Beckley is a top-down, elongated triangular shawl with a rounded bottom edge that is finished with a delicate picot bind off. The design features a garter-stitch body with subtle center-spine shaping and a textured lace border.

I designed Beckley to be the perfect “first lace shawl” pattern. It begins with familiar, squishy garter stitch to help you get used to the make-one increases that shape the shawl and then progresses to a border comprised of a deceptively easy and intuitive lace pattern with impressive texture.

Keep in mind, though, that Beckley is not just for beginners—it’s a fun and relaxing knit that is a great pattern to take along to social knitting events or to knit while watching TV. Since it knits up quickly, Beckley makes an ideal gift.

The Beckley pattern includes both charts and full written out instructions for those of you who prefer not to use charts.

The pattern includes large, easy-to-read charts and written instructions as well as lots of video links that demonstrate the various stitches and techniques. Also included are detailed blocking instructions. The size may be increased to two larger sizes; full instructions are provided to show you how.

While dimensions and yardage are provided on the pattern for DK weight, Beckley could also be worked in fingering, sport or worsted weight. These weights are recommended in order to bring out the textural design elements. Solid or tonal yarn is recommended for this design.

Construction: Beckley starts at the center back of the neck with just 5 stitches and is worked down to the bottom edge. A 2-stitch garter border is worked at the beginning and end of each row. On the shawl body, there are 2 increases on each row—after the garter border at the beginning of the row and before the garter border at the end of the row—as well as 2 increases every 4 rows on either side of the center stitch. On the shawl border, the 2 increases per row that are adjacent to the garter borders continue but there are no more center increases.

SIZES AND YARDAGE: The pattern-size shawl--pictured in blue on this page--measures 60 x 17” (152 x 43 cm), relaxed after blocked and uses between 450-480 yards (412-439 m) of DK weight on a US Size 7 (4.5 mm) needle.

There are 2 additional larger sizes available: The next size up--pictured in purple on this page and knitted with Zara DK Merino yarn--measures about 66 x 19” (168 x 48 cm) and takes about 540-570 yards (494-521 m). The largest size measures about 74 x 22” (188 x 56 cm) and takes about 670-700 yards (613-640 m). A fingering weight version worked at the 277-stitch Garter Body size was tested; it measured 60 x 20” (152 x 51 cm) and used 580 yards (530 m) on a US Size 5 (3.75 mm) needle.