I remember as a child, my mom would take my siblings and me to mass every Sunday. As the priest was giving his sermon, I would stare at the stain-glass windows and study the details of the ornate designs and pictures around the inside of the church. As an adult, I admired the artwork and details of cathedrals in pictures, books and movies. The inspiration my shawl design is the Chartres Cathedral that marked a high point in French Gothic Art. The Chartres Shawl was based on the idea of building a cathedral through knitting. Each section of this half pi shaped shawl is my interpretation of some of the notable characteristics of Gothic Architecture.

The Chartres Shawl begins with a garter-tab cast on. Based on Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Pi Shawl Method, increases in each section double after the amount of rows worked double in this half pi shaped shawl. After the six sections are completed, a knitted on border is worked to bind of the stitches. Optional placed beads can be added in Section 6 and to the edge of the border to give the Chartres Shawl an ornate finish!

Yarn
Miss Babs Yearning (65% Merino Wool, 35% Tussah Silk; 1200 yds 1095 m/185 g): Color Antique Brass, 1 skein.

Needle/Hook
Size US 6 (4.0mm) needles, 32” (80 cm) circulars or longer
Or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 14 (0.6mm) hook for beading
One size 6 (4.0mm) double pointed needle (or gauge size needle) to work the knitted on border (optional)

Gauge
22 sts and 32 rows = 4” 10cm in St st after blocking

Size
62” 157.5 cm across and 29” 73.5 cm down

Notions
Tapestry needle, 2 stitch markers, 663 Delica #8 round beads for optional beading