A sweeping circular shawl built largely from knot stitch, this 1912 design is notable for its airy structure and elaborate multi-row border. The original model measured about 25 inches from neck to edge, with an exceptionally wide sweep.
Materials & Size
- 9 skeins white Shetland floss
- 2 skeins colored Shetland floss
- Medium-sized bone crochet hook
Original measurement: about 25 inches from neck to edge, with a 26-foot sweep. Add more rounds before the border for extra depth.
Vintage Instructions
Foundation: Chain 5 and join.
Round 1: Work 12 double crochet in the ring.
Round 2: Work 12 double knot stitches in the 12 double crochet of the previous round.
Rounds 3–4: Work plain, catching knot stitch into knot stitch in the usual way.
Round 5: Chain 2, make a double knot stitch and fasten in the next stitch. Work 2 plain knot stitches, then 1 double crochet between the next 2 knot stitches; repeat around. The beginning chain and the three double-crochet points make four widening points.
Repeat this arrangement, always beginning with chain 2 and working 3 double crochet over the previous widening group, until there are 40 knot stitches, or 10 stitches between widening points.
On the next round begin widening at 8 points: chain 2, work 5 double knot stitches, widen between the 5th and 6th stitch, and repeat around. Continue until there are 22 stitches between widening points.
Next widen at 16 points: work 11 knot stitches and widen between the 11th and 12th stitches; repeat around. Continue this last round until the shawl is the desired depth.
Border
Fasten in the colored wool. Chain 8, slip stitch back in the 3rd chain, chain 3, and slip stitch to the next knot stitch. Repeat around, making 16 evenly spaced increases by working 2 motifs into one knot stitch. Fasten off.
For the next colored round, fasten to a picot, chain 9, slip stitch back in the 4th chain, chain 4, and slip stitch to the next stitch. Repeat around and fasten off.
Fasten white to a picot and work knot stitches slightly longer than those in the body. Work 3 plain rounds. On the 5th border round widen 16 times, placing the increases midway between the previous widening points. Work 1 or 2 more plain rounds.
Scalloped Edge
Work 1 knot stitch, chain 5 and slip stitch back into the knot, work 1 knot stitch and fasten down; then work 2 double knot stitches and fasten down. Repeat around.
On the next round, work a double knot stitch, then 12 treble crochet into each picot with chain 1 between treble stitches, fastening down between shells. Finish with a final round of knot stitches around the shells, as described in the original source.
Crochet Board Editorial Note
The historical pattern assumes familiarity with knot stitch and its “double” form. The book describes the body knot stitches as about 3/4 inch long. Keep those loops consistent and use the original source scan alongside this cleaned transcription when working the decorative border.
Vintage Source
Publication: Priscilla Wool Crochet Book
Editor: edited by Lola Burks Hettich
Publisher: The Priscilla Publishing Company, Boston
Year: 1912
Original printed page: 11 (scan page 14)
Rights: Public-domain historical work; Library of Congress states that books in this collection are public domain and free to use and reuse.