When you think of knitting, you usually think about the classics: thick, cozy afghans and adorable baby booties perfect for the winter season. What people don’t always remember, though, is that knitting can actually be just the skill you need to turn your closet from drab to fab!
To celebrate knitting’s fashion-forward abilities, we’re sharing a hot new shawl knitting pattern with you: a Dandelion Lace Shawl! Pair this lovely lace statement piece with any sweater, blouse, or tank top, and you’re guaranteed to be the belle of the ball.
Look equal parts elegant and feminine in this intricate fashion piece. After making this design, you’ll never forget just how stylish knitting can be!
Dandelion Lace Shawl
designed by Kavita Sleight
Skill Level: Intermediate
SIZES
S (M, L) Shown in S.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Approx 34 (44, 54)” wide at top x 13
(17¼, 21½)” deep at center point, blocked
MATERIALS
Silky Alpaca Laceby Classic Elite (70% alpaca, 30% silk; 50 g = approx 440 yards)
1 ball each:
MC – 2416 French Vanilla
CC – 2420 Beach Glass
Circular knitting needle (24” or longer) in size US 6 (4 mm) or size to obtain gauge.
Crochet hook in size US D/3 (3.25 mm)
GAUGE
24 sts and 36 rows = 4” in St st.
Take time to save time, check your gauge
ABBREVIATIONS
approx: approximately
BO: bind off
CC: contrast color
CO: cast on
est: establish(ed)
g: grams
inc’d: increase(d)
k: knit
k3tog: knit 3 sts together (2 sts decreased)
m1: (make 1) Insert LH needle under horizontal strand between st just worked and next st, from the front to the back, knit through the back loop (1 st inc’d).
MC: main color
p: purl
pc: piece
patt: pattern
pm: place marker
rem: remaining
rep: repeat
RH: right hand
RS: right side
sl m: slip marker
st(s):stitch(es)
WS: wrong side
yo: yarn over (1 st inc’d)
SPECIAL TERMS
Chain: Wrap the yarn around the crochet hook (yarn over) and draw it through the loop on the hook to form the first chain. Rep this step as many times as instructed. (The loop on the hook is never included when counting the number of chains.)
Backward Loop Cast-on method: Wrap yarn around left thumb from front to back and secure in palm with other fingers. Insert needle upwards through strand on thumb. Slip loop from thumb onto RH needle, pulling yarn to tighten.
Drop: Drop next stitch and unravelt it down to m1, use Backward Loop method to CO 1 st.
MB (make bobble): In next st, (k1, yo) twice, k1, turn; p5, turn; slip 2 sts, k3tog, pass slipped sts over – 1 st rem on RH needle.
PATTERN STITCHES
Stockinette Stitch (St st): Knit on RS, purl on WS.
Garter Stitch (Gtr st): Knit all sts, every row.
Stripe Pattern: *In St st, work 2 rows MC; work 2 rows CC; rep from *. Note: Do not break yarn, carry unused color up the side of piece.
Dandelion Lace
(multiple of 3 sts + 6)
(also, see chart)
Row 1 (RS): K3, m1, *p1, k1, p1, m1; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 (WS): K3, *k2, p1, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Rows 3, 5, 7 and 9: K3, p1, *p1, k1, p2; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 11: K3, p1, *p1, MB, p2; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 12: Knit.
Row 13: K3, drop, *p3, drop; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Work rows 1–13 for Dandelion Lace patt
SHAWL
With CC, CO 3 sts. Knit 6 rows and do not turn work. Rotate pc 90º clockwise and pick up and knit 3 sts (1 st in each Gtr st ridge) along side; rotate pc 90º clockwise once more and pick up and knit 3 sts along CO edge – 9 sts.
Setup body patt: Setup Row 1 (WS): K3 (edge sts, keep in Gtr st throughout), p3, k3 (edge sts, keep in Gtr st throughout) – 9 sts.
Setup Row 2 (RS): K3, yo, (k1, pm) twice, k1, yo, k3 – 11 sts.
Setup Row 3: K3, yo, purl to last 3 sts, yo, k3 – 13 sts.
Est stripe patt: Join MC.
Row 1 (RS): K3, yo, knit to marker, yo, sl m, k1, sl m, yo, knit to 3 sts before end, yo, k3 – 4 sts inc’d.
Row 2 (WS): K3, yo, purl to last 3 sts, yo, k3 – 2 sts inc’d.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until there are 217 (307, 397) sts – 34 (49, 64) reps of body patt worked.
Shape shawl with short rows:
Note: Short rows are not wrapped. Maintain stripe patt while working short rows.
First half
Short Row 1 (RS): K3, yo, knit to 3 (6, 12) sts before first marker, turn.
Short Row 2 and all WS rows: Slip 1 st, work to end as est.
Short Rows 3, 5 and 7: K3, yo, knit to 6 (9, 15) sts before last turning point, turn.
Short Rows 9, 11 and 13: K3, yo, knit to 9 (12, 18) sts before last turning point, turn.
Short Rows 15 and 17: K3, yo, knit to 12 (15, 21) sts before last turning point, turn.
Short Rows 19 and 21: K3, yo, knit to 15 (24, 21) sts before last turning point, turn.
Short Row 22: Slip 1 st, work to end as est.
RS: Knit across all sts – 239 (329, 419) sts.
Second half
Short Row 1 (WS): K3, yo, purl to 3 (6, 12) sts before first marker, turn.
Short Row 2 and all RS rows: Slip 1 st, work to end as est.
Short Rows 3, 5 and 7: K3, yo, purl to 6 (9, 15) sts before last turning point, turn.
Short Rows 9, 11 and 13: K3, yo, purl to 9 (12, 18) sts before last turning point, turn.
Short Rows 15 and 17: K3, yo, purl to 12 (15, 21) sts before last turning point, turn.
Short Rows 19 and 21: K3, yo, purl to 15 (24, 21) sts before last turning point, turn.
Short Row 22: Slip 1 st, work to end as est.
Row 23 (WS): With MC, k3, purl to last 3 sts, k3, removing all markers – 261 (351,
441) sts.
LACE EDGING
With MC, work rows 1 – 13 of Dandelion Lace Patt.
BO all sts as follows:
BO 3 sts, *slip st from RH needle to crochet hook, chain 5, drop CO st above the drop stitch column, slip st from crochet hook back to RH needle, BO 3 sts; rep from * across. Fasten off. Add button, if desired.
What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever knitted? Let us know below in the comments!
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