Reiland Rectangular Lace Shawl in SweetGeorgia Superwash Sport - Downloadable PDF

Reiland Rectangular Lace Shawl – Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Reiland Rectangular Lace Shawl is an advanced knitting pattern by designer Corrina Ferguson, available as a downloadable PDF. It produces a stunning, rounded-rectangular lace shawl measuring 52 inches (132 cm) wide and 26 inches (66 cm) deep when blocked. The design is inspired by the imagery of falling leaves, making it a particularly evocative piece for autumn wear. According to the pattern description, the shawl is as rewarding to knit as it is to wear, thanks to its unique construction method and the extraordinary drape it achieves in the finished fabric.

Construction and Shape

What sets the Reiland shawl apart from many traditional shawl patterns is its unique rounded-rectangular construction. Rather than the more common triangular or crescent shawl shapes, this design produces a symmetrical rectangular form with softly rounded edges. This shape lends itself beautifully to wearing as a wrap or scarf-style accessory, and the generous finished dimensions mean it can be draped in a variety of ways. The construction method is integral to the design's character and is part of what makes this an advanced-level project suitable for experienced knitters looking for an engaging, intellectually satisfying knit.

Lace Techniques and Stitches

The leaf-inspired lace pattern is the visual centerpiece of the Reiland shawl. Knitters will work a blocked lace pattern that forms the basis of the gauge measurement — 16 stitches and 18 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) in blocked lace pattern. Lace knitting at this level involves careful attention to stitch count and pattern repeats, and blocking is essential to open up the lace motifs and achieve the correct finished dimensions.

Key stitches and techniques used in this pattern include:

• Yarn over (yo) – the foundational increase used to create the open, airy holes characteristic of lace fabric
• Double yarn over (yo2) – a decorative increase that creates a larger eyelet, adding visual interest to the lace motifs
• SSK (slip, slip, knit) – a left-leaning decrease worked by slipping two stitches individually as if to knit, then knitting them together through the back loops, decreasing one stitch; used to shape and balance the lace pattern
• Slip marker (sm) – markers are used throughout to delineate pattern sections and aid in keeping track of repeats
• Bind off (BO) and cast on (CO) – standard techniques employed within the unique construction of this shawl
• Knit (k) – used across right-side and wrong-side rows as the structural backbone of the lace fabric

Lace knitting combines intentional yarn overs with corresponding decreases to maintain stitch count while creating an openwork fabric. In the Reiland shawl, these elements are arranged to evoke the organic, asymmetrical beauty of leaves, giving the finished piece a naturalistic elegance. Because lace requires tracking both right-side and wrong-side rows, this pattern is best suited to knitters who are comfortable reading their knitting and working from charted or written lace instructions.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern calls for 2 skeins of SweetGeorgia Yarns Superwash Sport in the colorway Empress. Each skein contains 328 yards (300 m) and weighs 3.5 oz (100 g), giving a total yardage of approximately 656 yards (600 m). The yarn is composed of 100% superwash merino wool, a fiber celebrated for its exceptional softness, lustrous stitch definition, and machine-washable convenience. SweetGeorgia Yarns is a well-regarded indie dyer known for rich, hand-dyed colorways, and the sport weight of this yarn strikes an ideal balance — fine enough to create delicate, lightweight lace while still being manageable to work with at an advanced level.

Materials – Needles and Notions

The pattern recommends a US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle, 32 inches (80 cm)