Carolan is a top-down, semi-circular lace shawl with nature-inspired motifs and an elegant knitted-on border. The shawl body consists of three triangles: a larger triangle in the middle section composed of graceful flower lace and side triangle “wings” that feature a cute clover eyelet pattern. The knitted-on border has a stockinette-based elm leaf motif flanked by garter stitch for lots of textural interest.The varying stitch patterns will keep your interest while knitting the shawl body and border alike, and although the lace looks complex, it is surprisingly intuitive and easy to knit.

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

Carolan is shown in fingering weight but may be knitted in whatever weight you choose. A solid or tonal yarn is highly recommended to showcase the intricacy of the design. The size is easily customizable by working more or fewer Body Chart 2 repeats; full instructions are included to show you how. The pattern includes detailed instructions about how to work the various design elements, as well as helpful video links. Both charts and written instructions are provided. Also included are detailed blocking instructions.

Construction Notes: Carolan starts at the center back of the neck and is worked down to the bottom edge. After the body is completed, a knitted-on border is attached at right angles to the body.

Yardage: For a shawl worked at the pattern size, the average amount of yarn used during test knitting was between 650-720 yards (594-658 m) of fingering weight on US #5 (3.75 mm needles). So in most cases, 2 average-sized skeins of fingering/sock weigh yarn should be more sufficient. The size is easily customizable by working more or fewer repeats of Rows 1-16 of Body Chart 2. When worked in fingering weight yarn, each Chart 2 repeat will add (or subtract) about 6” to (or from) the overall wingspan length. To estimate the yardage difference when altering the size, allow about 100-125 yards (91-137 m) of fingering yarn per Body Chart 2 repeat, but keep in mind these are estimates only and actual results may vary depending on your gauge, needle size and yarn weight.

Turlough O’Carolan (usually referred to as simply “Carolan”) was an 18th century Irish harper who wrote some of the most beautiful music you could ever wish to hear. I was a professional musician for many years, and although I mainly played electric guitar for my bread and butter, I always had a soft spot in my heart for traditional Irish music. Carolan’s tunes were among my favorites to play on acoustic guitar as well as on Celtic harp and dulcimer. I still play his music on my dulcimers whenever I have a chance. And so this design is dedicated to Carolan and all the many hours of enjoyment his music has given to me throughout my life. Check out a couple of his compositions here and here.