Klickitat Shawl Pattern

This shawl's name comes from the name of the childhood street of one of my all-time favorite fictional characters, Ramona Quimby. I wanted to create a shawl that served nicely in a variety of ways: as a maternity or nursing shawl, a mama and baby snuggling shawl, a baby blanket, a shawl to wear while babywearing, and so forth. But as I developed the shawl design, I saw that it could also be worn as a cape by imaginative children of any age, and was struck with how magical it would be for a child to wear a shawl that their mother wore before they were born, or that was the first blanket they were wrapped in, or brought along on first outings to the park... you get the idea.

As a mom, I know that our three children will always be my babies, no matter how many years circle us. The idea of holding onto our childhood in a shawl, like being Ramona forever, just captivated me. It hope its stitches are just as captivating to you.

Sizes

One Size

Finished Measurements

24 x 40 inches

Materials

Yarn Love Diana, 100% superwash merino wool; 360 yards/328 meters per 4 ounce/113 gram hank, 2 hanks in Pumpkin

Suggested Needle Sizes

US #6/4mm, 32 inch circular neede, 2 dpns, or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions

Stitch markers, stitch holders, waste yarn, tapestry needle

Gauge

24 sts and 30 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

Pattern Notes

This lace shawl with a collar is worked as two separate front pieces that are knit from the hem up. After placing the collar stitches on holders, the front pieces are joined at the back of the neck and the back is worked in the same lace pattern from the top down to the hem. Lastly, you finish knitting the collar pieces, graft them together, and attach the back of the collar to the top back of the shawl. The lace pattern is very easy to memorize once you do the repeat a few times.

Skills Required

Grafting

Knitting Pattern

Left Side

Cast on 78 sts. Begin working back and forth in rows as follows:

Set up row: p18, pm, p 55, pm, p5.

Row 1: Knit to 1^st m, sl m, k1, * yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1 * repeat from * to * 6 times, sl m, k to end of row.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: Knit to 1^st marker, sl m, * yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1 * repeat from * to * 6 times, k1, sl m, k to end of row.

Row 4: Purl.

Repeat these four rows until piece measures 20 inches from CO edge, ending on row 3 (rs row) of pattern.

Place last 19 sts of row onto a stitch holder, dropping the marker between the 18^th and 19^th sts, then slip remaining 59 sts and stitch marker onto scrap yarn. Leaving an 18 inch tail for weaving in, cut yarn.

Right Side

Cast on 78 sts. Begin working back and forth in rows as follows:

Set up row: p4, pm, p55, pm, p19.

Row 1: Knit to 1^st m, sl m, k1, * yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1 * repeat from * to * 6 times, sl m, k to end of row.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: Knit to 1^st marker, sl m, * yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1 * repeat from * to * 6 times, k1, sl m, k to end of row.

Row 4: Purl.

Repeat these four rows until piece measures the same as the left side, ending on row 3 (rs row) of pattern.

Join sides and work back

Purl 59, keeping 1^st stitch marker in place, drop 2^nd marker, sl next 19 sts to a holder, turn work so right side faces and CO 18 sts to lh needle, turn work so wrong side faces and p59 stitches from the scrap yarn from the left side, leaving two sets of 19 sts on holders for the collar. 136 sts. (From the ws, you should have: 4 sts, marker, 127 sts, marker, 5 sts.)

Begin working 4 row pattern as follows:

Row 1: Knit to 1^st m, sl m, k1, * yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1 * repeat from * to * 14 times, sl m, k to end of row.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: Knit to 1^st marker, sl m, * yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1 * repeat from * to * 14 times, k1, sl m, k to end of row.

Row 4: Purl.

Repeat these four rows until the back measures 20 inches from the point where you joined the sides.

Bind off all 136 sts.

Collar

Working the 19 sts from the holder on the left side, work 10 rows in st st, leave on a spare dpn.

Repeat for the 19 sts on the right side, leave stitches on a spare dpn.

Graft the two collar bands together using the Kitchener stitch.

Leaving a 24 inch tail, cut yarn, and seam the edge of the collar to the 18 sts that you cast on between the front pieces.

Finishing

Weave in ends and block using your preferred method.

(schematic)

Photos by Christa Tippmann

Originally published in Petite Purls, Spring 2012