Brickwork Lace Shawl

P075 Brickwork Lace Shawl

We’ve combined our lustrous Starburst yarn and a beautiful geometric lace stitch to create a statement wrap. With a pebbly, seed stitch border and rectangular shape, this wrap is versatile enough to be used as a pram cover or for modesty when breast feeding.

How to Knit the Starburst Brickwork Lace Shawl

Create a lightweight statement shawl featuring a geometric brickwork lace pattern and a textured seed stitch border. This intermediate knitting project combines beautiful lace details with the colourful effect of Lincraft Starburst yarn to create a versatile wrap.

The rectangular shawl design can be worn as a wrap, used as a pram cover or styled as a modesty cover. The shawl is worked back and forth in rows using a circular needle to comfortably hold the large number of stitches.

Project: Starburst Brickwork Lace Shawl

Pattern: P075

Craft type: Knitting

Difficulty: Intermediate

Finished size: Approximately 57cm wide x 150cm long

What You Will Need

Materials

  • Ficio Starburst Yarn – 3 x 100g balls

Equipment

  • 3.75mm circular knitting needle (80cm)
  • Wool needle for sewing in ends
  • Stitch markers
  • Scissors

Alternative Yarns

This shawl is designed using Ficio Starburst yarn, which creates the colourful striped effect shown in the sample. When choosing an alternative yarn, select a yarn with similar weight and drape to maintain the lace pattern.

  • 8ply Cotton Yarn – creates a lightweight shawl with clear stitch definition.
  • 8ply Wool Blend Yarn – provides warmth and softness.
  • Merino Blend Yarn – creates a luxurious lightweight wrap.
  • Gradient or Self-Striping Yarn – enhances the lace design with colour changes.
Helpful hint: Lace patterns rely on consistent tension. Always check your gauge before starting, especially when substituting yarn.

Measurements

  • Width: approximately 57cm
  • Length: approximately 150cm

Tension

After blocking:

  • 22 stitches x 30 rows = 10cm x 10cm over brickwork lace pattern
  • 24 stitches x 30 rows = 10cm x 10cm over seed stitch

Knitting Abbreviations

  • K: knit
  • P: purl
  • K2tog: knit two stitches together
  • P2tog: purl two stitches together
  • Kfb: knit into front and back of stitch
  • Pfb: purl into front and back of stitch
  • YO: yarn over
  • SSK: slip, slip, knit (left leaning decrease)
  • Sl1: slip one stitch purlwise
  • PSSO: pass slipped stitch over
  • wyif: with yarn in front
  • wyib: with yarn in back
Pattern note: A circular knitting needle is used to manage the large number of stitches. The shawl is worked back and forth in rows and is not joined in the round.

Construction Overview

The Starburst Brickwork Lace Shawl is worked in three sections:

  1. Create the seed stitch border.
  2. Work the brickwork lace centre section.
  3. Finish with a second seed stitch border.

Start the Shawl

Beginning Border

  1. Using 3.75mm circular needles, cast on 124 stitches.
  2. Row 1 (RS): Knit 1, purl 1, repeat across.
  3. Row 2: Purl 1, knit 1, repeat across.
  4. Continue these two rows to create seed stitch.
  5. Work in seed stitch until the piece measures approximately 5cm from the beginning.

Prepare for Brickwork Lace

  1. Work seed stitch across the first 6 stitches.
  2. Place a stitch marker.
  3. Purl across the centre section while decreasing 9 stitches evenly.
  4. Work the final 6 stitches in seed stitch.
  5. You should now have 115 stitches.

Work the Brickwork Lace Pattern

Continue working the seed stitch border on both sides of the markers while completing the lace pattern between the markers.

Lace Pattern Overview

The brickwork lace pattern uses:

  • Yarn overs to create open lace sections.
  • K2tog and SSK decreases to shape the geometric pattern.
  • Repeating lace rows to build the brickwork effect.

Lace Pattern Rows

Repeat the following lace sequence while maintaining the seed stitch borders:

  1. Row 1: K1, YO, K2tog, *K8, YO, SSK, repeat from *.
  2. Row 2 and all even rows: Purl all stitches.
  3. Continue following the lace chart rows 3–43 as established in the pattern.
  4. Row 44: Purl all stitches.

Repeat from rows 5–44, continuing the seed stitch borders on each side, until the piece measures approximately 147cm from the beginning.

Finish the Shawl Border

  1. Work seed stitch across the first 6 stitches.
  2. Remove the stitch marker.
  3. Purl across the centre section, increasing 9 stitches evenly.
  4. Work the final 6 stitches in seed stitch.
  5. Return to 124 stitches.
  6. Continue the seed stitch pattern:
    • Row 1: K1, P1 repeat across.
    • Row 2: P1, K1 repeat across.
  7. Continue until the seed stitch border measures approximately 5cm.

Finishing

  1. Cast off loosely.
  2. Weave in all loose yarn ends.
  3. Block the shawl to the finished measurements.
Blocking tip: Blocking opens the lace stitches and helps the shawl achieve its final shape and drape.

Customisation Ideas

  • Use a solid colour yarn for a classic lace shawl.
  • Try a gradient yarn for a dramatic colour transition.
  • Add fringe to the short edges for a decorative finish.
  • Adjust the length by repeating or reducing the lace pattern sections.
  • Create a matching scarf or wrap using the same yarn palette.

Care

Follow the care instructions for your chosen yarn.

Hand wash gently where recommended and reshape while damp. Lay flat to dry to preserve the lace pattern and finished dimensions.

Get a copy of the instructions Download guide

Things you'll need