These free knitting patterns for shawls and scarves feature borders and edges of decorative lace or other stitches. The bodies of these shawls are usually an easy stitch like garter and stockinette to showcase the eye-catching edge. Updated 2/10/24/p>
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
All links on this site are for informational purposes, but please note that some links are to affiliate sellers that pay me a small commission on purchases.
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Free Patterns
Spring Awakening Shawl
A leaf edge border adds elegance to this stockinette triangular shawl. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Bears Den Essentials.
Cable and Lace Edged Shawl
Garter stitch crescent shaped shawl with 16 row cable and lace edge knit on. Worsted weight yarn. F767 designed by Vanessa Ewing for Plymouth Yarn. This pattern was featured in Season 8 of Knit and Crochet Now! and is free with registration at Annie’s
- Get the free knitting pattern with free registration at Annie’s. Photo on pattern is a gray version.
- Get the Knit and Crochet Now video tutorial for $3.99 (includes instruction for 2 patterns and other techniques)
- Get the recommended Plymouth Yarn® Encore® Worsted yarn at Annie’s
Gammel Strand
Top down lace shawl with a decorative lace border to an eyelet lace body. Designed by Karen S. Lauger for Filcolana. Available in English, Danish, German
Linaza Shawl
Triangular shawl with a wide lace border below stockinette body. Uses just one skein 440 yards (402 m) of the recommended Sport weight yarn. Designed by Vanessa Ewing for Plymouth Yarn as F619 Shawl.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Plymouth Yarn Linaza yarn at Amazon
Carol’s Clever Little Shawl
Self-fastening crescent shaped shawl knit sideways in garter stitch with a decorative edge. Held in place by inserting a tip through a loop in front. 2 Sizes. Carol Sanders based this design on an historic 1800’s shawl. DK weight yarn. Pictured projects by gbina who used sport weight yarn and GwenAnne
Tassel Cable Crescent Shawl
Stockinette shawl with a decorative cable border and shaped with short rows. Cable stitch pattern is given in written instructions and chart. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Melissa Leapman.
Lacy Edged Shawl
Triangle shaped shawl knit in garter stitch with a leaf lace edge. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Caron.
Hampton Shawlette
Garter stitch wrap with lace and cable border knit sideways. 62” width x 11” length (at center) but can be adapted for a larger shawl. DK yarn. Designed Robin Raver for Cascade Yarns
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Cascade Yarns Hampton cotton linen yarn on Etsy
Camelia Shawl
Crescent shaped shawl with zigzag lace edge knit in bulky yarn. Available in English and Portuguese. Designed Filipa Carneiro
Knit a Lace Shawl
This Shetland-inspired lace shawl features a decorative edge in an eyelet lace pattern and a garter stitch body shaped with short rows to curve and hug the shoulders. Designed by Gudrun Johnston who teaches the class. Pattern and instructional video class available for free with a free trial at Creativebug.
More Free Patterns
More Simple Lines Shawl
Triangular shaped shawl with a lace border framing a body textured with eyelets and purl rows. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by maanel
Sunburnt Shawl
Crescent shaped stockinette shawl with ostrich plume lace border. Designed by Nidhi Kansal. Pictured project took less than two skeins of the recommended sport weight yarn. Pictured project by drizzleofhoney
Dragon Tail Shawl
Garter stitch shawl with easy decorative edge. Perfect showcase for multi-color or self-striping yarn. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Wiam’s Crafts. Uses just 2 ball of the recommended yarn.
- Get the free knitting pattern - Web version
- Buy the ad free pdf
- Get the recommended Bernat Pop self-striping yarn on Amazon (pictured colorway Moonshadow)
Close to You Shawl
Designed as one skein project (though you can use more for a larger shawl), this simple triangular shawl is knit with garter stitch and a eyelet zigzag border. Designed by Justyna Lorkowska. Great with multi-colored yarn! Pictured project by SerendipityStitch
Saroyan
Inspired by the character of Dr. Camille Saroyan in the tv show Bones, this graceful scarf features a stockinette body with a leaf lace shaped edge. Designed by Liz Abinante. Pictured project by by pilarsalamanca, Available in English, French, Turkish, Portuguese, German, and Italian
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted used in the pictured project on Amazon
- Stream Bones with Amazon Video
My First Lace Shawl
Jolanda Schneider provides 29 pages of instructions and photo tutorials to help you knit your first lace shawl (or next lace shawl!)
Truly Tasha’s Shawl
Designed by Nancy Bush , this shawl features a knit body with a decorative lace border. Pictured project by scrandalla
- Get the free knitting pattern on the Internet archive
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the Berroco Ultra Alpaca yarn used in the pictured project on Amazon
Sencillo Shawlette
Garter stitch striped shawl with shaped lace border. The shawl can be worked as a long slender slightly curved shawlette or a triangular shawl. Designed by by britt schmiesing. Available in English and German. Great with multi-colored yarn! Pictured projects by ksushi and mawie
Hydrus
A lovely lace leaf border adorns a delicate stockinette body in this shawl by Berroco.
Dream Stripes Shawl
Stripes go to a new stylish level in this lovely shawl designed by Cailliau Berangere with a decorative lace border. Pictured project by Patsy55
Autumn Shawl
This stunning shawl features a body of simple stockinette with purl stripes and edged with shaped floral lace. Designed by Irena D. Available in English and Russian. Great with multi-colored yarn!
Dragon Lady Shawl
This shawl features an open mesh lace shaped with short rows with sawtooth edge. Designed by Amy Gunderson. Great with multi-colored yarn!
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended yarn Universal Yarn Classic Shades Frenzy on Amazon
Garden View Shawlette
Tracy Withanee designed this wrap with a leaf lace border.
Patterns for Purchase
Quiet Ways Shawl
No longer free Wide triangle shawl knit from the top down with gentle texture, easy botanical lace and an applied lace border. Designed by Katie Flora.
Parvaneh Butterfly Shawl
Crescent shaped shawl with a border of lace butterflies with a knitted scallop edge. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Nazanin S. Fard who named the shawl after her mother Parvaneh which also means butterfly in Farsi.
See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Lovecrafts
Falling Water Shawl
Triangular shaped shawl knit sideways in garter stitch with an easy lace edge. Instructions for the shawl are provided in both written and charted format. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Bonnie Sennott.
See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Etsy
Summer Blooms Shawl
Crescent shaped shawl with a border of of blooming flowers knit from the bottom up. Instructions for the shawl border section are provided in both written and charted format. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Amanda Clark.
See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Lovecrafts
Hill Island Wrap
No longer free. Crescent shaped shawl worked from the top down in garter stitch. The 4 row repeat lace edging is knit on continuously and may or may not be worked in a contrasting color. DK weight yarn. Designed by Little Church Knits
Juniper Shawl
The Juniper Shawl merges a classic crescent shaped design with a flowing lace and nupp edging, resembling juniper branches. It is worked from the top down, starting with a garter tab, with increases placed along both sides. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Destiny Meyer of Knifty Knittings who allows you to sell items knit from this pattern.
See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Loveknitting
A Little Bit Bowie Shawl
The stripes and lightning bolt shape of this shawl make it an interesting garment to both wear and knit. Knit all in garter stitch, A Little Bit Bowie uses a de-constructed asymmetrical shawl construction; achieving its unique shape through simple alternating increases and decreases. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Georgie Nicolson.
See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Loveknitting
Biscuit Infinity Scarf Cowl
This infinity cowl features an easy lace and bobble border on a simple textured rib scarf. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Bonnie Sennott.
See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Etsy
Havasu Falls
Havasu Falls is a crescent shaped shawl that is perfect for gradient yarns. Finished Size: 72 inches x 16 inches but easily customizable to get the size you want! Both charted and full written instructions are included.
