Prospect Park Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Prospect Park Shawl in Malabrigo Worsted

What Is Being Made

The Prospect Park Shawl is a circle shawl designed by Susan Ashcroft. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a generous wrap measuring 64 inches in width and 23 inches in length, making it an ideal accessory for layering or draping across the shoulders. The circular construction allows for a versatile garment that works as both a decorative shawl and a functional wrap.

Craft and Technique Overview

This is a knitting project worked in the round using circular needles. The shawl employs a structured increase pattern that expands outward from the center, creating the circular shape characteristic of this shawl style. The pattern combines multiple knitting techniques to build visual interest and texture throughout the piece.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques Used

The Prospect Park Shawl incorporates several knitting stitches and techniques:

• Stockinette stitch (St st) — the foundational smooth stitch used throughout portions of the shawl
• Garter stitch elements — created through alternating knit and purl rows for textured sections
• Slip stitches — worked both with yarn in front (wyif) and yarn in back (wyib) to create decorative slipped-stitch patterns and edge definition
• Cable stitches — specifically 3-stitch right crosses (3-st RC) and 3-stitch left crosses (3-st LC) that add dimensional cable details to the pattern
• Increases — knit front and back (kfb) and purl front and back (pfb) increases worked strategically to shape the circular expansion
• Stitch markers — used to track pattern repeats and shaping sections throughout the rounds

Materials Required

The Prospect Park Shawl is worked using Malabrigo Worsted, a merino wool yarn. The pattern calls for 3 hanks in the colorway #125 Mariposa. Each hank contains 3½ ounces (100 grams) and approximately 210 yards (192 meters), providing sufficient yardage for the complete shawl.

Needles required include a Size 10 (6mm) circular needle measuring 40 inches (100cm) in length, or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a cable needle for executing the cable crossings.

Gauge and Sizing

Two gauge measurements are provided for this pattern. Over stockinette stitch, the gauge is 14 stitches and 22 rows per 4 inches (10cm) using Size 10 needles. Over the pattern stitch, the gauge is 16 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches (10cm) using the same needle size. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the shawl to reach its intended finished measurements of 64 inches wide by 23 inches long.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as Intermediate difficulty, suitable for knitters with experience beyond basic techniques. The combination of cable stitches, slipped-stitch patterning, and circular construction requires solid foundational skills and comfort with reading complex stitch patterns and managing multiple pattern repeats.