Plymouth Yarn Cathedral Windows Shawl & Scarf Knitting

Plymouth Yarn Cathedral Windows Shawl & Scarf Pattern

Project Overview

This downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn features two coordinating designs created from the same pattern base: a generous shawl and a narrower scarf. Both pieces showcase the elegant Cathedral Windows lace motif and are worked seamlessly from the bottom up in a flat construction. The pattern provides detailed instructions for creating either the shawl measuring approximately 18" x 60" after blocking or the scarf at 6.5" x 60", allowing crafters to choose their preferred finished dimensions.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its sophisticated appearance. The bottom-up construction method allows you to work from the cast-on edge upward, making it easy to try on and adjust length as needed. The seamless, worked-flat approach means no seaming is required—the entire piece is created on a single pair of needles without joining rounds. The lace technique is central to the design, utilizing yarn overs and decreases to create openwork patterns that form the Cathedral Windows motif. Blocking is recommended to fully develop the lace definition and achieve the specified finished dimensions.

Stitches and Stitch Pattern

The Cathedral Windows Pattern is the signature stitch element, worked over a multiple of 8 stitches plus 1. The 16-row repeat combines fundamental lace stitches including:

• Yarn overs (yo) that create the openwork eyelets characteristic of lace knitting
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) decreases that slant left and balance the yarn overs
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) decreases that slant right
• Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1-k2tog-psso) a centered double decrease that creates dramatic visual interest
• Purl stitches on wrong-side rows and as edge stitches to frame the lace
• Garter stitch borders worked at the beginning and end of the piece for structure and a finished edge

The pattern includes helpful abbreviations and notes to clarify stitch techniques, with special attention to the ending of Row 4, which differs from the standard repeat to maintain pattern symmetry.

Materials and Gauge

The pattern features Plymouth Yarn's Miradores yarn, a 50-gram ball weight. For the shawl, you will need 7 balls in the primary color (shown in color 30 Alabaster) and 3 balls in a contrasting color (shown in color 35 Plum Passage) for a two-color design option. The scarf requires fewer materials, though yardage specifications for the scarf are detailed in the complete pattern directions.

The recommended gauge is 19 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in pattern, worked on US Size 7 knitting needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished dimensions and ensuring the lace pattern displays as intended. Additional supplies needed include 2 stitch markers to denote pattern sections and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends after binding off.

Construction Details

Both the shawl and scarf begin with a cast-on of 91 stitches, followed by 3 rows of garter stitch to create a stable foundation. Stitch markers are then placed to establish the edge sections and central pattern area, with 5 stitches of garter stitch reserved on each side to frame the Cathedral Windows lace. The main body is worked by alternating the 16-row Cathedral Windows Pattern repeat with the garter stitch edges until the desired length is achieved, ending on Row 6 of the pattern repeat. The piece is finished with 4 rows of garter stitch and bound off loosely to maintain elasticity. All ends are woven in using the tapestry needle for a polished final appearance.