Shawlette in West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite\n - Downloadable PDF

Exquisite Shawlette by Anniken Allis – Knitting Pattern Summary

What Is Being Made

This pattern by designer Anniken Allis produces a square shawlette — a compact, elegant shawl that sits beautifully around the shoulders or neck. The finished piece is available in two sizes: 84 x 84 cm (33 x 33 inches) and 108 x 108 cm (42½ x 42½ inches), making it a versatile accessory suitable for everyday wear or special occasions. The design is a free, downloadable PDF pattern published by West Yorkshire Spinners.

Construction Method

The shawlette is worked in the round from the centre outward, a classic top-down square shawl construction that creates four symmetrical quadrants radiating from a central cast-on point. This method allows the knitter to see the shawl grow evenly in all directions and makes it easy to adjust the final size by simply working more or fewer rounds. Beginning at the centre with a small number of stitches, increases are placed strategically at regular intervals to shape the square form. Because the piece starts very small, double pointed needles (DPNs) are used initially before transitioning to progressively longer circular needles as the stitch count grows.

Techniques Used

• Working in the round — the entire shawlette is knitted circularly, eliminating the need for seaming
• Centre-out construction — stitches are cast on at the centre and increased outward to form the square shape
• Lace knitting — yarn overs combined with decreases create decorative openwork patterning throughout
• Stitch marker placement — four stitch markers are used to define the corners and maintain the geometric shaping
• Magic loop or DPN transition — the pattern begins on double pointed needles, moving to a 40 cm circular needle and then an 80 cm circular needle as stitches increase

Stitches Used

The pattern draws on a focused set of knitting stitches and techniques suited to intermediate-level knitters. These include:

• Knit (k) — the foundational stitch throughout
• Yarn over (yo) — used to create decorative eyelets and lace openings, and to add stitches for shaping
• K2tog (knit two together) — a right-leaning decrease used in lace patterning and shaping
• SSK (slip, slip, knit) — a left-leaning decrease worked by slipping two stitches knitwise before knitting them together through the front loop, creating a mirror image to k2tog
• SK2PO (slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over) — a central double decrease that removes two stitches at once, often used at lace pattern intersections
• Knit through back loop (tbl) — produces a twisted stitch for added definition in the fabric

The combination of yarn overs with paired decreases is the hallmark of lace knitting, producing the delicate, airy fabric that makes this shawlette so elegant. The lace repeat structure means knitters will work a set sequence of stitches that tiles across each round, building the overall pattern as the shawl grows.

Materials Required

The pattern is designed specifically for West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite Lace yarn, a luxurious blend of 80% Falkland Island Wool and 20% Mulberry Silk. This fibre combination gives the yarn a beautiful natural sheen from the silk alongside the warmth and elasticity of Falkland wool, making it an ideal choice for delicate lace work. The yarn offers an impressive 800 metres per 100g hank, which is characteristic of lace-weight yarn and allows intricate stitch definition at a fine gauge.

• Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite Lace — Shade 258: Florence — 1 hank required
• Needles: 3.5mm (UK 9–10 / US 4) needles in three