Beginner Shawl Knitting Pattern
Zero Stress Shawl With Easy Shaping
I have the best beginner friendly knit shawl pattern to share with you guys today! The Northbound Shawl is worked in entirely in garter stitch with bulky weight yarn, making it a quick, fun project. The end result is a cozy wrap that’ll keep you toasty warm on the coldest of days.
It took me a long time to attempt knitting my first non rectangular shawl. I was nervous about shaping such a large piece of work and having wasted a huge amount of time (not to mention yarn, which we all know isn’t cheap!). Many of the patterns that I found online at the time required complicated increases and hard to follow stitch patterns. And, I don’t know about you but, my favourite type of knitting pattern is the kind that doesn’t require arduous concentration, so I wasn’t really willing to try those out! However, after a bit of experimenting, I came up with some of my own designs that are simple and stress free – just how I like them!
The Northbound Shawl is a design that I came up with early on in my knitting journey. It’s knit with large needles and chunky weight yarn and the design is incredibly uncomplicated. You’ll simply repeat the same two rows over and over!
If you are a lazy knitter like me, then I have a feeling you will be addicted to shawl knitting after completing this fun pattern.
Ad Free PDF File
The free knitting pattern for this shawl is available right here on this page, as this site is sustained through ad support.
If you like things a little more streamlined, I’ve put together an ad-free, downloadable PDF version of the pattern. It’s perfect for easy printing and can be can be purchased through My Ravelry Store or by clicking the “Purchase PDF File” button to the right.
Thank you so much for your support! It means the world to me, and I’m beyond grateful to be able to share my passion with you all.
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Materials:
- Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky 100% Acrylic Yarn
- 4 Skeins Vanilla Cream (Colour A).
- 2 Skeins Pure Black Colour B).
- Size 13 (9 mm) 32” or longer circular knitting needles.
- Two Stitch Markers.
- Scissors.
- Yarn needle to weave in ends.
Measurements:
Finished shawl has a wingspan of 81“ / 206 cm and a depth of 23“ / 58 cm.
Gauge:
15 stitches, 18 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch.
Abbreviations:
K: Knit.
Kfb: Knit into the front and back of the same stitch.
P: Purl.
PM: Place marker.
SM: Slip marker.
St / sts: Stitch / stitches.
Notes:
The shawl is worked from the top down in garter stitch, with a centre spine of 15 stitches. Four stitches are increased every other row, creating two triangular sections that grow outward from either side of the centre spine.
Blocking is optional since garter stitch naturally lies flat. However, you may wish to block your finished shawl to even out the stitches, straighten the edges, and improve the overall drape.
More Free Shawl Knitting Patterns from Leelee Knits!
Pattern Instructions:
With Colour A, cast on 25 sts using the long-tail cast-on method and begin at Row 1.
Row 1: K2, kfb, k1, kfb, PM, k15, PM, kfb, k1, kfb, k2. (29 sts)
Row 2: K all sts.
Row 3: K2, kfb, k to last st before first marker, kfb, SM, k15, SM, kfb, k to last 3 sts, kfb, k2.
Row 4: K all sts.
Repeat rows 3 and 4, switching colors according to the Colour Scheme.
Colour Scheme:
24 Rows Colour A
16 Rows Colour B
34 Rows Colour A
16 Rows Colour B
24 Rows Colour A
After completing the final 24 rows of Colour A, continue to Finishing.
The final stitch count will be 253 sts.
Finishing
Cast off knitwise and weave in all loose ends using a yarn / tapestry needle.
Pattern PDF File
I hope you enjoyed this free knit shawl pattern.
If you’d like your own copy, the Ad-Free PDF file (which will be emailed to you automatically) can be purchased through Ravelry, or by clicking the “Purchase PDF File” button to the right.
Thank you so much for your support! It means the world to me, and I’m beyond grateful to be able to share my passion with you all.
I want to knit so bad but I don’t get the hang of it
I know you’ll be able to do it! Have you watched any YouTube “how to knit” videos? If not, give them a try. They can be very useful. Is there a yarn shop near you? If so, go in, buy some yarn, and ask for help. Or sign up for a “How to Knit” class. If you live anywhere near me–far northern Florida, US–I’d be glad to teach you.
I love this pattern and will use it many times in the future. I added a row of single crochet all around it in the second color as well as a tassel on both corners. I can’t wait to start another one. I might use some other knitted patterns, but this will be base pattern. Thank you so much as I have been making shawls, but they weren’t quite what I had envisioned.
I want to knit this pattern, however that kfb has me stumped.????can you do a yarn over instead of maybe that will add too many stitches?? What can I do instead of kfb??? Thanks☺☺☺☺☺
Hi Belinda, KFB is an increase stitch, so you could use another increase that you prefer. If you use a yarn over, there will be a small hole, but that may look nice as a decorative accent. I say try it out and see how it looks.
Is it always a knit 15 between the markers?
Yes 🙂
Yes Ma’am it is. Every time.
This pattern is very, very easy! And it’s beautiful too! Thank you for making it so simple!
That is so beautiful and looks easy too! I’m going to try it. I’m thinking it might look nice in one of the Caron Chunky Cakes colorways.
I wanna try this pattern , but not familiar with the KEN stitch. Need to work on this. Otherwise it’s a very simple pattern
Hi Belinda, KFB, means to knit into the front and the back of the stitch. There are a lot of great videos demonstrating this stitch if you do a quick search of KFB stitch knitting.
That should be kfb stitch not ken sorry??????
I like the shawl and think it’ll be nice using only one color or a varigated yarn.
Do you have a suggestion of a different yarn to use?
Thanks,
Suze
Hi Suze, a good substitution would be Knit Picks Brava Bulky. Both of these yarns would be considered more of a heavy aran weight than a true bulky/chunky weight yarn.
IS IT PRACTICAL TO MAKE THIS LOVELY SHAWL FOR A PETITE PERSON PLEASE. I WOULD BE SWAMPED IN THIS AS IT STANDS. THANK YOU. CC UK thank you I AM 5 or so.
5 feet 2″ 70 IN AGE. SORRY 5 feet not years!
Absolutely! This shawl grows as you work it, so you can stop once it looks big enough.