Wide Ribbed Prayer Shawl in Plymouth Encore Worsted - F467

Wide Ribbed Prayer Shawl in Plymouth Encore Worsted – Pattern F467

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Company produces a generously sized Wide Ribbed Prayer Shawl worked in Plymouth Encore Worsted yarn. Measuring approximately 23 x 70 inches when finished, this shawl is designed to drape comfortably around the shoulders, making it a meaningful and practical project for gift-giving, personal devotion, or everyday warmth. The pattern is straightforward and repetitive, making it an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate knitters alike who want a satisfying, meditative knit.

What Is Being Made

The finished object is a wide rectangular prayer shawl, a style of wrap with a long tradition of being handcrafted and gifted as a symbol of comfort, care, and spiritual support. At 23 inches wide and approximately 70 inches long, this shawl is substantial enough to wrap fully around the shoulders or lap. Its generous dimensions make it suitable for adults of all sizes.

Techniques Used

• Long-tail or loose cast-on: The pattern specifically instructs knitters to cast on loosely, which is essential for maintaining the elasticity of a ribbed fabric along the starting edge.
• Double-stranding: The entire shawl is worked holding two strands of yarn together throughout, which creates a thicker, warmer fabric and allows the project to knit up quickly on large needles.
• 4x4 ribbing: The body of the shawl is worked entirely in a 4x4 rib pattern, alternating four knit stitches with four purl stitches across each row. This classic ribbing technique creates vertical columns of texture that give the shawl beautiful visual depth and natural elasticity.
• Garter stitch selvedge: Three stitches are knitted at each end of every row, creating a neat, stable garter stitch border along both long edges. This prevents the edges from curling and gives the shawl a tidy, finished appearance without any additional finishing work.
• Loose bind-off in pattern: The pattern instructs knitters to bind off loosely while maintaining the rib pattern, which preserves the stretch and drape of the finished edge and ensures it matches the cast-on edge in both appearance and flexibility.
• Weaving in ends: Minimal finishing is required — simply weaving in all yarn ends completes the project.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) – the foundational stitch used throughout the ribbing and border
• Purl stitch (P) – alternated with knit stitches to create the raised rib columns
• 4x4 Rib Pattern – worked over a repeating sequence: Row 1: K3, *(K4, P4); repeat from * to last 7 sts, end K4, K3. Row 2: K3, *(P4, K4); repeat from * to last 7 sts, end P4, K3. Rows 1 and 2 are repeated for the full length of the shawl.

Materials

• Yarn: Plymouth Encore Worsted – 6 skeins of 100g each, shown in colorway 6002. Encore Worsted is a popular acrylic-wool blend known for its durability, softness, ease of care, and wide range of colors, making it an ideal choice for a shawl intended to be used and washed regularly.
• Needles: US size 13 straight or circular needles, or the size needed to achieve gauge. The large needle size, combined with the double strand of yarn, creates a lofty, cozy fabric with excellent drape.
• Gauge: 2.5 stitches per inch over stockinette stitch using a double strand. Because the entire shawl is worked in ribbing rather than stockinette, gauge is used primarily to estimate finished dimensions rather than to shape the piece precisely.
• Cast-on: 58 stitches

Pattern Details and Skill Level

Pattern F467 is available as a