[pattern] Chartres Shawl

I remember as a child, my mom would take my siblings and me to mass every Sunday. As the priest was giving his sermon, I would stare at the stained-glass windows and study the details of the ornate designs and pictures around the inside of the church. As an adult, I admired the artwork and details of cathedrals in pictures, books and movies. The inspiration for my shawl design is the Chartres Cathedral that marked a high point in French Gothic Art. The Chartres Shawl was based on the idea of building a cathedral through knitting. Each section of this half pi shaped shawl is my interpretation of some of the notable characteristics of Gothic Architecture.

The Chartres Shawl begins with a garter-tab cast on. Based on Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Pi Shawl Method, increases in each section double after the amount of rows worked double in this half pi shaped shawl. After the six sections are completed, a knitted on border is worked to bind of the stitches. Optional placed beads can be added in Section 6 and to the edge of the border to give the Chartres Shawl an ornate finish!

Yarn

Miss Babs Yearning (65% Merino Wool, 35% Tussah Silk; 1200 yds [1095 m]/185 g): Color Antique Brass, 1 skein.

Needle/Hook

Size US 6 (4.0mm) needles, 32″ (80 cm) circulars or longer

Or size needed to obtain gauge

Size 14 (0.6mm) hook for beading

One size 6 (4.0mm) double pointed needle (or gauge size needle) to work the knitted-on border (optional)