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.
Yarn Weight
Heavy Laceweight
Yardage
1,200 Yards
This Pattern
$6.95 for this pattern
Single pattern
Low Up-front cost
No subscription required
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)
Gauge
22 sts and 32 rows = 4″ [10cm] in St st after blocking
Size
62” [157.5 cm] across and 29” [73.5 cm] down
Notions
Tapestry needle, 2 stitch markers, 663 Delica #8 round beads for optional beading
About the Designer: Lori Wagner
Lori Wagner resides in Henderson, Nevada, where she splits her time designing and teaching knitting classes at her local yarn shop.
She learned to knit in 2008 while on a girls’ getaway and started designing and self-publishing her designs on Ravelry in 2012.
When not knitting, she enjoys reading, hiking, baking and hanging out with her two cats, Purl and Penny.
Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/lori-wagner
Instagram: @sunny_shine_bird
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