Shawl Collar Shawl

Our Shawl Collar Shawl pattern singles out the very best part of a cozy cardigan, paring away the sleeves and body and making the voluminous collar the star of the show! In our exquisitely soft 100% cashmere Nigh DK, it’s the perfect gift for warmth, comfort, and a bit of drama.

To knit this versatile little accessory, you’ll use German short rows (easy peasy, and we have a great tutorial!) to create a tapered semi-oval shape, with one side curved and the other side straight. Fold the curved edge over to make that generous shawl collar and wear it as a top layer or peeking out of your coat this winter.

A simple shape, yet so dynamic when you fold it and wrap it around your neck! Tidy 2×2 ribbing gives structure to the clever geometry of the shawl and just the right amount of stretch across your shoulders.

A classic, understated beauty, made with the softest yarn you can imagine: Nigh DK, our 100% finest Mongolian cashmere. This light worsted/DK-weight yarn knits up into a gorgeous, feather-light fabric with a relaxed drape and a delicate halo that floats above the fabric’s surface… Heavenly for next-to-skin wear and just as good on the needles.

Choose from two dozen inspiring colors, including the delicately heathered Blue Celadon we selected.

The Shawl Collar Shawl is every bit as special, elegant, and warm as you hope it will be! Cast on with a few skeins of Nigh DK and create a gift you’ll be so proud to give to your nearest and dearest.

If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Hiromi Glover. See even more of Hiromi’s work on her Instagram!

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoShawlCollarShawl, and #PurlSohoNighDK. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

• 3 skeins of Purl Soho’s Nigh DK, 100% cashmere yarn. Each skein of this light worsted/dk-weight yarn is 199 yards/ 55 grams; approximately 490 total yards required. We used the color Blue Celadon.
• US 5 (3.75 mm), 32- or 40- inch circular knitting needles
• Stitch markers or scrap yarn (optional)

GAUGE

28 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches in 2 x 2 ribbing, relaxed after blocking

SIZE

Finished Dimensions: 49¾ inches wide x 12¾ inches tall (at widest point)

NOTES

SLIP STITCHES

Slip all slip stitches purlwise with yarn in front.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

GERMAN SHORT ROWS

NOTE: For help with this technique, check out our German Short Rows Tutorial. Just note that, because you’ll be working in a ribbed stitch pattern, when you make a double stitch as instructed below, you will end with the yarn in a different position than shown in the video.

MAKE DOUBLE STITCH

On the right side: Turn work so wrong side is facing you. Slip 1 to right needle with yarn in front, pull working yarn tightly over needle so it tugs up both legs of slipped stitch to look like two stitches, i.e. a “double stitch.” Bring yarn over needle and leave it so yarn is in back.

On the wrong side: Turn work so right side is facing you. Slip 1 to right needle with yarn in front, pull working yarn tightly over needle so it tugs up both legs of slipped stitch to look like two stitches, i.e. a “double stitch.” Bring yarn around back of needle, then forward, passing between needles so yarn is in front.

WORK DOUBLE STITCH AS A SINGLE STITCH

On the right side: When you reach the double stitch, work it as a single stitch by knitting both legs of double stitch together.

On the wrong side: When you reach the double stitch, work it as a single stitch by purling both legs of double stitch together.

PATTERN

Cast on 348 stitches. We used a basic Long-Tail Cast On.

TIP: When you’re casting on so many stitches, it really helps to place a marker or piece of scrap yarn every 50 stitches. That way, if you lose count, you won’t have to recount all the stitches. Just remember to remove these markers when you work the Set-Up Row.

Set-Up Row (wrong side): Slip 1 (see Notes), *p2, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, p2, slip 1.

SHAPE SLOPE

Short Row 1 (right side): K1, *k2, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k1, make double stitch (see Special Instructions).

Short Row 2 (wrong side): *K2, p2, repeat from * to last 5 stitches, k2, p1, make double stitch (see Special Instructions).

Short Row 3: *P2, k2, repeat from * to 6 stitches before double stitch, p2, k1, make double stitch.

Short Row 4: *K2, p2, repeat from * to 6 stitches before double stitch, k2, p1, make double stitch.

Repeat Short Rows 3 and 4 sixteen more times.     

Short Row 5: *P2, k2, repeat from * to 10 stitches before double stitch, p2, k1, make double stitch.

Short Row 6: *K2, p2, repeat from * to 10 stitches before double stitch, k2, p1, make double stitch.

Repeat Short Rows 5 and 6 seven more times.    

Short Row 7: Work in pattern to last stitch (knitting the knits and purling the purls), working double stitches as single stitches as you come to them (see Special Instructions), k1.

Next Row (wrong side): Slip 1, work in stitch pattern to last stitch, working double stitches as single stitches as you come to them, slip 1.

CONTINUE

Repeat Shape Slope section one more time.

With right side facing you, bind off in stitch pattern (working slip stitches at beginning and end of row as knits).

FINISHING

Weave in the ends and gently wet block.

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!