Any Way the Wind Blows Free Shawl Knit Pattern

I have finally designed my first shawl! So exciting! Introducing the Any Way the Wind Blow Shawl Free Knit Pattern!

Let me share a little bit of how this pattern came together, and then I’ll give you all the pattern details. You can also choose to purchase this pattern from me on Ravelry. Or below from my Shopify and get immediate access to a downloadable version. 

Let’s start at the beginning …

I love to play with different stitch patterns and found myself working a stitch pattern for a dishcloth. Next, I sent it to my email subscribers, and they fell IN LOVE! And I received so many email responses from knitters wanting to knit that dishcloth.

BUT I wanted it to be more than a dishcloth, and so through an unscientific poll I asked my subscribers what item they would like to see for this stitch pattern. Resoundingly the reply came back “shawl”.

Selecting the yarn colorway

I partnered with Numana Yarns for this pattern, and I can not encourage you enough to splurge on yourself and get some of their amazing yarn. I promise it is GORGEOUS, it is soft, and worth the spend. Numana Yarn has let me know that all of their sock weight yarns should be able to work up to gauge, but honestly gauge is not super important for this pattern, so go select what you want. 

I had an idea for a name for this shawl “Any Way the Wind Blows” because fortunately this shawl is fully reversible, and so it wouldn’t matter if the wind blows it this way or that. Also, since it drapes so nicely hugging your arms, the wind can blow and it will stay on you.  

But I knew for the pattern title to work I would have to select THE perfect yarn. I googled many pictures of Queen and Freddy Mercury and of course the movie Bohemian Rhapsody and so I knew I wanted some purple. Purple for royalty, for Queen. 

I had narrowed my colorway choices down to two different ones and I just couldn’t decide. 

As usual, I turned to my daughter for help choosing. I showed her the two choices and did not share the name of the color ways. This is important. Because I wasn’t sure if I was leaning towards one yarn simply because of the colorway name. I wanted to choose the best and not be swayed by incredible coincidences. 

Of course, she picked “Rhapody”.

She. Picked. Rhapsody! 

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More About Numana Yarns

The yarn featured in the sample is Glenbrook Sock in “Rhapsody” by an indie hand-dyed yarn company located in Edmonton, AB, Numana Yarns. This yarn is so soft and beautifully dyed. You can purchase yarn for your “Any way the wind blows shawl” on their website, if you wish. Click here!

Do you know that “Any Way the Wind Blows” is from a song by Queen!?!?!

Yes, yes I do.

It’s funny how many times I have been asked this question. But yes, I do know. I love that song. It takes me back to being in 8th grade when Wayne’s World came out and they’re driving and Bohemian Rhapsody plays and everyone sings along. I love that scene. I love this song. 

“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen is one of my all-time favorite songs. In 8th grade, I was studying classical piano and though “Bohemian Rhapsody is clearly a rock song, to me, it was a modern-day symphony. And I loved it! I still love it. 

I encourage you to knit while listening to Bohemian Rhapsody and other songs by Queen as it will just add to your enjoyment. At least, it does for me. 

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Everyone wants a shawl, but can I do it?!?! 

I felt a little intimidated, to be honest. Never having designed a shawl before, and only having knit 1 myself I wasn’t sure I was ready for the challenge. But my tech editor was beyond helpful with resources and aiming me in the right direction. 

Of course, nothing ever goes as planned and so I knit the shawl following some basic shawl guidelines for increases and my draft pattern only to discover that it was not going to work.

It was wonky. It had a weird curved flap and the length of the shawl was not straight or curved inwards, but rather outwards. This was not going to cut it. 

I frogged the ENTIRE thing. Possibly (definitely) there were tears. Then a grieving period while I tried to figure out what to do next.

Fortunately, for this lovely design I did not throw in the towel, but rather restructured things and wrote a new draft pattern. This one knit up beautifully! Hooray! And, the natural drape of this shawl will wrap around your arms so you don’t have to tug it in place. It’s the perfect shawl to wear casually and not worry about it falling off or using a clip. 

Enough fluff, let’s get into the details!

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Any Way the Wind Blows Free Shawl Knit Pattern Technical Details

The Any Way the Wind Blows shawl is knit from the top down using a 15-stitch garter stitch tab. This adds stability to the center. 

The shawl is made up of three panels of the “waves” stitch pattern that are each separated by a 5-stitch garter stitch “spine” and yarn overs. 

You can use stitch markers at each of these garter stitch spines to help you keep track of your yarn overs and where the wave stitch pattern begins. In addition, you may use a stitch marker on the RS of the fabric to help you easily identify the RS and WS since both fabrics are reversible.

Skills needed for Any Way the Wind Blows Shawl

This project is suited for knitters who are comfortable to work in, or who are open to learning the following skills and techniques:

Garter stitch tab, knit in the front and back, yarn over, knit with additional wraps, dropping wraps, passing stitches over, I-cord bind-off.

Links to tutorial videos are included in the instructions.

Materials

Yarn

Numana Yarns, Glenbrook Sock, fiber content: superwash merino 70%, yak 20%, silk 10%; 4 oz/115 g; 420 yards/384 meters, or any yarn that knits to gauge.

Sample used 7 3/4 oz/220 g; 804 yards/735 meters; 2 balls (skeins) in Glenbrook Sock, colorway Rhapsody.

Knitting Needles

US size 6/4 mm, or size used to match gauge – straight or circular as you prefer.

Notions

Stitch markers (6 or 7), scissors, tapestry needle.

Gauge

22 sts x 26 rows over 4″/10 cm in waves stitch pattern worked flat after blocking.

20 sts x 35 rows over 4″/10 cm in garter stitch worked flat after blocking

20 sts x 29 rows over 4″/10 cm in stockinette stitch worked flat after blocking

It is not necessary to match gauge for this pattern. If you do not match gauge, this will affect the size of your shawl and yarn requirements.

Size Information

One Size

Finished measurements after blocking are approximate:

52 inches (132 cm) across the top edge

26 inches (66 cm) across the bottom edge of each panel

21.5 inches (54.5 cm) from the top edge of garter st tab to bottom of the center panel.

Any Way the Wind Blows Free Shawl Knit Pattern Schematic

Abbreviations used in pattern

* *	Repeat instructions between the * *
bef	before
BO	bind-off
CO	cast-on
k	knit
kfb	knit front and back
LH	left hand
m	marker
pm	place marker
RH	right hand
RS	right side
sm	slip marker
st(s)	stitch(es)
WS	wrong side
yo	yarn over

Any Way the Wind Blows Free Shawl Knit Pattern Instructions

Cast-on

Using your favorite cast-on method, CO 5 sts.

15-St Garter Stitch Tab

Row 1 (RS): *K*

Row 2 (WS): *K*

Repeat Rows 1-2 5 times. You will work a total of 10 rows ending on a Row 2.

Turn your fabric 90 degrees. Pick up 5 sts from the garter stitch ridges. You now have 10 sts on your needles.

Turn your fabric 90 degrees. Pick up 5 sts from the garter stitch ridges. You now have 15 sts on your needles. Knit 15 stitches. If you are placing a marker on the right side of your fabric, now is the time to do that. 

Want a video tutorial on how to do a Garter Stitch Tab? Check my tutorial out on YouTube. 

Any Way the Wind Blows Free Shawl Knit Pattern Set-up Rows

Row 1 (RS): *K*

Row 2 (WS): K5, kfb, k1, kfb, k1, kfb, k5, (inc 3 sts, total 18 sts)

Row 3 (RS): *K*

Row 4 (WS): K5, kfb, k1, kfb, kfb, kfb, kfb, k1, kfb, k5 (inc 6 sts, total 24 sts)

Row 5 (RS): *K*

Row 6 (WS): Kfb, k3, pm, yo, k2, yo, pm, k5, pm, yo, k2, yo, pm k5, pm, yo, k2, yo pm k2, kfb, k1
(inc 8 sts, total 32 sts)

Row 7 (RS): *K*

Row 8 (WS): *K5, sm, yo, k to m, yo, sm* until 5 sts remain, k5 (inc 6 sts, total of 38 sts)

Row 9 (RS): *K*

Row 10 (WS): *K5, sm, yo, k to m, yo, sm* until 5 sts remain, k5 (inc 6 sts, total of 44 sts)

Row 11 (RS): *K*

Row 12 (WS): *K5, sm, yo, k to m, yo, sm* until 5 sts remain, k5 (inc 6 sts, total of 50 sts)

Row 13 (RS): *K*

Need help with placing those stitch markers? Check out my tutorial video below!

Any Way the Wind Blows Free Shawl Knit Pattern Rows

Work rows 1-8, and then repeat 14 more times. The main stitch pattern is worked in multiples of 8 stitches and 8 rows. Increase stitches will be worked in garter stitch until the stitch pattern repeats and they are incorporated into the main stitch pattern. You may find it helpful to use a 3.5mm knitting needle to knit Row 2. The full stitch pattern repeat will be worked a total of 15 times.

Row 1 RS: [K5, sm, yo, k1, *k1 wrapping yarn 4 times* to one st before m, k1, yo, sm] Repeat []
until 5 sts remain, k5. (inc 6 sts)

Row 2 WS: [K5, sm, k2, *slip 8 sts purl wise to RH needle, letting wraps drop, insert LH needle
into the first 4 sts slipped, pass those 4 sts over the last 4 sts slipped and onto LH
needle. Move the last 4 slipped sts back to the LH needle, k 8 sts* repeat * * until 2
sts before m, k2, sm] Repeat [] until 5 sts remain, k5

Row 3 RS: *K5, sm, yo, k to m, yo, sm* until 5 sts remain, k5 (inc 6 sts, total 62 sts)

Row 4 WS: *K*

Row 5 RS: *K5, sm, yo, k to m, yo, sm* until 5 sts remain, k5 (inc 6 sts, total 68 sts)

Row 6 WS: *K*

Row 7 RS: *K5, sm, yo, k to m, yo, sm* until 5 sts remain, k5 (inc 6 sts, total 74 sts)

Row 8 WS: *K*

After completing 15 pattern repeats you will have 410 sts on your needles. Proceed to Final Rows.

Need help with this stitch pattern? Check out my tutorial video below!

Final Rows

Row 1 (RS): *K5, sm, kfb, k to 1 st bef m, kfb, sm* until 5 sts remain, k5 (inc 6 sts, total 416 sts)

Row 2 (WS): *K*

Row 3 (RS): *K5, sm, kfb, k to 1 st bef m, kfb, sm* until 5 sts remain, k5 (inc 6 sts, total 422 sts)

Row 4 (WS): *K*

Row 5 (RS): *K5, sm, kfb, k to 1 st bef m, kfb, sm* until 5 sts remain, k5 (inc 6 sts, total 428 sts)

Row 6 (WS): *K*

Video coming soon!

Finishing your Any Way the Wind Blows Shawl 

Four-stitch i-cord bind-off

First, using knit CO method, CO 4 sts.

• Slip the 4 sts to your LH needle.
• (Tug the working yarn snugly) k3, k2tog (this binds off one st)

Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you have 4 sts remaining. Use basic BO to BO 4 remaining sts.

Or … use your favorite stretchy BO and BO all stitches. 

Video coming soon!

I chose to use the i-cord because I like the way it looks and feels it gives that completely reversible look. 

Finally, cut an 8 inch tail. Weave in ends. Block as desired.

Tip: The I-cord bind-off creates a wonderful place to weave in your ends.

Customizing your Any Way the Wind Blows Shawl

There are many ways you can customize your shawl. You may choose to make it shorter, longer, or to do a different bind-off method.

You may use any customization options you choose, but remember that the amount of yarn needed will vary depending on the options you choose.

Smaller/Larger

If you would like your shawl to have a shorter fit, you may simply knit until you have reached the desired length less approximately 2 inches (5 cm) and then begin the Final Rows and Bind-off.

Likewise, to make it longer you would continue with the main stitch pattern repeating until you have reached the desired length, less approximately 2 inches (5 cm), and then begin the Final Rows and bind-off.

Bind-off Choices and Suggestions

The pattern does call for an I-cord bind-off. This bind-off method provides stability to the edge of your shawl.

However, you may use any stretchy bind-off method of your choice. For a decorative edge you may even consider choosing a picot bind-off.

Many Thanks

Creating a knitting pattern takes a lot of team work.

I want to thank my proof reader. Thank you to all of the test knitters who provided valuable information and feedback.

Finally, a giant thank you to my incredibly detailed and organized Tech Editor, Elisabetta Renwick. You can find Elisabetta on Instagram here.

Need Additional Help? 

My name is Lois Silva! I’m so thankful that you’ve picked up my pattern, and I hope you enjoy knitting it.

If you need some yarn inspiration for your Any Way the Wind Blows Shawl, you can check out the projects on Ravelry here. Or go to my KAL gallery to read testimonials and see photos here.

One reason I love knitting and designing is I get to experiment and try out new things. I also love taking that knowledge and passing it on to other knitters.

If you love knitting new knit patterns, and learning more about knitting, let’s connect!

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