My First Lace Shawl

Class Preview

Knit a stunning shawl as you learn approachable techniques that make elegant lace easy.

Introduction & Gauge Swatching

Meet lace shawl designer Anna Dalvi and learn more about the beautiful Waterspout shawl you’ll be making. Then dive right into building your chart-reading skills as you knit a swatch that includes lace patterning. Gauge is not so important with a shawl project, but the swatch will help you judge the weight and drape of the fabric, whether you knit with fingering yarn or even a worsted.

Casting On & Establishing Pattern

See how to cast on for your shawl with the traditional garter tab cast-on or Anna’s less-fussy alternative. Both methods start with just a few stitches at the center top of the shawl. From there, you’ll begin working out and down, establishing the pattern of stitches with Anna’s guidance.

Beginning the Lace Pattern

Your shawl starts with stockinette stitches surrounding a center lace panel, then moves into full-on lace. With Anna’s patient instruction, you’ll see how to follow the lace pattern on a chart, knitting the increases, decreases, yarn overs and more. Anna also explains how to add new yarn at the edge of your shawl or with a Russian join in the middle.

Simple Mistakes Along the Way

Every knitter makes mistakes, so you’re bound to make a few as you knit your shawl. But Anna will arm you with ways to fix those mistakes without having to start over from the beginning. Learn how to tink back to a mistake or drop down to fix a stitch on a previous row. You’ll also learn about a critical tool for lace knitting: the lifeline.

Fixing a Section

You might discover a larger mistake that requires changing an entire section. Before you rip back to a lifeline (or frog the entire project in frustration), see how you can drop stitches and reknit just a small section of your shawl, either in the middle or on the edge.

Completing the Shawl

Your shawl is almost done! Follow along with Anna as you work through the last few rows of the lace pattern and then use a lace bind-off for a super-stretchy edge. Then see the best way to weave in the loose ends of your yarn so they don’t show.

Blocking & Care

Your finished shawl will look all lumpy and bumpy until you block it. Learn how to use blocking wires or waste yarn to get smooth curves on your edges, and how to pin out the points of your shawl to get the shape you want. Anna demonstrates how you can alter your shawl’s layout whenever you want simply by blocking it again. You’ll get lots of shawl looks in one!