Tahki Yarns Kalispell Shawl Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Kalispell Shawl

Project Overview

The Kalispell Shawl is a beginner-friendly knitted wrap designed by Rosemary Drysdale. This seamless, flat-worked shawl combines elegant lace patterning with straightforward construction, making it an accessible introduction to lace knitting techniques. The finished shawl measures 18½ inches wide by 74 inches long when blocked, providing generous coverage as a shoulder wrap or decorative accessory.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a rectangular lace shawl worked from cast-on edge to bind-off. The design features a central lace motif bordered by garter stitch edges, creating a balanced and wearable garment. The generous length of 74 inches allows for multiple wrapping styles, while the 18½-inch width provides comfortable shoulder coverage without excessive bulk.

Techniques Used

• Seamless construction: The shawl is worked in one continuous piece with no seaming required, simplifying the finishing process
• Flat knitting: Worked back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round, making it ideal for beginners
• Lace knitting: The pattern incorporates yarn overs and decreases to create openwork designs that add visual interest and drape
• Garter stitch edging: Knit stitches on every row create stable, non-curling borders on all four sides
• Blocking: The finished piece is blocked to measurements to even out the lace pattern and achieve the specified dimensions

Stitches Used

• Knit (k): The fundamental stitch used throughout, particularly in the garter stitch borders
• Purl (p): Used on wrong-side rows within the pattern stitch to create texture and definition
• Yarn over (yo): Creates the decorative eyelets characteristic of lace knitting; increases are paired with decreases to maintain stitch count
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease that works in tandem with yarn overs
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease that balances the directional decreases in the lace pattern

Pattern Stitch Details

The Kalispell Shawl uses an 8-row repeating pattern stitch worked over a multiple of 11 stitches. The pattern alternates between textured rows featuring yarn overs and decreases (Rows 1, 3, 5, and 7) and purl rows (Rows 2, 4, 6, and 8) that create definition. The decreases are strategically placed to frame the yarn overs, producing a balanced, symmetrical lace design. Three stitches on each edge are maintained in knit stitch throughout all rows, creating clean, stable selvages.

Materials and Specifications

The pattern calls for 4 balls of Tahki Yarns Alden, a luxury blend yarn composed of 50% fine merino wool, 25% superfine alpaca, and 25% acrylic. Each ball weighs 1.75 ounces and contains 250 yards of yardage, providing approximately 1,000 yards total for the project. This fiber blend offers the warmth and elasticity of merino wool, the softness and luster of alpaca, and the durability and easy-care properties of acrylic.

The shawl is worked on Size 6 (4mm) needles at a gauge of 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in the pattern stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the specified finished measurements. A yarn needle is required for weaving in ends during finishing.

Construction Summary

The Kalispell Shawl begins with a cast-on of 94 stitches. Six rows of garter stitch (knit on every row) establish a stable foundation. The center 88 stitches are then worked in the repeating 8-row pattern stitch while the outer 3 stitches on each side remain in garter stitch throughout. This continues until the piece measures approximately 72 inches in length, ending after completing Row 8 of the pattern. Six final rows of garter stitch provide a balanced top edge before binding off loosely. The finished piece is blocked to the specified measurements to even out the lace pattern