The Outlander Carolina Shawl Pattern will allow you to create a large knitted shawl with stripes in the design.
I wanted to share with you another free knitting pattern that has been inspired by the TV show Outlander.
This pattern is part of my Outlander collection, you can see the other Outlander patterns here.
Inspired By The Outlander Knitted Shawls
If you have been watching the Outlander TV series, in season four, Claire has worn some very distinctive crossover triangle shawls.
Inspired by the brown shawl Claire wears in Carolina, the triangle-shaped shawl is knit in garter stitch.
The design of the shawl is made so that you can wrap it around your body and tie at the back.
This means that you can wrap up in your own version of Claire’s Carolina shawl!
Outlander Claire’s Knitwear
Inspired by Claire Fraser wearing beautiful knitted pieces, the triangle wrap is knit by working from the top down.
If you have never knit a shawl in this way before, it is fairly easy and you can see a photo tutorial below to help you or watch the video in this post.
The shawl will grow in size through a series of increases that occur through yarn overs.
This also gives a nice open stitch design down the spine of the shawl.
Scroll down for the free pattern and don’t forget to pin and share!
The Needles You Need
- I used 8 mm (US 11) 24-inch circular knitting needles for this pattern.
- Using circular needles with a long cable is needed to accommodate a large number of stitches.
- I recommend using a larger size needle to cast off – this helps to keep the stitches loose.
- The size I recommend to cast off is 10mm (US 15) needles – if you have interchangeable needles this will be easy for you to do.
The Yarn you Need
- I used Alize SuperLana Maxi (100g (3.53 oz)/100mt (109 yards) – in the colour 240 – Dark Brown for the main body of the shawl.
- This yarn is a wool/acrylic blend and very soft to touch.
- For the black stripe, I used Alize SuperLana Maxi (100g (3.53 oz)/100mt (109 yards) – in the colour 60 – Black.
- You can substitute this yarn with any yarn that is bulky weight (05).
More Outlander Patterns
There are many more Outlander patterns in this collection, ranging from shawls, cowls, scarves to fingerless gloves and arm warmers.
Visit the Outlander Pattern Collection Ebooks in my shop below:
- Outlander Pattern Collection – featuring 20 patterns
- Outlander Gloves and Arm Warmers Collection – featuring 10 patterns
- Outlander Shawls, Wraps and Scarves Collection – featuring 10 patterns
Get the matching fingerless gloves pattern here.
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern:
This shawl pattern is great for any intermediate knitters.
- You should be comfortable casting on and casting off, as well as knitting in garter stitch.
- Knitting cast-on methods.
- You should also know how to yarn over.
- You should know how to change yarn colours.
- You should also be comfortable reading knitting patterns.
- And understanding knitting abbreviations and terms.
- How to substitute yarn in a knitting pattern.
Claire’s Carolina Shawl Knitting Pattern
Get the ad-free, printable PDF pattern HERE.
Notes
The shawl knits up quickly and the design makes for a relaxing and enjoyable knit.
- Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern.
- If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
- You may sell items produced using this pattern.
- Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
- For the copyright T&C’s please read my Terms of Use.
Skill Level – Intermediate
Gauge
10 x 10 cm /4 x 4 inches = 11 sts and 15 rows
Measurements/Sizes
*Please note – the measurements below are just a rough guide, you can knit this shawl until it is comfortable for you to wear – test it out against yourself to see if you want to make the length shorter or longer before casting off.
- S / M – width tip to tip = 82 inches / 208 cm
- Length – top to bottom = 36 inches / 91 cm
- L /XL – width tip to tip = 122 inches / 310 cm
- Length – top to bottom = 39 inches / 100 cm
- XL/XXL – width tip to tip = 142 inches / 361 cm
- Length – top to bottom = 42 inches / 107 cm
The Supplies You Need…
Yarns
- Yarn A – Alize SuperLana Maxi (100g (3.53 oz)/100mt (109 yards) – in the colour 240 – Dark Brown x 6 (S/M) x 8 (L/XL) x 10 (XL/XXL)
- Yarn B – Alize SuperLana Maxi (100g (3.53 oz)/100mt (109 yards) – in the colour 60 – Black x 2 (S/M) x 4 (L/XL) x 6 (XL/XXL)
- Yarn Weight – Bulky 05
- You can purchase the Alize yarns from YarnStreet or from Etsy.
- Yarn substitute – “I love this chunky super soft” from Hobby Lobby in Mocha and Cool Black.
Needles
- 8mm (US 11) knitting needles – I used my interchangeable circular needles on a 24″ cable as there were many stitches – I did not join in the round to knit.
- 10mm (US 15) interchangeable circular needles to cast off.
Notions
Pattern
Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List
- Beg – beginning
- Cont – Continue
- Foll – following
- K – knit
- P – purl
- YO – yarn over needle
- PM – place marker
- SM – slip marker
Yarn A – Cast on 5 sts.
K1, YO, K1, YO, PM, K1, PM, YO, K1, YO, K1 (9 sts).
Turn the work and knit one row.
Then work in pattern as follows:
Row 1: K1, YO, K to marker, YO, SM, K1, SM, YO, K to the last st, YO, K1.
Row 2: Knit all stitches.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until you have = S/M – 181 sts / L/XL – 241 XL/XXL – 281 ending with row 2.
Change to yarn B (black) and work in the established pattern for 4 rows.
Change to yarn A (brown) and work in the established pattern for 4 rows.
Change to yarn B (black) and work in the established pattern for 4 rows.
Change to yarn A (brown) and work in the established pattern for 4 rows.
Change to yarn B (black) and work in the established pattern for 4 rows.
Change to yarn A (brown) and work in the established pattern for 8 rows.
Change to yarn B (black) and work in the established pattern for 1 row.
Cast off loosely – go up a needle size and use 10mm (US 15) needles if required.
I love seeing your finished projects!
If you enjoyed making the pattern, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme.
If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook page and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
Marge says
Thank you for the Carolina Shawl pattern. I have been wanting to make this shawl for awhile now.
It will make a lovely gift for me this Christmas.
Again thank you for your generosity.
handylittleme says
Hi Marge, I think this shawl will make a wonderful gift for you! I am so happy you like it and I hope that you enjoy making it 🙂
Pachia says
Thank you for the pattern! I haven’t knitted in years, this will be my first project to get back in the groove! I can’t wait to start.
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Pachia, thanks you so much for your kind words, that is wonderful news! – I hope you enjoy knitting the shawl 🙂
miranda E says
This is working up so nicely. Thank you.
I am confused with the colour change.
If you do the colour change when you reach the right size would the stops not be on the top of the shawl and not around the edge like in the picture?
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Miranda, I’m not sure if I understand what you mean by ‘the stops’ – the colour changes are correct in the pattern and when you need to start knitting with a different colour, you join in that colour right away, so the edge is starting in that colour. As you can see in the photographs – the black edge of the black stripe starts with the back yarn. You do not see any brown yarn in any part of the black stripes if that makes sense. I hope that helps! 🙂
Missy m. says
First key new say, thank you so much for this pattern. I’m so envious of all the knit wear in Outlander and have been looking for this pattern forever. It’s so kind of you to offer this as a free pattern. I’m still fairly new to knitting, I understand how to do the shawl but I’m a little unsure of how to do the black stripes.
Missy m says
Thank you for this free pattern, I’m so happy I found it! Its so kind of you to share this! Just one question how do I do the stripes around it? I’m not sure what it means when it stays work in the established pattern. Is there a tutorial that I could watch on that part?
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Missy, when you start to work the stripes – you change the yarn colour (to black) and work in the established pattern – which means you keep working rows 1 and 2 but just in a different colour. Then you change back to brown (or whatever colour you are working with) and continue to work rows 1 and 2 in that colour. I hope that makes sense! Happy knitting 🙂
Georgia says
hi
Omg, I love your shawl… especially with it being belted. Pretty sure I understand the directions but have one question. Can I change the open spine in the center back to another stitch? I’ve not had good luck with open spines… find they stretch out to big for me. I must have more of your patterns. Thank you so much!!
Georgia
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Georgia, You can change the open spine if you wish – but this is where stitches are increased. As long as you keep increasing there and at the edges of the shawl you should be ok. I can’t guarantee what the end result will be like if you change any stitches in the pattern. 🙂
Julie says
Hello, you could always knit the “yarn over” stitch you made in the previous row, twisting it by knitting the back side of the loop. That prevents it from opening too big. Good luck!
Kelly says
Hello, such a beautiful pattern, thank you! Silly question, but is this knit from the bottom up? I’m trying to get a visual as to when I change color. Thank you.
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Kelly, this shawl is knit from the top down and the colour changes are easily integrated into the shawl. Thanks for visiting 🙂
Kaitlyn Hernandez says
Hi! I’m making this shawl as I leave this comment! The pattern is so cute. Quick question(s): how did you keep the shawl in place when wrapped around to the back? Did you pin it or something like that?
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Kaitlyn, I wrapped the shawl and secured it at the back of the model in the photographs waist by tying the pointed corners together – it was long enough to do that, to tie and knot loosely into place. But you could also use a large pin if you wanted to instead of tying it. You wrap and cross it over your body so the two corner points end up at the back of your waist and then you tie them together and knot. I hope that helps 🙂
Johanna Altman says
I love this shawl! What size is the model wearing? Thank you so much for the pattern! 💕
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Johanna, I’m so happy you like the shawl 🙂 The model is wearing the first size (S/M) she is around a UK size 8 / US 4 / EU 36. It also fits me just fine and I am a UK 10 / US 8 / EU 38, I hope that helps! 🙂
Lisa Ogilvie says
So, glad I double checked the yarn weight online, it’s actually a #6 super bulky and my family gifted me a case of yarn that weight for christmas, so I shall cast this on today with the hopes of getting a few done for our donation drive closer to summer, thank you so much for the pattern.
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Lisa, the Alize SuperLana Maxi Yarn is classed as a super bulky weight yarn to be used with needle sizes 8mm (US11) to 10mm (US 15) but the yarn is thinner in my opinion than other super bulky weight yarns, for example like Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick.
If you were to substitute this yarn with a heavier super bulky weight you will end up with a thicker heavier shawl. I used size 8mm (US 11) needles with this yarn and it worked up really well, but you may have to adjust your needle size according to the super bulky yarn you use.
I hope you enjoy making the shawl and I would love to see how it turns out – if you want to share a finished photo on Instagram and tag me or if you want to join The Handy Little Me facebook group. Happy Knitting! 🙂
Julia says
Hi! I’m so excited to find this pattern. I’ve knit one triangle shawl before and the edges (where I cast off) roll upwards. In your pictures, the edges lay beautifully flat. Any tips? Thanks!!
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Julia, the shawl is knit in garter stitch, so therefore the edges lie flat when casting off.
The yarn is also bulky weight, and when I made the shawl there were no problems with the edges curling.
If you knit your previous shawl in stockinette stitch the edges would curl when casting off.
I hope that you enjoy knitting the shawl 🙂
Louise
Debbie says
Great pattern. Wondering if it could be translated into worsted weight.
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Debbie, you can take a look at the Rent shawl pattern which is knit in worsted weight yarn here – https://www.handylittleme.com/claires-rent-shawl-knitting-pattern/
This may help you with the cast on stitches/sizes if you want to make the Carolina shawl in worsted weight yarn.
I hope that helps!
Louise 🙂