Clew Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Clew Shawl in Berroco Quinoa

What Is Being Made

The Clew Shawl is a triangular lace shawl designed by Alison Green. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a finished garment measuring approximately 72 inches across the top and 30 inches down the center, making it a versatile wrap suitable for layering or wearing as a statement accessory. The shawl is constructed using a top-down approach, beginning with a small garter tab that is picked up and expanded through strategic increases to achieve its triangular silhouette.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs several key knitting techniques that define its intermediate difficulty level. The construction begins with a garter tab cast-on method, where a small number of stitches are cast on, knitted flat, then rotated and picked up along the edges to create a seamless foundation. Yarn overs are used extensively for both shaping and lace patterning, creating decorative eyelets throughout the fabric. The shawl features strategic increases worked at regular intervals to expand the triangle, with increases occurring every few rows during the early sections and then transitioning into the lace pattern repeats. A garter stitch border is maintained on the side edges throughout the piece, providing structural stability and a finished appearance. The shawl also incorporates loose bind-off techniques, using needles several sizes larger than the working needles to ensure the final edge remains elastic and lies flat.

Stitches Used

The Clew Shawl utilizes a focused set of fundamental and decorative stitches. Stockinette stitch forms the base fabric in the early rows and serves as the foundation for lace patterning. Garter stitch is worked on the first and last 2 stitches of every row to create a finished selvage edge. The primary design element is a lace pattern that repeats over a multiple of 10 stitches plus 1, worked over 16 rows. This lace pattern features:

• Yarn overs (yo) that create openwork eyelets and contribute to shaping
• Knit stitches (k) that form the solid portions of the pattern
• Slip, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, k2tog, psso), a centered double decrease that balances the yarn overs
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK), a left-leaning decrease used at pattern edges
• Knit 2 together (k2tog), a right-leaning decrease
• Purl stitches (p) worked on all wrong-side rows to create texture and definition

The combination of decreases and yarn overs in the lace pattern creates a balanced, non-curling fabric with visual interest and movement.

Materials

This shawl is worked in Berroco Quinoa, a specialty yarn that brings unique qualities to the finished piece. The pattern calls for 6 balls of Berroco Quinoa in the colorway #1002 Basmati, with each ball weighing 50 grams, for a total of 300 grams of yarn. A 29-inch circular needle in size 8 (5.00 mm) is used for the main knitting, with gauge set at 18 stitches and 26 rows equaling 4 inches in stockinette stitch. For the bind-off, knitters should have available a needle 2 to 3 sizes larger than the working needle—any length or type—to ensure a loose, elastic edge that allows the shawl to drape beautifully. Checking gauge before beginning is recommended to ensure the finished measurements are achieved.