Something Blue Shawl

Something Blue Shawl: Lace Knitting Design

What Is Being Made

The Something Blue Shawl is an elegant lace wrap designed by Meridith Shepherd and published by Stacked Woolens. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a finished rectangular wrap measuring 60 inches (150 cm) wide by 15 inches (38 cm) tall, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or draping. The design combines a simple lace pattern with an ornamental lace border and a decorative picot bind off for a refined, polished finish.

Techniques and Construction Methods

The Something Blue Shawl employs several advanced knitting techniques that create visual interest and texture throughout the piece. The pattern begins with a provisional cast on using a crochet hook and waste yarn, a technique that allows knitters to pick up stitches later for seamless construction. The main body features a straightforward lace pattern worked from the center rectangle, which provides an accessible entry point for knitters new to lace work despite the overall advanced skill level.

A lace border is knitted in place directly onto the edges of the rectangular center section, eliminating the need for separate seaming or attachment. This integrated border construction creates a cohesive, professional appearance. The pattern concludes with a picot bind off, a decorative edge finish that produces small loops or points along the perimeter, adding a delicate, frilly detail that enhances the shawl's feminine aesthetic.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The design features an easy-to-master stitch pattern that makes it approachable for knitters expanding their lace skills. The pattern provides flexibility in how knitters engage with the instructions, offering both written directions and charted stitch patterns. This dual-format approach accommodates different learning preferences and allows knitters to choose their preferred method of following the pattern. The lace pattern creates an open, airy fabric characteristic of lace-weight yarns, with a gauge of 7 stitches per 1 inch in the lace pattern after blocking.

Materials and Tools

The Something Blue Shawl requires lace-weight yarn, with the pattern sample shown in Anzula Breeze in the colorway Grace. Knitters need approximately 750 yards (690 meters) of lace yarn, which is provided by one skein of the recommended Anzula Breeze. The pattern calls for US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles in two lengths: a 24-inch (60 cm) needle for working the center rectangle and a 40-inch (100 cm) needle for accommodating the increased stitch count as the lace border is added. A crochet hook of similar size to the knitting needles and smooth waste yarn are also required for the provisional cast on technique.

Skill Level and Pattern Format

This pattern is rated at an intermediate skill level, making it suitable for knitters with foundational knowledge who are ready to tackle more complex techniques. The downloadable PDF format allows knitters to access the pattern immediately and print it for reference while working. The combination of clear instructions, charted patterns, and techniques like provisional cast on and picot bind off makes this an excellent project for advancing lace knitting skills.