West Chicago Knit Shawl Free Knitting Pattern

Please welcome the West Chicago Knit Shawl Free Knitting Pattern! A perfect stashbuster or great way to use all those mini skeins you have been collecting!

This graceful crescent shawl checks SO MANY boxes - it is perfect for those scrumptious minis, remnants from past projects, mini skien advents or impulse buys from the local yarn store. Our newest pattern is here to rescue and revitalize those lonely yarns! The West Chicago Knit Shawl is meticulously crafted for one main color of yarn complemented by 9 small amounts of different colors. It’s a splendid way to watch varied hues come alive, intertwining to create an accessory that’s as unique as its maker. Plus, who can resist the allure of a picot trim adding that touch of sweetness to the finished piece?

With bands of color radiating out from the center, let the West Chicago Knit Shawl showcase your color mixing style!

West_Chicago_Knit_Shawl_single1.jpg

Perfect Knit Shawl for Mini Skeins!

AND this shawl is a perfect shawl for a Shawlalong! There is a matching West Chicago Crochet Shawl pattern so everyone can join in together. Beyond just crafting, there’s a special kind of magic when hands move in harmony, needles click in unison, and crafters come together. We strongly encourage you to embrace these patterns as a communal project.

West chicago crochet shawl 10.jpg

How To Make The Knit Crescent Shawl

Supply List:
Primary Color:1 Full Skein Movers & Makers Wicker Park Sock, 433 Yards per skein
Contrast: 9 mini skeins Fingering Weight, 80 Yards per mini skein / See Color Sequence Reference List
US 8/ 5 mm 40” circular needle
Large needle to weave ends
Tape Measure
2 Stitch Markers

Stitches Used / Abbreviations:
k – knit
p - purl
k2tog – knit 2 together
yo – yarn over
co – cast on
sm – slip marker
bo – bind off
st(s) – stitch(es)
(RS) right side
(WS) wrong side

West Chicago Knit Shawl collage1.jpg

COLOR SEQUENCE USED FOR DESIGN SAMPLE:
Primary Color A:
Movers & Makers Wicker Park Sock / Flat Iron Gray / 100 g / 433 Yards
Color B: Movers & Makers Wicker Park Sock Big Star / 20 g / 86 yards
Color C: Lavender Lune Yarn / 80/20 Fingering / Feelin' Leafy / 20g / 80yds
Color D: Movers & Makers Wicker Park Sock/ Bongo Blue / 20 g / 86 yards
Color E: Asylum Fibers / Twisted Sock Mini / Siren Song, 20g, 80 yards
Color F: Marianated Yarns / Venti - Practicality 75/25 / Indigo Bunting / 20 g / 93 yards
Color G: M1 Yarns Lean Machine Fingering / You Had Me At Merlot / 20 g / 80 yards
Color H: Jilly & Kiddles / Fancy Sock Mini / La Corrida de Toros / 20 g / 87 yds
Color I: KraeO / Little Sister fingering/ Rose Gold/ 20g/ 98 yds
Color J: Queenie Crochet / 2-ply sock yarn / Moxie / 20g/ 80 yards

NOTES:
Gauge is not extremely important for this pattern. The most important thing is to have a knitted fabric that you like.
Finished measurements: 72” x 20” approx.
Make note that you will be working HELD DOUBLE for the bulk of the pattern, unless noted otherwise.
You will not change needles even when working single stranded.
You will have some excess yarn of colors B, C, D, F, G; you may expand your shawl and use that by adding 2 rows of the single stranded stockinette for those colors. If you do this, you will not have enough J for picot finish and need to do regular bind off on the 3rd row of Color J.

GARTER TAB CAST ON USING PRIMARY COLOR A AND COLOR B DOUBLE STRANDED:
CO 3 sts.
Knit 12 rows.
Place first marker.
Turn work 90 degrees and pick up 6 sts.
Place second marker.
Turn work 90 degrees again and pick up 3 sts.
You will have 12 sts on the needle.

West_Chicago_Knit_Shawl_single3.jpg

BEGIN PATTERN – CONTINUE WITH PRIMARY COLOR A AND COLOR B DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROW 1 (RS):
K3, sm, (yo, k1, yo) in 1st stitch, k until 1 st before marker, (yo, k1, yo) in next st, sm, k3. (4 sts increased)
ROW 2 (WS): K3, sm, yo, k until marker, yo, sm, k3. (2 sts increased) 18 sts
ROWS 3 – 20: Repeat 1,2 72 sts.

COLOR B ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROW 21:
Repeat 1 76 sts
ROW 22: K3, sm, yo, p until marker, yo, sm, k3. (2 sts increased) 78 sts
ROWS 23 – 24: Repeat Rows 21, 22 84 sts

PRIMARY COLOR A AND COLOR B DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 25 – 30
: Repeat Rows 1, 2
Fasten Off Color B.

PRIMARY COLOR A ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 31 – 34:
Repeat 1,2

CONTINUE WITH PRIMARY COLOR A AND ADD COLOR C DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 35 - 40:
Repeat 1,2

COLOR C ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 41- 44:
Repeat Rows 21, 22 .

PRIMARY COLOR A AND COLOR C DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 45 - 50:
Repeat 1,2
Fasten Off Color C.

PRIMARY COLOR A ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 51 - 54:
Repeat 1,2

CONTINUE WITH PRIMARY COLOR A AND ADD COLOR D DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 55 - 58:
Repeat 1,2

COLOR D ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 59-62:
Repeat Rows 21, 22 .

PRIMARY COLOR A AND COLOR D DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 63-66:
Repeat 1,2 .
Fasten Off Color D.

West_Chicago_Knit_Shawl_square.jpg

PRIMARY COLOR A ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 67-70:
Repeat 1,2

CONTINUE WITH PRIMARY COLOR A AND ADD COLOR E DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 71-74
: Repeat 1,2

COLOR E ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 75-78:
Repeat Rows 21, 22

PRIMARY COLOR A AND COLOR E DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 79-82:
Repeat 1,2
Fasten Off Color E.

PRIMARY COLOR A ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 83-86
: Repeat 1,2

CONTINUE WITH PRIMARY COLOR A AND ADD COLOR F DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 87-88:
Repeat 1,2

COLOR F ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 89-92:
Repeat Rows 21, 22

PRIMARY COLOR A AND COLOR F DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 93-94:
Repeat 1,2
Fasten Off Color F.

PRIMARY COLOR A ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 95-96:
Repeat 1,2

CONTINUE WITH PRIMARY COLOR A AND ADD COLOR G DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 97-98:
Repeat 1,2

COLOR G ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 99-102:
Repeat Rows 21, 22

PRIMARY COLOR A AND COLOR G DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 103-104
: Repeat 1,2
Fasten Off Color G.

PRIMARY COLOR A ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 105-106:
Repeat 1,2

CONTINUE WITH PRIMARY COLOR A AND ADD COLOR H DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 107-108
: Repeat 1,2

COLOR H ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 109-112:
Repeat Rows 21, 22

COLOR H AND ADD COLOR I DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 113 - 114:
Repeat 1,2
Fasten Off Color H.

COLOR I ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 115-118: Repeat
Rows 21, 22

COLOR I AND ADD COLOR J DOUBLE STRANDED:
ROWS 119 - 120:
Repeat 1,2

COLOR J ONLY – SINGLE STRANDED:
ROWS 121-122:
Repeat Rows 1,2


West Chicago Knit Shawl collage2.jpg

Bind off using this picot method for shape and Color J:
For the more dramatic effect of your picot bind off as shown, follow these steps and begin with the very first stitch on your shawl:
Step 1: Using Cable Cast on - Cast on 2 stitches
Step 2: Knit 2
Step 3: Pass the first stitch over the second stitch, leaving a single stitch on your right needle
Step 4: Knit 1
Step 5: Pass the first stitch over the second stitch, leaving a single stitch on your right needle
Repeat Steps 4 & 5 four more times
Step 6: Slip stitch back to main needle
Repeat all the way across to the end.

Finishing:
Weave in ends and wet block.

West Chicago Knit Shawl single2.jpg

MORE FREE KNITTING PATTERNS

Montgomery Street Shawl Free Knitting Patteern

Montgomery Street Shawl Free Knitting Patteern

I am so excited to have teamed up with Asylum Fibers to create a knit version of my super popular Montgomery Street Crochet Shawl. This is a great beginner friendly shawl for any level knitter to enjoy! Like the crochet version, you can make this is big or as small as you want to suit your style. I know people who have made several in various sizes and colors and just love this both simple and stylish pattern.

Read More

Light Speed Shawl Free Knitting Pattern

Light Speed Shawl Free Knitting Pattern

I am so excited about this collaboration to bring you this shawl. Working with one of my fave indie dyers Asylum Fibers is always a joy and this time we teamed up with up and coming designer Corrado Lark to bring you the Light Speed Shawl. From working together to develop exclusive colors, to deciding color names and textures - this collaboration and creative process has been one of my favorites. Such a beautiful process to bring you such a beautiful design. I hope you love it as much as I love bringing it to you!

Read More

Oliphant Kat Nursing Shawl Free Knitting Pattern

Oliphant Kat Nursing Shawl Free Knitting Pattern

This is such a fabulous pattern and while Kat designed it to be a nursing shawl for her first baby, I can tell you that it is a stunning shawl sans baby and will quickly be one of your favorite things to make and to wear. Or - it is the perfect gift for a new mom to be. Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. Read full blog disclosure here.

Read More

Burlington Knit Oversized Wrap Free Pattern

Burlington Knit Oversized Wrap Free Pattern

The Burlington Ruana free knitting pattern is more than a stylish cozy accessory - it is basically the most fabulous blanket you can wear in public and works up like a breeze. It is easily converted to an oversized shawl for all year round enjoyment as well. Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. Read full blog disclosure here.

Read More