Johnston Shawl

The Johnston Shawl pattern is currently available from the Ditchling Museum website in printed booklet and downloadable pdf formats.

The ‘Mexican Arrow’ symbol used to be a familiar sight on the London Underground system, directing hundreds of thousands of travellers a day. Edward Johnston, the calligrapher behind behind the arrow’s design along with the London Underground’s familiar typeface (and a Ditchling resident), provides the inspiration for this scarf pattern.

The arrow was used on signs from the mid-1920s until the 1960s as a unique graphic tool and also added familiarity to the brand London Transport. From 1929-1931, four flights to the arrow were used. By c1932 it was used with three flights (used here in this pattern) and later decades saw the number gradually drop to two, then one and finally none. 

This shawl pattern gives instructions for three different sizes, using Isager Merilin yarn. It’s worked flat (ie, back and forth) in stocking-stitch, starting at the central point of the longest edge (at the top) and gradually increasing to a point by increasing 1 stitch at either end of both sides, and at either side of the central point of the RS (4 sitches increased on RS, 2 stitches increased on WS). The scarf is worked in stranded knitting colourwork. There is a 3 stitch stocking-stitch border on each side (forming the top edge of the scarf), and a striped garter-stitch border at the lower edge. 

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