Houndstooth? ✅
Tweed? ✅
Glen Plaid? ✅

Revel in the textures of classic British textiles as you knit this shawl designed for the MKAL of the 5th annual Midwest Fiber Festival. Inspired by the Sherlock theme, this shawl pattern will help you create wearable art that will keep you as warm as the cape that Sherlock wears during his sleuthing adventures.

Measurements
The final measurements are a secret for now, but the finished result will be a large half-circular shawl.

Gauge
25.5 sts x 54 rows = 4in (10cm) in garter stitch knit flat after blocking
Note: gauge is flexible for this pattern, but differences in gauge will affect yardage needed.

Yarn
Sample uses
Refracted Light Fiber Arts - Rivendell Fingering
(437yds 400m, 100g)
Color A - 1 skein - “Olive”
Color B - 1 skein - “Periwinkle”
Color C - 1 skein - “Parchment”
Color D - 1 skein - “Leather”
Color E - 1 skein - “Thistle”

To substitute, use
Fingering weight yarn
Color A - 437yds (400m)
Color B - 437yds (400m)
Color C - 437yds (400m)
Color D - 437yds (400m)
Color E - 437yds (400m)

Note on Color Selection
You will need 5 colors for your MKAL shawl, though you are welcome to add in some additional pops of color to make it your own. When choosing your color palette, I recommend choosing solid or tonal colorways. Yarns with variegation or heavy speckling will likely interfere with the stitch patterns used throughout the shawl.

You will also want to make sure you have enough contrast between colors for the stitch patterns to have their full effect. In particular, you will want high contrast between colors B and C and moderate contrast between colors D and E.

Needles/Hooks
US 1.5 (2.5mm) circular needle
US 2 (2.75mm) circular needle (optional for clue 2)
US B/1 (2.25mm) crochet hook (optional)
Or
size(s) needed to obtain gauge

Notions
13 stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Blocking supplies

Pattern has been tech edited and test knit.

Copyright 2026, Refracted Light Fiber Arts