Olivet Shawl Cape Knitting Pattern

Olivet Shawl in Berroco Providence

What is Being Made

The Olivet Shawl is a rectangular knitted wrap designed by Amy Christoffers. This intermediate-level project creates a finished shawl measuring approximately 64 inches long by 24 inches wide (not including fringe). The shawl features a decorative center panel worked from charted stitch patterns, with stockinette stitch edges on both sides that are later unraveled and knotted to form fringe.

Knitting Techniques Used

This shawl employs several essential knitting techniques suitable for intermediate crafters. The construction begins with a cast-on of 17 stitches and uses stitch markers to define the working sections throughout the project. The pattern incorporates chart reading, requiring knitters to follow visual stitch diagrams for the decorative center panel. Slipped stitches are used strategically to create texture and visual interest, with specific instructions for yarn positioning on right-side and wrong-side rows. The shawl is worked in rows from cast-on to bind-off, with the edge stitches intentionally left to be unraveled later for fringe creation. The pattern is designed to be customizable—knitters can add or subtract repeats of specific charts to adjust the shawl's overall size.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch (St st): Used for the 8-stitch stockinette borders on each side of the shawl, creating a stable, flat edge
• Slipped Stitches: Worked with specific yarn-handling techniques to create decorative elements in the center panel
• Charted Stitch Patterns: Chart A is worked once for the shawl's opening section, followed by repeated workings of Chart B to build length

Materials and Tools

This project uses Berroco Providence yarn, a fingering-weight fiber. The pattern calls for 2 balls each of two colorways: #1135 Waterplace Park (C1) and #1121 Lincoln Woods (C2), with each ball weighing 50 grams. A 29-inch circular needle in size 7 (4.5 mm) is required, along with 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern sections. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 40 rows over 4 inches in garter stitch. Checking gauge before beginning ensures the finished shawl meets the specified measurements.

Pattern Structure and Notes

The Olivet Shawl is worked in a logical progression: a set-up row establishes stitch markers, followed by Chart A (Rows 1–24 worked once), then Chart B (Rows 25–40 repeated 18 times or until reaching half the desired length). Each row uses only one color yarn, with rows containing slipped stitches always worked in C2. When slipping stitches on the right side, yarn is carried in back (on the wrong side); on the wrong side, yarn is held on the side facing you. The 8 stitches on each side of the center pattern remain in stockinette throughout, serving as selvage edges that will later be unraveled and knotted to create the shawl's fringe. This customizable design allows crafters to create larger or smaller versions by adjusting the number of Chart B repeats, though additional yarn may be needed for larger sizes.