The Ultimate List of Wedding Shawls Every Bride Would Cherish
Planning what to cast on this Spring/Summer? Well, I have an idea for you of course—actually a whole list!
Do you hear the bells ringing? Wedding season is ON, and what better gift than a hand-knit lace shawl? The Bride walks out wearing a beautiful lace heirloom that she’ll cherish forever. This shawl will pass on from generation to generation as the bridal shawl Mom and Gramma wore on their special day.
Or make one for yourself to wear to a very special ceremony. Just imagine the wedding reception with a beautiful sunset; when you start to feel chilly—Oh! What's here? My lacy scrumptious shawl enhances my dress and adds a layer of warmth—I feel so comfy, let's continue the party!
(Be sure to scroll to the end; I’m following up my favorites list with tips on yarn choices and other shawl-related considerations . . .)
The Prettiest Wedding Lace Shawls
Hand-knit lace shawls are a beautiful, elegant, and meaningful accessory for any bride. Even an elopement is made special by wearing a special, beautiful piece. These are the lace shawls and wraps I absolutely love; they represent a range of skill levels, fabric types, and weights—any one of them would complete a wedding look with perfection.1. Wing-of-the-Moth
Shawl or Scarf
Suggested Yarn: Cashmere + Silk Lace
I actually designed this shawl for a friend’s wedding and it was my first Knitspot publication back in 2006. This shawl is knitted from the center back neck outward and features a triangular shape that drapes beautifully over the shoulders or wraps around the body. It has gorgeous openwork details throughout the design that give an elegant and sophisticated look.
2. Eve in Eden
Suggested Yarn: Modern Deco Lace
This asymmetrical lace wedge in two sizes (petite/tall) is worked from hem to tip in a wonderfully tangled pattern of vining leaf shapes with a different finish on each edge.
Knit in a shimmering silky yarn to highlight the forms within the pattern; use an airy matte yarn to enhance the play of transparency between background and foreground density. The large organic shapes and sheer mesh sections along the top edge create a lovely "screen" for the dress silhouetted underneath.
3. Twinings Stole
Suggested Yarn: Cormo Lace
A pretty, semi-sheer stole in two sizes [petite(tall)], with a meandering vine stitch motif. Knit in two pieces from the hem to the center back, then grafted together, it has an attached edging of dainty, openwork points.
This can be a good knitting project for a beginning or intermediate lace knitter, and a quick knit for a more experienced knitter.
4. Autumn Arbor Stole
Suggested Yarn: The G.O.A.T. Lace
Here is my beautiful friend Kim on her wedding day, wearing an Autumn Arbor stole knit by hattie, in cashmere and silk lace yarn. Isn't she stunning?
And how pretty is the motif work on this design? It has a dreamy and ethereal vibe, courtesy of a motif with lots of movement. This design makes the most of a heathered yarn with a streaky appearance, as the slight color variations will accent the wavy shapes within the motif.
5.Syrah
Suggested Yarn: Fresh Lace
7. Twig and Leaf
Suggested Yarn: Cormo Lace
A crescent shawl in three sizes petite(medium, tall) features a deep lace hem with a beautifully irregular edge. The upper body is worked in garter stitch and shaped with short rows to create an elegant sweep of a shawl that encircles the shoulders.
Now for Some Knitter’s Delight
Let's talk about OUR favorite part of knitting shawls—lace yarn. Choosing the right yarn for a wedding shawl will depend on a variety of factors such as the desired weight, drape, shade, and texture. If you are working far in advance of the event, think about the weather on wedding day when choosing materials.
If you know me, you know I can go on all day talking about yarns, but today I’ll keep it simple and talk only about my favorite lace weight yarns.
Cashmere + Silk yarn: this Cashmere and Silk blend is where warmth and luxury meet and have a baby called the perfect drape and sheen. This yarn is incredibly lightweight and soft; the epitome of wedding luxury. The yarn can be worn year-round but is most appreciated in cooler weather.
Fresh Lace: This vegetable blend is the definition of sheen; the combination of Silk and Linen/Flax is incredibly soft and knits into a fabric with rich, crisp stitch definition. It has the right amount of silkiness to complement a traditional wedding gown, but the comfort of vegetable fiber for events taking place in the hottest of weather.
Cormo Lace: This yarn is made from 100% Cormo wool, known for its softness, making it comfortable to wear next to the skin in most weather. Fine and airy with a bit of bounce, this is a year-round fiber that offers a light fabric with great stitch definition.
The G.O.A.T. Lace: A luxury blend of fine Mohair and Merino wool that is soft and airy with a pearly sheen and comfortable for cooler weather. The resulting fabric is light as air and keeps its blocked shape beautifully to show off a lacy, openwork design.
Ultimately, the choice of yarn should complement the wedding dress, be compatible with the season, and match the overall style of the wedding.
What to Look for in Wedding Lace Designs?
Some things to consider when searching through designs include the amount of coverage you want/need, preferred shape (triangle, rectangle, crescent, wedge), overall size, location/weather, type of fabric (very lacy or more solid) and the appearance of the shawl from the back as well as the front. Keep in mind that many shawls can be knit in a different yarn weight (with needle adjustments), to change the overall size, weight, and density of the fabric.
