Arlee Shawl - Knitting Pattern for Women in Tahki Yarns Whistler

Arlee Shawl Knitting Pattern by Susan Baron in Tahki Yarns Whistler

The Arlee Shawl is a beautifully designed knitted shawl created by designer Susan Baron and published by Tahki Stacy Charles. This generous, wearable wrap is crafted using Tahki Yarns Whistler, a luxurious worsted-weight yarn blend, and is rated as an easy pattern, making it an excellent project for beginner knitters looking to explore shawl construction and simple lace techniques. The finished piece is impressively sized, measuring approximately 70 inches (178 cm) in length and 53 inches (135 cm) in height, creating a dramatic and cozy wrap suitable for a wide range of occasions.

What Is Being Made

The Arlee Shawl is a large, one-size knitted shawl or wrap designed for women. Its generous dimensions make it versatile — it can be worn draped over the shoulders as a classic shawl, wrapped around the body for warmth, or styled as a statement accessory. The shawl is worked flat in a single size, making the pattern straightforward to follow from cast-on to bind-off.

Materials Required

• Yarn: 15 balls of Tahki Yarns Whistler, a blend of 80% superwash wool and 20% kid mohair, each ball weighing 1.75 oz (50g) with approximately 99 yards (90m) per ball. The sample is shown in color #008 Plum.
• Needles: One size 5 (3.75mm) circular needle, 40 inches (100cm) long, or the size needed to obtain gauge. A circular needle is used here to accommodate the large number of stitches, though the piece is worked flat.
• Notions: A yarn needle for finishing, and a locking stitch marker used at a key construction point in the pattern.

Yarn Details: Tahki Yarns Whistler

Tahki Yarns Whistler is a worsted-weight yarn that combines the practical benefits of superwash wool — meaning it is machine-washable and resistant to felting — with the soft, hazy halo of kid mohair. This blend gives the finished shawl a lightweight yet warm drape, with a subtle luminous quality that enhances the visual texture of both the lace and the reverse stockinette stripe sections. The plum colorway adds rich, jewel-toned depth to the finished fabric.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch after blocking. Blocking is an important finishing step for this shawl, as it opens up the lace sections and allows the fabric to reach its full, intended dimensions. Knitters are encouraged to take time to check their gauge before beginning.

Techniques Used

• Worked Flat: The shawl is knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, despite the use of a long circular needle. This is a common approach when a project has too many stitches to fit comfortably on straight needles.
• Lace: The pattern incorporates lace elements, including yarn-over increases (yo) that create decorative eyelets and an open, airy texture. These yarn-overs are paired with decreases to shape the fabric and maintain stitch counts in certain sections.
• Seamed Construction: The pattern includes a seamed element, meaning separate sections or strips are joined together during finishing to create the final shawl shape.
• Shaping with Increases and Decreases: The construction involves deliberate shaping rows that add or remove stitches to build the shawl's triangular or asymmetrical form.

Pattern Stitches and Stitch Details

The Arlee Shawl uses a combination of stitch patterns that work together to create visual interest and structural variety across the fabric.

Reverse Stockinette Stitch Stripe

The Reverse Stockinette Stitch Stripe (abbreviated as Rev St st Stripe) is a two-row repeat that