 100 g balls of Rowan Creative Linen, a DK weight yarn. As the name suggests, Creative Linen has a linen content that gives the finished fabric a lovely drape, a subtle lustre, and a relaxed, slightly textured hand. Linen-blend yarns are particularly well suited to open, lacy stitch patterns because the yarn's natural stiffness helps the eyelets and yarn-overs hold their shape without blocking into obscurity. The recommended tool is a pair of 4.5 mm (UK 7) knitting needles.

Tension and Gauge

The stated tension is 18 stitches and 25 rows to 10 cm measured over the point fantaisie (fancy/lace stitch pattern) using 4.5 mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is especially important in a project of this scale — even a small deviation per centimetre will result in a significantly different finished width and length across 200 cm of fabric. Knitters are encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size as needed before casting on.

Techniques Used

• Long-tail or loose cast-on: The pattern instructs knitters to cast on 118 stitches souplement (loosely), which is essential to ensure the cast-on edge has the same elasticity and drape as the rest of the fabric.
• Garter stitch border: The shawl begins with 2 rows of garter stitch (knit every row), ending on a wrong-side row. This creates a neat, stable foundation before the lace pattern begins.
• Double yarn-over (jeté double): A key technique throughout the pattern. A double yarn-over involves wrapping the yarn around the needle twice in a single stitch position, creating a larger eyelet than a standard yarn-over. On the following row, these double yarn-overs are typically worked into in a specific way to create the open, decorative holes that define the fabric's character.
• K2tog (2 m end ensemble / 2 m end ens): A basic right-leaning decrease worked by knitting two stitches together. Paired with the double yarn-overs, this decrease maintains the stitch count while creating the lace effect.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch (point mousse): Used for the opening rows to anchor the work.
• Fancy / lace stitch pattern (point fantaisie): The main body of the shawl is worked in a repeating 3-row lace pattern. Each row shifts the placement of the double yarn-overs and decreases slightly, creating a flowing, offset eyelet design across the full width of the fabric. The repeat is straightforward enough to memorise after a few pattern rows, making it a pleasantly meditative knit despite its intermediate classification.

Pattern Structure

After the cast-on and garter stitch introduction, a set-up row establishes the lace pattern across the full 118-stitch width. The main point fantaisie then works across three repeating rows:

• Row 1