Knitting Tea and Sympathy' Shawl in Lion Brand Homespun - 50538-K

Lion Brand Homespun 'Tea and Sympathy' Shawl – Free Knitting Pattern (50538-K)

The Lion Brand Homespun 'Tea and Sympathy' Shawl (Pattern Number 50538-K) is a free, downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. It produces a graceful, lightweight shawl with a back waist length of 20 inches (51 cm) in a single, one-size design. The pattern is rated Easy, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and are ready to explore a simple lace-style construction. A crochet version of this shawl is also available separately from Lion Brand.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a classic hand-knitted shawl or wrap, designed to drape elegantly over the shoulders. The finished piece is worked in a striped, multi-color scheme using three coordinating colorways of the same yarn, giving it a soft, textured, and visually interesting appearance. The shawl is shaped through incremental increases, building outward from a small cast-on to create a triangular or widening silhouette typical of traditional shawl construction.

Materials Used

• Lion Brand Homespun® Yarn in Windsor (Color A) – 2 balls (color code 790-341)
• Lion Brand Homespun® Yarn in Quartz (Color B) – 1 ball (color code 790-362)
• Lion Brand Homespun® Yarn in Barrington (Color C) – 1 ball (color code 790-336)
• Lion Brand Knitting Needles – Size 13 (9 mm)
• Lion Brand Crochet Hook – Size K-10.5 (used for finishing or edging)
• Large-Eye Blunt Needles – set of 6, used for weaving in ends

Lion Brand Homespun® is a well-loved bulky-weight yarn known for its soft, chenille-like texture and subtle sheen. It knits up quickly on larger needles and produces a fabric with beautiful drape — qualities that make it particularly well suited to shawls and wraps. The combination of Windsor, Quartz, and Barrington colorways creates a harmonious, tonal palette across the finished shawl.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 8 stitches and 12 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) worked in the lacy pattern. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the shawl reaches the intended 20-inch back waist length and that the specified yarn quantities are sufficient.

Techniques Used

• Cast-on: The shawl begins with a cast-on of 10 stitches in Color A, establishing the starting edge of the piece.
• Shaping with increases (M1 – Make 1): The primary shaping technique is the M1 increase, which is worked by lifting the horizontal thread lying between the needles, placing it onto the left needle, and knitting through the back loop. This creates a nearly invisible increase that gradually widens the shawl as rows progress.
• Lacy Pattern: The defining stitch pattern of this shawl is a four-row repeat that creates an open, airy, lace-like fabric without requiring complex yarn-overs or decreases typically associated with traditional lace knitting. This makes the technique very approachable for knitters at the easy skill level.
• Color work / striping: Three colors of Lion Brand Homespun® are worked in sequence to create the multi-tonal striped effect across the body of the shawl.
• Finishing: A crochet hook (Size K-10.5) is included in the materials, indicating a crochet-based edging or finishing step is part of completing the shawl. Large-eye blunt needles are used to weave in yarn ends neatly.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k): The foundational stitch throughout the entire pattern. All rows in the lacy pattern are worked as knit stitches, making this a garter