Skill level: Moderately challenging (read more about skill levels of knitting patterns here)
Time: varies, but about 50 to 60 hours
Finally – it’s finished. Mother’s Day lace shawl is done. With exceptions I think.
My inspiration for this delicate shawl was overgrown rockery next to my apartment house (which is not so delicate). Each spring this rockery is buried under the Lily of the Valley and I absolutely adore it. This means that spring is officially here.
I wanted to reflect the nature of this flower – tenderness, hope, and promise of new beginnings. And remember the smell? Too bad I can’t put the fragrant of this blossom in my knitting.
Measurements:
- length: 128cm (50,4 inches)
- width: 43cm (17 inches)
You’ll need:
- 250 g (8,8 oz) of DROPS Baby Merino
- 3 mm ( US 3) needles
- cable needle (if you don’t have one then here is a post for ideas on what to use instead of a cable needle)
Get the printer friendly pattern here:
Abbreviations:
- k – knit;
- YO – yarn over;
- k2tog – knit two stitches together;
- ssk – slip, slip, knit together;
- nupp – check this post for making “nupp” stitch;
- * * – repeat instructions between asterisks, as directed;
- rep – repeat;
- sk2p – slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together;
- 4/4RC – Slip 4 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next 4 sts from left-hand needle, then knit 4 sts from cable needle;
- 4/4LC – Slip next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next 4 sts from left-hand needle, then knit 4 sts from cable needle;
Knitting instructions for the lace shawl:
Cast on 99 stitches.
*NOTE! 1st stitch is slip stitch to get a loopy edging.*
Knit 10 rows and start the lace pattern.
Row 1: k8, YO, k2tog, k3, YO, ssk, k5, k2tog, YO, k2tog *YO, k2tog, YO, k1, YO, k2, ssk, k4, nupp, k2tog, k2, YO, k2tog* rep total of 3 times, YO, k2tog, YO, k3, YO, ssk, k4, ssk, YO, k8;
Rows 2, 4 etc: Wrong side rows are all purl rows.
Row 3: k8, YO, k2tog, k4, YO, ssk, k3, k2tog, YO, k2tog *YO, k2tog, YO, k3, YO, k2, ssk, k2, nupp, k2tog, k2, YO, k2tog* rep total of 3 times, YO, k2tog, YO, k5, YO, ssk, k3, ssk, YO, k8;
Row 5: k8, YO, k2tog, k5, YO, ssk, k1, k2tog, YO, k2tog *YO, k2tog, YO, k5, YO, k2, ssk, nupp, k2tog, k2, YO, k2tog* rep total of 3 times, YO, k2tog, YO, k7, YO, ssk, k2, ssk, YO, k8;
Row 7: 4/4RC, YO, k2tog, k6, YO, sk2p, YO, k2tog *YO, k2tog, YO, k7, YO, k2, sk2p, k2, YO, k2tog* rep total of 3 times, YO, k2tog, YO, k9, YO, ssk, k1, ssk, YO, 4/4LC;
Row 9: k8, YO, k2tog, k4, k2tog, YO, k3, YO *ssk, YO, ssk, YO, k2, ssk, nupp, k4, k2tog, k2, YO, k1, YO* rep total of 3 times, ssk, YO, ssk, YO, ssk, k5, k2tog, YO, k3, ssk, YO, k8;
Row 11: k8, YO, k2tog, k3, k2tog, YO, k5, YO *ssk, YO, ssk, YO, k2, ssk, nupp, k2, k2tog, k2, YO, k3, YO* rep total of 3 times, ssk, YO, ssk, YO, ssk, k3, k2tog, YO, k4, ssk, YO, k8;
Row 13: k8, YO, k2tog, k2, k2tog, YO, k7, YO *ssk, YO, ssk, YO, k2, ssk, nupp, k2tog, k2, YO, k5, YO* rep total of 3 times, ssk, YO, ssk, YO, ssk, k1, k2tog, YO, k5, ssk, YO, k8;
Row 15: 4/4RC, YO, k2tog, k1, k2tog, YO, k9, YO *ssk, YO, ssk, YO, k2, sk2p, k2, YO, k7, YO* rep total of 3 times, ssk, YO, ssk, YO, sk2p, YO, k6, ssk, YO, 4/4LC;
Row 16: purl;
Repeat lace pattern in total of 27 times.
Knit 10 rows and cast off.
Chart for lace (download bigger chart from here):
Abbreviations for lace chart:
If you’re finished knitting then hide yarn ends and block.
By the way, if you have finished knitting your shawl then maybe you’re ready to start a new one? “Shawl of Solitaire” for example?
This is really beautiful and i cant wait to get started on it.
Thank you! I hope you’ll show me when you’re finished.
Gorgeous Shawl,My daughter will love it! Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you!
Hi, I’ve cast this one on and I am wondering why it says for the purl rows “Wrong side rows are all purl rosw (except those first 3 and last 3 stitches)”.
Reading further down the pattern, the 8 border stitches are crossed into the cable, so why do we have 3 knit at each end?
Oh my… I had typing error in it. Thank you very much Kerry, to bringing it up. I am so sorry and this error is fixed now. Thank you again.
Thank you for this gorgeous pattern; you are really so clever. I love it so much that I printed it right away and chose to take it to an annual knitting fair that I attend. I always take just one pattern with me to choose something absolutely decadent at the show. Well, I did that and now have a question for you.
I notice that the shawl and the cable edging (which I love) are two separate patterns. Are they meant to be knitted together, i.e. at the same time, just adding the appropriate number of stitches to the 99 for the shawl? I would greatly appreciate your advice.
Thank you for your kind words. About the pattern – cable for shawl is in those 99 stitches (you’ll make the cable twists on rows 7 & 15). The cable edging pattern is separate pattern (if you meant my different posts – one for cable twist edging and other for lace shawl) and this lace shawl grew out of it. I hope it sounds logical. If not, let me know and I’ll try to explain more.
Oh, thank you so much. I think I’ve got it.
I think you’re saying that this shawl pattern (that I will be following) contains everything I need in 99 stitches to complete the shawl, including the cabled border, as shown. Right?
The cable twist edging is also provided in a separate pattern.
L
Yes, I wanted to say just that 🙂
Thank you!
Hi, Thank you so much for posting such a beautiful pattern. I can’t wait to get started! At the start of the pattern when you say “First stitch is slip stitch to get a loopy pattern”, does that mean I should slip the first stitch at the start of every row?
First of all, thank you! And you’ve got it right – You start every row with the slip stitch.
I’m on my way with the pattern too, and it is working out beautifully now that I have practiced my “nupps”. I have been slipping the 1st stitch every row, including the purl rows.
I’m glad – “nupps” really require practice. I’m so happy that I haven’t scared people away with this pattern 🙂
Yes, me too, because it is a truly gorgeous design. I’m on my 2nd repeat of the pattern now and so pleased I persevered, practicing my tension for the “nupps”.
Ahhhh, the fragrance! Yes … loverly! 😉
Hi PatternDuchess,
I have completed my version of your Mother’s Day shawl, but I don’t know how/where to post a photo of it, thanking you. It was my 1st lace project. I don’t see you on Ravelry, and on Facebook, I can’t see a way to post.
Oh I’m so excited. I’m on Ravelry – https://www.ravelry.com/people/PatternDuchess or you can even email me 🙂
Thanks for your reply. I found you & posted it.
Hi. I recently purchased a whole cone of natural, organic, off white ( a lovely creamy color, with literally thousands of yards yarn. I This yarn is just slightly smaller than a fingering weight….about a lace weight, I would say. Will it work for making this shawl?
Thanks for your help and opinion.
Sftflannelnjeans
( Marie T )
Yes, Marie, I think so. 🙂
I’ve started the pattern row, however I’ve had to undo it twice as I’ve ended up with 2 two many stitches or not enough stitches at the end of this row. I’m thinking maybe after knitting the nupp I have to knit that stitch and the next together or do I leave that stitch on the needle and knit the next two together. Not sure where I’m going wrong.
Most common mistakes are:
too many or not enough stitches when knitting nupp stitch together – make sure that you are knitting together as many stitches as you initially made for nupp stitch;
After nupp stitch, there is a knit 2 together – make sure that is done correctly;
What else…
Make sure you have all the yarn overs in all the right places.
I hope that was helpful 🙂
Love the pattern it’s my first attempt at lace. I know, I’m being adventurous! Hope it comes out half as lovely as yours! Cheers!
I’m sure you will be successful, Heather. Just start and work your way up – one stitch at the time 🙂
Hi, I just printed out the pattern for the Mother’s Day Shawl which looks beautiful. I have a sister that I’d like to make this for.
I have a question that has nothing to do with the pattern, but with your website. It is absolutely beautiful in its simplicity. Can I ask who you are with? Is this WordPress? How would I go about making a website like this, without all kinds of advertising and popups?
Thanks,
Catherine
Hi Catherine, first of all – thank you for your words! It was my goal to make a website that is simple, not full of advertisements and popups 🙂
This is a WordPress site and I also use Divi theme, but you don’t need that. You can build a simple site with only WordPress. You can choose if you want to put ads and other stuff on your site. I chose not to. Most people choose to fill the site up to earn some money.
Hi Mari-Liis,
I am doing something novel and knitting something for myself! I found this beautiful shawl and decided to knit it in red for Christmas 🎄. I’ve read over the pattern and it’s pretty straightforward. I just wondered if you had a recommended cast on, and I wanted to make sure that the first stitch should be slipped knitwise (it seemed to be fine when I stitched the gauge swatch). Looking forward to this!!
Hi Barbara, use any cast-on that is stretchy – lace shawls need to have a “give” for blocking.