Puiaki Shawl: Free One Skein Wonder Shawl Pattern

The Puiaki Shawl is a one-skein wonder bottom-up crescent shawl that transforms a single 400-450 yard skein of fingering weight yarn into an elegant, wearable piece. The delicate lace border adds just enough detail to feel special, using repeating motifs that are easy to memorize yet yield impressive results. Then the crescent shape emerges through simple short row shaping that creates a squishy garter stitch body without complicated construction. Whether you're looking for a portable project or wanting to showcase that special skein you've been saving, this shawl delivers both satisfaction and style.

Effortless versatility defines this design. Wear it casually draped over jeans and a tee for instant polish, or dress it up as an evening accent over your shoulders. The adjustable sizing means you can create a cozy neck scarf or an expansive wrap - just stop when your yarn runs out or continue until you achieve your ideal size. Clean edges and thoughtful finishing touches ensure the result looks polished every time.

Perfect for knitters seeking a project that balances mindfulness with achievement, Puiaki invites you to grow your skills while creating something beautiful. The lace border offers a manageable challenge for those new to lace knitting, while the rhythmic short rows provide comforting repetition.

Inspired by the Māori proverb "Whaia te iti kahurangi ki te tuahu koe me he maunga teitei" ("Aim for the highest cloud so that if you miss it, you will land upon a lofty mountain"), this pattern reminds us that these challenging stitches, like aspirations, naturally lead to rewarding destinations. Whether kept as a personal treasure or gifted to someone special, each Puiaki Shawl carries the quiet intention of handmade meaning.

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Stitch Patterns & Charts

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Pattern Information

Yarn

  • We Love Knitting (Fingering / 4ply ;100% extrafine merino ; 400m /437 yards)

Needles

  • US 5 (3.5mm) 32” circular needle. A long circular needle is recommended in order to accommodate the large number of stitches.

Gauge

  • 24 sts and 50 rows = 4”/10cm in garter stitch.

  • One lace repeat = 2.5” (sts) by 5” (46 rows)

  • Gauge is not crucial to this project but varying gauges will effect the amount of yarn used and final measurements

Notions

  • Removable stitch markers

  • Darning needle

  • Cable or third needle.

Sizing

  • See Schmatic

Abbreviations

  • K - knit

  • P - purl

  • Sl - slip stitch knitwise with yarn in back

  • Sl wyif - slip stitch purl wise with yarn in front

  • Yo - yarn over

  • K2tog - knit two together

  • P2tog – purl two together

  • Ssk - slip slip knit

  • P2tog tbl – Purl two together through back loop

  • K tbl – knit through back loop

  • P tbl – purl through back loop

  • Rep - repeat

  • Mult - multiple

  • St(s) - stitch(es)

Pattern Instructions

Casting On Bottom Edge

CO 322 sts using the long-tail CO method. Work the Princess Lace pattern rows [1-46] once. Use stitch markers to mark off repeats (20 total) if needed.

How to Work the Cluster Stitch: Slip the 5 sts onto cable or third needle purl wise with yarn in back. Take the working yarn and wrap it around the sts not too tightly counter-clockwise 3 times. Slip sts back onto left-hand needle and k5.

Shaping the Shawl Body

Row 1: K167, turn.
Row 2: K12, turn.
Row 3: K to 1 st before turning point, ssk, k4, turn.
Row 4: K to 1 st before turning point, k2tog, k4, turn.
Row 5: Rep rows 3 and 4 until all stitches have been worked.

Finishing

BO normally, block to let the lace stitches bloom and shine, and enjoy fancy evenings in your new shawl!

Stitch Patterns & Charts

 

Princess Lace (16 sts + 2)

Row 1 (RS): Sl, *yo, (k tbl, p1) x 2, k tbl, k2tog, p1, ssk, (k tbl, p1) x 2, k tbl, yo, p1; rep from * until last st, k1. (18 sts)
Row 2 (WS): Sl wyif, *(k1, p1, (p tbl, k1) x 2, p tbl, p1) x 2; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 3: Sl, *k1, yo, (k tbl, p1) x 2, k2tog, p1, ssk, (p1, k tbl) x 2, yo, k1, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 4: Sl wyif, *k1, p2, (p tbl, k1) x 2, (p1, k1) x 2, p tbl, k1, p tbl, p2; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 5: Sl, *k2, yo, k tbl, p1, k tbl, k2tog, p1, ssk, k tbl, p1, k tbl, yo, k2, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 6: Sl wyif, *k1, p3, p tbl, k1, p tbl, p1, k1, p1, p tbl, k1, p tbl, p3; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 7: Sl, *k3, yo, k tbl, p1, k2tog, p1, ssk, p1, k tbl, yo, k3, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 8: Sl wyif, *k1, p4, p tbl, (k1, p1) x 2, k1, p tbl, p4; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 9: Sl, *k4, yo, k tbl, k2tog, p1, ssk, k tbl, yo, k4, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 10: Sl wyif, *k1, p5, p tbl, p1, k1, p1, p tbl, p5; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 11: Sl, *k5, yo, k2tog, p1, ssk, yo, k5, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 12: Sl wyif, *(k1, p7) x 2; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 13: Sl, *ssk, k5, yo, p1, yo, k5, k2tog, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 14: Sl wyif, *k1, p2tog, p4, yo, k3, yo, p4, p2tog tbl; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 15: Sl, *ssk, k3, yo, k1, p3, k1, yo, k3, k2tog, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 16: Sl wyif, *k1, p2tog, p2, yo, p2, k3, p2, yo, p2, p2tog tbl; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 17: Sl, *ssk, k1, yo, p1, k2, p3, k2, p1, yo, k1, k2tog, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 18: Sl wyif, *k1, p2tog, yo, k2, p2, k3, p2, k2, yo, p2tog tbl; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 19: Sl, *yo, ssk, p2, yo, k1, ssk, p1, k2tog, k1, yo, p2, k2tog, yo, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 20: Sl wyif, *k1, p2, k2, p tbl, p2, k1, p2, p tbl, k2, p2; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 21: Sl, *k tbl, yo, ssk, p2, cluster 5 sts, p2, k2tog, yo, k tbl, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 22: Sl wyif, *k1, p tbl, k1, p1, k2, p2, k1, p2, k2, p1, k1, p tbl; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 23: Sl, *k tbl, p1, yo, ssk, k2tog, k1, yo, p1, yo, k1, ssk, k2tog, yo, p1, k tbl, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 24: Sl wyif, *k1, p tbl, k1, p4, p tbl, k1, p tbl, p4, k1, p tbl; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 25: Sl, *k tbl, p1, k tbl, yo, ssk, k1, p3, k1, k2tog, yo, (k tbl, p1) x 2; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 26: Sl wyif, *(k1, p tbl) x 2, k1, p2, k3, p2, (k1, p tbl) x 2; rep from * until last st, p1.
Row 27: Sl, *(k tbl, p1) x 2, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, (p1, k tbl) x 2, p1; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 28: Repeat row 26.
Row 29: Sl, *(k tbl, p1) x 2, k tbl, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, (k tbl, p1) x 3; rep from * until last st, k1.
Row 30: Sl wyif, *(k1, p tbl) x 3, (k1, p1) x 2, (k1, p tbl) x 3; rep from * until last st, p1.
Rows 31-46: Repeat rows 1-16.

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Contemplation Shawl

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Shawl Shapes Series: How to Knit the Side-to-Side Shawl