Panda Knitted Fan Lace Shawl — Free Knitting Pattern

There is something undeniably magical about lace knitting. The way yarn transforms into something delicate, airy, and almost impossibly beautiful through nothing more than carefully placed increases and decreases — it never gets old. If you have been searching for a project that combines the elegance of fan lace with a modern, wearable design, you are going to love this Panda Knitted Fan Lace Shawl. And the best part? This pattern is completely free.

Whether you are a confident beginner ready to try your first lace project or an experienced knitter looking for a satisfying weekend make, this shawl has something to offer everyone. The fan lace stitch creates a gorgeous scalloped texture that drapes beautifully along the shoulders, and the classic triangular shawl shape makes it endlessly versatile. Wear it over a sundress at a summer garden party, draped across your shoulders at a cool evening bonfire, or wrapped loosely around your neck as a luxurious scarf in winter. This piece truly does it all.

Let’s walk through everything you need to know to cast on your own Panda Knitted Fan Lace Shawl, from materials and gauge all the way through the full pattern instructions and finishing tips.

Why This Shawl Is Called the Panda

You might be wondering about the name. The “Panda” in this pattern refers to the yarn brand and weight that inspired the original design — a soft, silky yarn with beautiful stitch definition that makes every eyelet in the fan lace pop with crisp clarity. Panda yarns are well known in the knitting community for their exceptional softness and the way they handle lace patterns, giving the finished fabric just the right amount of drape without being too floppy or too stiff. That said, this pattern works with any fingering or light DK weight yarn with good stitch definition, so you are not limited to a single brand.

The name also carries a certain whimsical charm that suits the shawl’s personality — it is elegant but not stuffy, intricate but approachable, and there is something joyful about wearing something associated with one of the world’s most beloved animals.

Materials You Will Need

Before you cast on, let’s make sure you have everything ready. Gathering your materials in advance makes for a much smoother knitting experience, and with lace work especially, you want to feel calm and settled before you begin.

Yarn: Approximately 400 to 500 yards of fingering weight yarn. A smooth, plied yarn works best for lace because it allows you to see each stitch clearly and makes it easier to fix any mistakes. Look for something with a little sheen — silk blends, bamboo blends, or merino with a touch of nylon all work beautifully here. If you want to stay true to the original inspiration, a Panda-style yarn in a fine weight is ideal. Choose a color that lets the lace pattern speak for itself: soft neutrals, dusty pastels, deep jewel tones, and classic white or cream are all stunning choices.

Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle, at least 32 inches long. You will use circular needles even though this shawl is knitted flat, because the stitch count grows significantly as you work toward the body, and a circular needle gives you the length you need to hold all those stitches comfortably.

Notions: A set of locking stitch markers (at least six), a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a blocking mat and blocking pins or wires, and a spray bottle filled with water or a small basin for wet blocking.

Gauge: Approximately 22 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, blocked. Gauge is particularly important with lace shawls because the blocking process opens up the lace dramatically, and if your gauge is significantly tighter or looser than suggested, your finished dimensions will differ. That said, shawls are very forgiving — a slightly different gauge simply means a slightly larger or smaller shawl, not a wasted project.

Understanding the Fan Lace Stitch

Before diving into the pattern itself, it is worth spending a moment understanding how the fan lace stitch works, especially if you are newer to lace knitting. This knowledge will help you see the logic behind each row and make it much easier to recover if you ever lose your place.

Fan lace is a classic knitting motif that has been used in everything from Victorian heirloom shawls to contemporary accessories. The “fan” shape is created by working a series of yarn-overs clustered together in a single area to form the open, spreading shape of a fan, then anchoring those yarnovers with decrease stitches on either side to maintain the overall stitch count.

In this pattern, the fans run vertically along the shawl body and are separated by simple columns of knit stitches that act as visual dividers. As the shawl grows wider with each pair of right-side rows, new fan repeats are added, so the number of fan columns increases as you work down toward the hem. The final border is a gentle scallop worked along the lower edge, which picks up the curved top of each fan and echoes it in a satisfying, finished way.

The stitch pattern itself is worked on both right-side and wrong-side rows, but the wrong-side rows are almost entirely purl stitches with a few yarnovers, which means the cognitive load is mostly carried by the right-side rows. Many knitters find it helpful to use a row counter or a simple tally sheet to track where they are in the pattern repeat.

Abbreviations and Special Stitches

Here is a quick reference guide for the abbreviations used throughout this pattern.

CO — cast on
BO — bind off
k — knit
p — purl
yo — yarn over
k2tog — knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
ssk — slip, slip, knit (a left-leaning decrease)
sl1 — slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in front
pm — place marker
sm — slip marker
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
rep — repeat
st(s) — stitch(es)

The only special technique worth noting is the “double yarn over,” which appears in the fan sections. To work a double yarn over, simply wrap the yarn around the needle twice instead of once. On the following row, you will work into this double yarn over by knitting into the first loop and purling into the second, which creates a slightly larger eyelet and gives the fan its characteristic open, airy top.

The Full Pattern

Cast On and Setup

Using your preferred cast-on method, CO 9 stitches.

If you are new to shawl knitting, a long-tail cast on gives a clean, elastic edge that works beautifully here. If you prefer a more decorative start, a twisted German cast on (also called the old Norwegian cast on) adds a tiny picot detail to the starting edge.

Setup Row (WS): Sl1, k3, pm, p1, pm, k4.

This sets up your two edge panels and the center spine stitch, which will remain in place as the shawl is worked.

Increase Section

The shawl grows through a series of yarn-over increases placed on either side of the center spine marker and at the beginning of each right-side row. You will also place increases at the edges of the shawl. This creates the classic triangular shape with a spine running down the center back.

Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k1, yo, k1, sm, yo, k1, yo, sm, k1, yo, k2. (13 sts)

Row 2 (WS): Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 3 (RS): Sl1, k1, yo, k to marker, sm, yo, k1, yo, sm, k to last 2 sts, yo, k2.

Row 4 (WS): Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until you have 65 stitches on your needle, ending after a WS row. At this point you are ready to begin the fan lace pattern.

Beginning the Fan Lace Body

The fan lace section is introduced gradually so that the transition from the plain stockinette increase section flows naturally into the patterned body. You will notice that the pattern instructs you to work the fans between the existing stitch markers while continuing the edge increases on either side.

The following 12-row sequence forms one complete fan lace repeat. You will work this sequence multiple times as the shawl grows, adding new repeats as instructed.

Fan Lace Repeat (worked over 12 rows)

Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k1, yo, k2tog three times, [yo, k1] six times, k2tog three times; rep from to 2 sts before center marker, k2, sm, yo, k1, yo, sm, k2, *rep from to last 2 sts, yo, k2.**

Row 2 (WS): Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 3 (RS): Sl1, k1, yo, k to marker, sm, yo, k1, yo, sm, k to last 2 sts, yo, k2.

Row 4 (WS): Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.

Rows 5 through 8 repeat Rows 3 and 4 twice more, continuing to increase at the edges and spine.

Row 9 (RS): Sl1, k1, yo, k2tog three times, [yo, k1] six times, k2tog three times; rep from to 2 sts before marker, k2, sm, yo, k1, yo, sm, k2, *rep from to last 2 sts, yo, k2.**

Row 10 (WS): Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.

Rows 11–12: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 once more.

Continue working the Fan Lace Repeat, adding a new fan column on each side of the center spine each time the stitch count allows for a full 12-stitch fan repeat, until you have worked a total of 6 fan columns across the shawl (3 on each side of the center spine) and the stitch count sits at approximately 225 stitches.

Border

The border is worked to create the signature scalloped lower edge of the shawl, which mirrors the fan shape above it and gives the finished piece a polished, intentional look.

Border Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k1, yo, k1; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.

Border Row 2 (WS): Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.

Border Rows 3–4: Repeat Border Rows 1 and 2.

Border Row 5 (RS): Sl1, k1, k2tog three times, [yo, k1] six times, k2tog three times; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.

Border Row 6 (WS): Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.

Repeat Border Rows 5 and 6 twice more.

Final Border Row (RS): Sl1, k2tog three times, [yo, k1] five times, yo, k2tog three times; rep from to last st, k1.

Bind off very loosely using a stretchy bind off. The Russian bind off (working k2tog, slipping the resulting stitch back to the left needle, and repeating) works wonderfully here, as does a simple yarn-over bind off. Avoid a standard bind off unless you are very confident in keeping it relaxed — a tight bind off on a lace shawl will prevent the border from opening up during blocking and will ruin the beautiful scalloped effect you have worked so hard to create.

Finishing and Blocking

If lace knitting has a secret weapon, it is blocking. When you cast off your Panda Knitted Fan Lace Shawl, it is going to look like a crumpled, unimpressive triangle. Do not panic. This is completely normal. Lace does not reveal its full beauty until it has been blocked, and the transformation is genuinely breathtaking.

To wet block your shawl, soak it in cool water with a drop of gentle wool wash for about 15 to 20 minutes. This relaxes the fibers and allows them to open up. Lift the shawl carefully out of the water — do not wring it — and gently press out the excess moisture by laying it flat in a towel and rolling the towel up, then pressing firmly. The goal is to remove most of the water without stressing the delicate lace fabric.

Lay your damp shawl on a blocking mat and pin it out to its finished dimensions, working from the center top point down to the lower edge. Pin along the scalloped border last, gently stretching each scallop to its full shape and pinning at the deepest point of each curve. Step back and look at the shawl from a distance to make sure the shape is symmetrical and even, adjusting any pins as needed. Then leave it to dry completely — ideally for 24 hours — before removing the pins.

The finished shawl should measure approximately 60 inches across the top edge and 28 inches from the center back neck down to the deepest point of the lower scallops, though these dimensions will vary based on your gauge and yarn choice.

Helpful Tips for Success

Lace knitting rewards patience and attention, but it is not as intimidating as it looks. A few habits can make your experience much smoother from the very first row.

Always check your stitch count at the end of each right-side row. Lace patterns depend on the balance of yarn-overs and decreases, and it is much easier to spot a mistake immediately than to discover it several rows later. Many knitters like to place a locking marker between each fan repeat so they can count within sections rather than across the whole row.

Use a lifeline every 20 rows or so, especially while you are learning the pattern. A lifeline is simply a length of smooth, contrasting thread run through all the live stitches with a tapestry needle. If you make a mistake, you can rip back confidently to the lifeline without losing your work. Thread your lifeline through the stitches while they are still on the needle to avoid accidentally dropping anything.

Work in good light. This sounds obvious, but lace knitting genuinely benefits from bright, clear lighting that allows you to see the individual stitches and yarn-overs clearly. Natural daylight is ideal, but a good lamp positioned above and slightly behind your work makes a real difference.

Finally, be gentle with yourself if you need to frog a section or start over. Every knitter, no matter how experienced, has ripped back lace at some point. It is part of the craft, and the shawl you end up with will be more beautiful for the care and attention you gave it.

Yarn Substitution Ideas

While the pattern was inspired by Panda-style yarns, the beauty of a free knitting pattern is the creative freedom it gives you to explore your own stash and preferences. Some wonderful yarn choices for this shawl include a merino and silk blend for beautiful sheen and drape, a superwash merino in fingering weight for easy care, a bamboo and cotton blend for a lighter, cooler summer shawl, or a mohair and silk lace weight held double for a dreamy, halo effect that gives the shawl an almost ethereal quality.

Whatever yarn you choose, make sure it has enough twist and stitch definition to show off the fan lace clearly. Very fluffy or heavily textured yarns can obscure the eyelet pattern and make the fans harder to see.

Sharing Your Finished Shawl

Once you have blocked your shawl and admired it thoroughly, please consider sharing your finished make with the knitting community online. You can tag your project on Ravelry, share photos on Instagram or Pinterest, or post it in any of the wonderful knitting groups on Facebook and Reddit. Seeing how different yarn choices, colors, and interpretations bring the same pattern to life in completely different ways is one of the great joys of sharing patterns freely, and your version might be exactly the inspiration someone else needs to cast on their own.

This Panda Knitted Fan Lace Shawl has