Amazing Knitting

Multnomah Shawl free garter stitch and Feather and Fan knitting pattern by Kate Ray

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.