Paintbox Yarns Lollipop Lace Shawl Knitting Pattern

Paintbox Yarns Lollipop Lace Shawl

What is Being Made

The Lollipop Lace Shawl is a large triangular wrap designed to be worked from the bottom edge upward. The finished shawl measures 100 cm (39¼ inches) deep and 200 cm (78¾ inches) along the longest edge, making it a generous accessory suitable for layering or draping. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a versatile piece that combines colorwork with lace detailing.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its finished design:

• Bottom-up construction: The shawl is worked from the cast-on edge at the bottom, building upward to the top point of the triangle
• Seamless, flat knitting: The entire piece is worked flat on circular needles without seaming, creating a continuous fabric
• Lace patterning: Openwork lace stitches create decorative holes and texture throughout the design
• Striped colorwork: Multiple yarn colors are incorporated in a striped pattern, using five balls of Blush Pink (A), four balls of Paper White (B), two balls of Ballet Pink (C), and one ball of Misty Grey (D)

Stitches and Pattern Details

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches combined in a repeating lace motif. Key stitches include knit (K), purl (P), yarn forward (yfwd) for creating lace holes, slipped stitches (sl 1), and pass slipped stitch over (psso) for decreasing. The pattern features a 54-row repeat that measures 20 cm (7¾ inches) in length when worked to the correct tension. A center stitch is marked to help with shaping the triangular silhouette, and specific rows are repeated in sequence to build the lace pattern throughout the shawl's depth.

Materials and Needles

The Lollipop Lace Shawl is designed to be worked using Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK yarn, a medium-weight cotton blend ideal for creating crisp stitch definition in lace patterns. The project requires a total of 12 balls across four coordinating colors. Knitters will need one 4mm (UK 8 – US 6) circular knitting needle to accommodate the large number of cast-on stitches (621 stitches) and work the shawl flat. The circular needle format allows for easy management of the many stitches without the weight strain of traditional straight needles.

Tension and Gauge Information

Achieving correct tension is essential for this project to reach the intended finished measurements. The pattern specifies a stocking stitch tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) when worked on 4mm needles. Knitters should prepare a tension swatch of at least 12 cm (5 inches) square before beginning the shawl. If the swatch shows more stitches and rows than specified, thicker needles should be used; if fewer stitches and rows appear, thinner needles are needed. Working to the correct tension ensures the shawl will achieve its full 100 cm depth and 200 cm width as designed.