7 Free Shawl Knitting Patterns You'll Want to Cast On

Looking for a beautiful shawl to cast on next? A knitted shawl can be one of the most satisfying projects on your needles: large enough to showcase a special yarn, but usually much less demanding than knitting a full sweater.

This collection brings together 7 free shawl knitting patterns from the Amazing Knitting archive. You'll find everything from an easy one-skein shawl and beginner-friendly lace to dramatic openwork designs for knitters who enjoy a challenge.

Most importantly, we have checked the availability of these patterns so you can start with an Amazing Knitting project guide and then follow its link to the legitimate free pattern source.

7 Beautiful Free Shawl Knitting Patterns

The seven patterns below offer very different knitting experiences. Some are relaxing stash projects, while others feature intricate lace, interesting shaping or traditional techniques.

1. Reyna Shawl

Reyna by Noora Backlund is a wonderfully practical one-skein shawl designed specifically to show off beautiful variegated sock yarn.

Instead of hiding changing colors beneath complicated stitchwork, Reyna alternates simple garter-stitch sections with airy mesh. The result is a light triangular shawl that lets hand-dyed yarn become the star of the project.

It uses approximately 380–420 yards of light fingering or sock yarn and is worked flat from the top down.

Why knit it: Choose Reyna when you have one special skein of sock yarn in your stash and want a project that makes the most of its colors.

See the Free Reyna Shawl Pattern →

2. Multnomah

Multnomah by Kate Flagg is a much-loved shawlette that combines a simple garter-stitch body with a decorative feather-and-fan style border.

The contrast makes it particularly appealing: much of the project offers relaxing knitting before the lace edging adds a more decorative finish.

Its shawlette proportions also make Multnomah useful when you want a lighter accessory rather than a large full-coverage shawl.

Why knit it: Multnomah is a lovely bridge between simple shawl knitting and lace, with enough plain knitting to keep the project relaxing.

See the Free Multnomah Pattern →

3. June Bunnies Shawl

June Bunnies Shawl by Inese Andzane is a customizable top-down triangular shawl that alternates straightforward knitting with decorative lace sections.

One of its best features is flexibility. The designer allows the knitter to work more or fewer lace repeats, making it possible to adapt the shawl to the yarn available and the finished size you prefer.

The pattern is particularly attractive for knitters beginning to explore lace because the entire shawl does not require constant concentration.

Why knit it: Choose June Bunnies if you want to learn lace shawl knitting without jumping immediately into an extremely complicated all-over lace design.

See the Free June Bunnies Shawl Pattern →

4. Begonia Swirl

For something considerably more dramatic, Begonia Swirl by Carfield Ma creates a sweeping asymmetric lace shawl with a distinctive swirling appearance.

Designed for lace-weight yarn, the shawl expands into an elegant curved shape while intricate openwork creates the visual movement that gives Begonia Swirl its name.

Blocking is an especially important part of this project because it opens the lace and reveals the final shape.

Why knit it: Begonia Swirl is the choice for knitters who want the knitting itself to be a showpiece and enjoy watching intricate lace emerge from fine yarn.

See the Free Begonia Swirl Pattern →

5. Birds Nest Shawl

Birds Nest Shawl by Athanasia Andritsou is a deep triangular lace shawl featuring beautiful Estonian-inspired details.

The pattern uses lace-weight yarn and includes the distinctive raised elements known as nupps, giving the fabric texture as well as openwork.

This is one of the more advanced choices in our collection and is particularly suited to knitters who enjoy charts and detailed lace work.

The designer currently provides the pattern free for personal, non-commercial use, so be sure to respect the usage conditions supplied with the pattern.

Why knit it: Pick Birds Nest when you are ready for a more absorbing lace project and would like to explore Estonian-inspired techniques.

See the Free Birds Nest Shawl Pattern →

6. Carol's Clever Little Shawl

Carol's Clever Little Shawl by Carol Sanders offers something quite different from the conventional top-down triangle.

The design was inspired by a historic 1800s shawl and uses sideways construction, short rows and lace to produce its distinctive crescent-like shape.

It also includes a practical front-fastening concept, making the finished piece interesting both as a knitting project and as a wearable accessory.

The original source is now archived, but the pattern continues to be documented as available free.

Why knit it: This is an excellent choice when you want to explore an unusual shawl construction with a little knitting history behind it.

See Carol's Clever Little Shawl →

7. Lacy Baktus

Lacy Baktus by Terhi Montonen is a light, triangular scarf-shawl that combines the famously simple Baktus concept with decorative eyelets.

It is worked sideways in fingering-weight yarn, gradually increasing toward the center before decreasing again toward the opposite point.

With thousands of documented projects, Lacy Baktus has become a classic small accessory project and works particularly well when you want the yarn color to remain highly visible.

Why knit it: Choose Lacy Baktus for a relatively simple, portable project with just enough lace to keep the knitting interesting.

See the Free Lacy Baktus Pattern →

Which Free Shawl Should You Knit First?

If you're having trouble choosing, think about the kind of knitting you enjoy most.

• For one special skein: Reyna
• For simple knitting plus a lace border: Multnomah
• For your first lace shawl: June Bunnies
• For dramatic lace: Begonia Swirl
• For an advanced lace challenge: Birds Nest Shawl
• For unusual historical-inspired construction: Carol's Clever Little Shawl
• For a lightweight scarf-shawl: Lacy Baktus

Choosing Yarn for a Knitted Shawl

Shawls are wonderful projects for experimenting with yarn because fit is usually more forgiving than it is in a sweater.

However, yarn weight still affects the finished size, drape and yardage. Start with the yarn weight recommended by the designer unless the pattern specifically encourages substitution.

For intricate lace, solid and gently tonal yarns often make the stitch pattern easier to see. Simpler shawls such as Reyna can be especially effective with variegated or hand-dyed yarn.

Don't Skip Blocking Your Shawl

Blocking can make an enormous difference to a finished knitted shawl, especially when lace is involved.

The fabric may look compressed while it is still on the needles. After appropriate washing and blocking, eyelets open, edges become more defined and the final shape becomes much easier to appreciate.

Always use a blocking method appropriate for your yarn's fiber content and follow the designer's finishing recommendations.

Free Pattern Availability

Amazing Knitting checks pattern availability when creating and updating our guides. The patterns in this collection were selected because a legitimate free route to the exact design was verified during our latest review.

Pattern availability can change over time. Designers retain ownership of their work and may update, move, discontinue or change the price of a pattern.

For that reason, each link above first takes you to the corresponding Amazing Knitting pattern guide. There you'll find project details, knitting tips and the current legitimate source for the complete pattern.

Read Our Pattern Availability Policy →

More Free Knitting Patterns

Finished choosing your shawl? Amazing Knitting has many more verified free projects to explore, from baby knits and blankets to quick one-skein accessories.

Explore 7 Free One-Skein Knitting Patterns →

Pattern ownership remains with the credited designers. Amazing Knitting provides independent project guides and links to legitimate pattern sources rather than reproducing copyrighted row-by-row instructions. Please check each designer's current terms before beginning a project.

Lace Blanket Knitting Pattern

The photo above © Brome Fields

If you're looking to create a stunning yet cozy addition to your home, be sure to explore the Lace Blanket Knitting Pattern available at the link below. This beautiful pattern is designed for super bulky yarn, making it a quick and enjoyable project, perfect for those chilly spring and fall evenings. With its elegant fan and feather stitch, this throw not only provides warmth but also adds a touch of charm to any space. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced knitter, this pattern will guide you through creating a lovely, textured blanket that you'll cherish for years to come!

Full Post: Lace Blanket Knitting Pattern

Multnomah Shawl – Free Garter Stitch & Feather and Fan Shawl Pattern

Multnomah Shawl. Photo © Kate Ray / Hello Knitty

Multnomah by Kate Ray is a classic triangular shawl knitting pattern that combines a simple garter-stitch body with a beautiful Feather and Fan lace border.

Originally published in 2009 through Hello Knitty, Multnomah has become an enduring favorite among shawl knitters. It uses fingering-weight yarn and approximately 412 yards (377 m) for the original size, making it a lovely project for a special skein of sock yarn.

Availability update: the original Hello Knitty source is now out of print, but the free pattern has been preserved in an archived copy. More information and the archived pattern source are available through the pattern's current Ravelry record.

Multnomah Shawl Pattern Details

• Designer: Kate Ray
• Originally published: August 2009
• Original publication: Hello Knitty
• Craft: Knitting
• Category: Shawl / wrap
• Shape: Triangular
• Current availability: Free archived pattern
• Yarn weight: Fingering
• Yardage: Approximately 412 yards (377 m)
• Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) circular needle, 24 inches / 60 cm or longer
• Gauge: 24 stitches and 21 garter ridges = 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch
• Original finished size: Approximately 44 × 19 inches
• Construction: One-piece triangular shawl
• Main stitches: Garter stitch and Feather and Fan lace
• Notions: Four stitch markers
• Language: English, with translations also documented

A Classic Garter Stitch and Lace Shawl

Multnomah has a wonderfully effective construction: the majority of the upper shawl is worked in relaxing garter stitch, while the lower section changes into a flowing Feather and Fan lace border.

The contrast between the simple body and decorative edge gives the shawl much of its character without requiring lace knitting throughout the entire project.

This also makes Multnomah an appealing introduction to knitted shawls for someone who wants a project with both straightforward knitting and a more decorative finishing section.

The Garter-Stitch Body

The shawl begins with a small number of stitches and gradually expands into its triangular shape.

Most of this first section is garter stitch, with increases used to create the growing shawl.

Garter stitch is particularly effective with hand-dyed and variegated fingering yarns because the simple texture allows the yarn's color changes to remain visible.

Feather and Fan Lace Border

The lower portion introduces the classic Feather and Fan motif.

This traditional combination of increases and decreases creates the distinctive waves and openwork along the bottom of the shawl.

Once blocked, the Feather and Fan section opens beautifully and provides a decorative contrast to the dense garter-stitch body.

A One-Skein Fingering-Weight Shawl

The original Multnomah was designed around approximately 412 yards (377 m) of fingering-weight yarn.

That makes the original size particularly attractive for the special skeins of sock yarn that many knitters have in their stash.

If your skein contains significantly less yarn, you may need to make a smaller version. If you have more yarn, the design can also be expanded.

The Original Yarn

Kate Ray's original sample used The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga! in the Rainbow Scarab colorway.

The original project used essentially the entire skein, approximately 412 yards.

You do not need the original yarn to make Multnomah. A fingering-weight yarn that produces a fabric and gauge you enjoy can be substituted.

Choosing Yarn for Multnomah

Multnomah works especially well with yarns where you want both the color and stitch pattern to remain visible.

Solid and tonal yarns can emphasize the Feather and Fan texture, while gently variegated or long-color-repeat yarns can create dramatic color movement across the growing triangular shape.

When substituting yarn, pay attention to total yardage rather than simply comparing the number of skeins.

Needles and Gauge

The original pattern specifies a US 3 (3.25 mm) circular needle at least 24 inches (60 cm) long.

The documented gauge is:

24 stitches and 21 garter ridges = 4 inches (10 cm)
in garter stitch

A circular needle is useful because the shawl eventually contains many stitches, even though the work itself is knitted flat rather than joined in the round.

Finished Size

The original Multnomah measures approximately:

44 inches across × 19 inches deep

This places the original design in the shawlette-to-small-shawl range, making it easy to wear around the neck as well as across the shoulders.

Multnomah Is Easy to Resize

One of the most useful characteristics of the design is that the size can be adjusted.

Kate Ray documented alternative points for beginning the Feather and Fan border, allowing knitters to create smaller or larger versions of the original shawl.

You can also extend the lace section with additional repeats when you have enough yarn.

Making a Larger Multnomah

If you want a larger shawl, the garter-stitch section can be extended before beginning the lace border.

Because the Feather and Fan motif has a predictable stitch repeat, the designer documented several larger starting points for the lace section.

Keep in mind that every additional row becomes longer as the shawl grows, so larger versions can consume yarn much faster near the end of the project.

Making a Smaller Version

Multnomah can also be reduced if you have less than the original 412-yard recommendation.

Starting the Feather and Fan section earlier creates a smaller shawlette while retaining the defining combination of garter stitch and lace.

This flexibility makes the design useful when you want to work with a specific amount of treasured fingering-weight yarn.

Skills Used in the Multnomah Shawl

Useful techniques for this project include:

• Garter stitch
• Working flat on circular needles
• Basic increases
• Yarn overs
• Basic decreases
• Using stitch markers
• Following a repeating lace motif
• Binding off a large number of stitches
• Wet blocking lace

Is Multnomah Beginner Friendly?

Multnomah can be a very approachable first shawl for a knitter who already knows the basic knit stitch and is ready to learn simple increases, decreases and yarn overs.

The long garter-stitch section gives you time to become comfortable with the shawl's shaping before reaching the Feather and Fan border.

The lace section requires more attention, but it is based on a repeating motif rather than a large collection of unrelated lace patterns.

A Good First Lace Shawl

If full lace shawls feel intimidating, Multnomah provides a gentler introduction.

Only the border uses the Feather and Fan lace motif, so a mistake does not mean navigating lace across the entire shawl.

Using stitch markers and checking your stitch counts regularly can make the transition into the lace section much easier.

Use a Lifeline in the Lace Section

A lifeline can be particularly helpful when knitting the Feather and Fan border.

Threading a contrasting strand through the stitches after a correct repeat gives you a safe point to return to if you discover a mistake later.

This simple precaution can save a great deal of time when working long lace rows.

Blocking Makes a Big Difference

Don't judge the Feather and Fan border completely while it is still on the needles.

Lace often looks compressed before blocking. Washing the finished shawl and gently pinning it to shape allows the openwork and waves to become much more visible.

Always use a blocking method appropriate for the fiber content of your chosen yarn.

Why Multnomah Works With Variegated Yarn

Multnomah became especially popular as a project for colorful sock yarn.

The garter-stitch body provides a relatively simple background for changing colors, while the Feather and Fan border adds texture without overwhelming the yarn.

This combination can be particularly effective with hand-dyed yarns and long color repeats.

A Popular Modern Shawl Classic

Multnomah has remained remarkably popular since its original publication in 2009.

Thousands of knitters have made versions in different yarns, colors and sizes, demonstrating how adaptable the basic garter-and-lace structure can be.

Its enduring appeal comes from a useful balance: enough simple knitting to make the project relaxing, followed by enough lace to make the finished shawl feel special.

Why Knit the Multnomah Shawl?

Multnomah is an excellent choice if you have a beautiful skein of fingering yarn and want something more decorative than a plain garter-stitch shawl without committing to complicated lace from beginning to end.

The triangular shape is practical to wear, the size is adjustable, and the Feather and Fan border gives the finished piece a classic wavy edge.

It is also a useful bridge between basic knitting and more advanced lace shawls.

Get the Free Archived Multnomah Shawl Pattern

Multnomah by Kate Ray was originally published free through Hello Knitty. That original website source is now out of print, but the pattern has been preserved in an archived copy.

The current Ravelry pattern record provides the pattern information and points knitters to the archived free version.

View the Multnomah Pattern & Archived Free Source →

The original Hello Knitty source is no longer active. Amazing Knitting does not host or reproduce the designer's complete pattern. Pattern availability was checked when this article was updated.

Sea Shell Baby Blanket - Knitting Pattern Guide

Photo from the web

This Sea Shell Baby Blanket is a beautiful example of how simple lace shaping can create flowing, shell-like waves across a knitted blanket.

The original Amazing Knitting post described this project as a free pattern discovered through Pinterest. However, we have not been able to verify the original designer or a legitimate current download for this exact blanket. Rather than attribute the design incorrectly, this updated page preserves the project as a knitting inspiration and pattern guide.

Pattern Availability Update

This page was originally published in 2019 as a free-pattern discovery. We can no longer verify a legitimate free source for the exact blanket shown here or confidently identify its original designer. Amazing Knitting therefore does not provide an unverified download or reproduce instructions from an unknown source.

Sea Shell Baby Blanket at a Glance

Project: Sea Shell Baby Blanket

Craft: Knitting

Category: Baby Blanket

Style: Lace / Wave / Shell Texture

Inspiration: Feather-and-fan style lace

Construction: Flat knitted blanket

Original Designer: Not reliably identified

Current Availability: Exact original free pattern not verified

About the Sea Shell Baby Blanket

The attraction of this blanket comes from its repeating waves of textured lace.

In the photograph, the knitted fabric creates a series of curved, shell-like sections that give the blanket considerably more movement than plain stockinette or garter stitch.

It is a particularly effective style for baby blankets because the repeating pattern can create an elaborate appearance without requiring complicated colorwork.

A Feather-and-Fan Style of Lace

The original Amazing Knitting post described the stitch pattern as belonging to the broad feather-and-fan family of lace patterns.

Feather-and-fan style knitting uses carefully arranged increases and decreases to make the fabric naturally rise and fall into decorative waves.

Different designers use this basic idea in many different ways, changing the number of stitches, spacing, texture and arrangement to create everything from gentle waves to pronounced scallops and shell-like motifs.

Why the Pattern Looks More Difficult Than It Is

Lace blankets can appear intimidating because a finished piece contains hundreds of openings, curves and textured sections.

In reality, many designs of this type are based on a relatively short stitch repeat worked again and again across the blanket.

Once the knitter understands where the increases and decreases occur, the visual complexity comes primarily from repetition rather than from learning a completely new technique on every row.

How Knitted Waves Are Created

The characteristic movement in feather-and-fan inspired knitting comes from balancing increases and decreases.

Yarn overs add stitches and create decorative openings. Decreases remove stitches and pull sections of the fabric together.

When these operations are arranged systematically across a row, the fabric develops the flowing curves associated with wave and shell patterns.

Choosing Yarn for a Lace Baby Blanket

Yarn choice has a major effect on how clearly a lace pattern appears.

A smooth yarn generally allows the increases, decreases and openings to remain visible. Very fuzzy yarn can soften those details and make an intricate stitch pattern harder to see.

For a baby blanket, also consider:

• Softness against sensitive skin
• Washability
• Durability
• Good stitch definition
• Comfortable finished weight
• Appropriate fiber care requirements

Solid Colors Show the Texture Beautifully

A single color can be especially effective for this type of blanket.

Without frequent color changes competing for attention, light and shadow emphasize the raised and open sections of the knitted fabric.

Pale neutrals can create a traditional baby-blanket appearance, while stronger colors can make the same lace structure look much more modern.

Keep Your Stitch Count Under Control

One of the most useful habits when knitting lace is checking the stitch count regularly.

A missed yarn over or decrease may not become visually obvious until several rows later. By then, correcting the error can require undoing a substantial amount of knitting.

Count stitches after important pattern rows and consider placing markers between repeats when the pattern allows it.

Use Lifelines for Lace Knitting

A lifeline is a strand of contrasting yarn or thread passed through a completed row of live stitches.

If a mistake occurs later, the knitting can be carefully unraveled back to that protected row without losing the entire project.

For a large lace blanket, inserting a lifeline periodically can save a considerable amount of time.

Blocking Makes a Big Difference

Lace often looks uneven or compressed while it is still on the needles.

Appropriate blocking after knitting allows the fabric to settle and can make the openings and wave shapes much more visible.

Always follow the care instructions for your chosen fiber and avoid stretching a baby blanket beyond the dimensions intended by the pattern.

Skills That Help

A shell or feather-and-fan style blanket commonly uses skills such as:

• Casting on and binding off
• Knit and purl stitches
• Yarn overs
• Basic decreases
• Repeating lace sections
• Counting stitches accurately
• Reading written lace instructions or charts
• Correcting simple lace mistakes
• Blocking finished lace

Is This Exact Sea Shell Blanket Pattern Still Free?

The original 2019 Amazing Knitting post described this project as a free pattern found through Pinterest.

During our current review, however, we could not reliably identify the original designer or confirm a legitimate current free download for the exact blanket shown in the photograph.

Several unrelated knitting and crochet patterns use very similar names, so linking one of those designs here as though it were the original would be misleading.

Amazing Knitting therefore does not reproduce the old instructions or link to unofficial pattern copies.

Looking for a Free Alternative?

If you love the shell and wave effect but need a pattern that is genuinely available free today, you can still create a similar ocean-inspired look with a verified free knitted square.

Seashell Square by Daisy and Storm is a free knitting pattern that creates a seashell motif using knit and purl stitches. Individual squares can be joined with other blocks to create an afghan or blanket.

Get the Free Seashell Square Pattern →

More Free Baby Blanket Patterns

Amazing Knitting also has many baby blanket projects in the archive that you can explore for a currently available free pattern.

Explore Free Baby Blanket Patterns →

You can also browse lace baby blankets, feather-and-fan knitting, and free knitting blanket patterns.

Before You Start

If your main goal is to recreate the appearance of the blanket shown here, avoid assuming that another pattern with “Sea Shell” in its title is the same design.

Instead, choose a verified lace or feather-and-fan blanket pattern, check its required yarn and gauge, and make a swatch before committing to the full project.

Source note: This page was originally published by Amazing Knitting in 2019 as a Pinterest pattern discovery. The original designer and a legitimate current download for the exact photographed blanket could not be reliably verified during our latest review. Amazing Knitting does not claim ownership of the original photographed design or reproduce unverified pattern instructions.