719 Crisanta Shawl - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Hatfield

Pattern #719 Crisanta Shawl – Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Hatfield

The Crisanta Shawl is an elegant, wearable accessory pattern designed by Tian Connaughton and published as pattern #719. Worked in a single skein of luxurious lace-weight yarn, this shawl is an ideal project for knitters who want to showcase a precious, special-occasion yarn while producing a finished piece that is both graceful and functional. The completed shawl measures approximately 50 inches wide by 15 inches deep, making it a generously sized crescent-style wrap suitable for a wide range of wearers.

Construction and Design

One of the most distinctive features of the Crisanta Shawl is its side-to-side construction. Rather than being worked from the top down or from a center spine outward, the shawl begins at one short end and is knitted horizontally across to the opposite short end. This approach creates a naturally flowing fabric and allows the lace edging to grow organically as the shawl is worked. Because the shawl is seamless, there is no finishing seam required, making the final assembly process minimal and straightforward.

The body of the shawl is worked in smooth Stockinette stitch, which provides a clean, classic background that allows the lace edging to take center stage. Stockinette stitch, formed by knitting all right-side rows and purling all wrong-side rows, produces a fabric with a subtle drape that is particularly well-suited to fine, lightweight yarns.

Lace Edging Details

The defining visual element of the Crisanta Shawl is its nature-inspired lace edging, which is charted in two separate sections: Edging Chart A and Edging Chart B. These charts work together to build the decorative border that frames the shawl's lower edge.

• Edging Chart A is worked over a panel of 15 stitches and repeats across 16 rows, with all wrong-side rows purled. It introduces the foundational lace motif using a combination of yarn-overs, decreases, and double decreases.
• Edging Chart B is worked over a growing panel of 21 to 29 stitches, expanding stitch counts row by row to shape the pointed or scalloped lace points characteristic of this style of edging.
• Both charts are worked on right-side rows only, with wrong-side rows worked as plain purl rows, keeping the lace construction accessible for intermediate-level knitters.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Crisanta Shawl draws on a rich vocabulary of knitting stitches and techniques. Knitters working this pattern will use the following:

• Stockinette stitch – the primary body fabric, worked flat in rows
• Yarn-over (yo) – the fundamental lace increase, creating decorative eyelets throughout the edging
• k2tog (knit two together) – a standard right-leaning decrease used extensively in the lace charts
• ssk (slip, slip, knit) – a left-leaning decrease that pairs with k2tog to create balanced lace motifs
• k3tog (knit three together) – a double decrease used in the edging for more dramatic shaping
• k4tog (knit four together) – an aggressive decrease appearing at key points in the lace pattern
• sl 1-k2tog-psso – a centered double decrease worked by slipping one stitch, knitting two together, and passing the slipped stitch over
• sl1-k3tog-psso – a triple decrease for bold lace shaping at specific edging points
• Lace knitting – the overarching technique combining yarn-overs and decreases to create an open, decorative fabric
• Seamless construction – the shawl is worked in one continuous piece with no seaming required
• Side-to-side shaping – an unconventional and interesting construction method that gives the shawl its unique proportions