Web-Letter, Issue 37 – Floral Fantasy Shawl Lace knitting, like heel turning, can become compelling. Though I still find it daunting to work with fine lace weight yarn, I love the results—a fabric so light and delicate that it's almost magical. I recently knitted a little lace shawl in our ethereal Silky Alpaca Lace (see Web-Letter 24), and whenever I look at it, I can’t believe that I’ve made something so intricate and pretty. But lace needn’t be worked in yarn as fine as cobweb to be beautiful. Madison St, John of Rancho Dominguez, California, designed for us a lovely shawl in Charmed, one of our cashmere yarns. Its lovely drape and softness makes for a caressing shawl to cover the shoulders, but the heft of the worsted weight yarn transforms the delicate windings of the lace pattern she used into a bold and striking statement. The Floral Fantasy shawl would make a great Mother's Day gift. Note: I apologize—we photographed Kim, our model, wearing the shawl with the wrong side out! Just shows you how lovely this shawl is—it looks good either way!
The Story: Madison taught herself to knit three years ago. Her first projects were knitted bandages for donation to a leper colony. Her most recent project, the shawl you see here, is the latest in a series of lace shawls numbering 147. Madison didn’t become a master lace knitter overnight, but almost. After the bandages, she progressed to a pair of garter-stitch slippers—a project she made in a formal knitting class for beginners. The slippers turned out fine, although she says, she failed in her efforts to make a decent pom-pom. Her slippers had to leave class unadorned.  Shortly after the slipper project, Madison signed up for a class in lace knitting. The class project this time was the Sheep Shawl from Fiber Trends. That shawl was Number 1 and the beginning of her love affair with knitted lace.    Read more about Madison St, John. The Yarn: Charmed — 85% cashmere, 15% mohair Charmed is a luxurious combination of 85% cashmere and 15% mohair. Cashmere as the main component makes the yarn lightweight, warm, and soft. The added mohair increases the yarns durability while adding a slight sheen.  This blend makes for a yarn that is suitable for many types of garments and accessories.  The Stitches: Madison's shawl is designed to be symmetrical so as it lies over your shoulders the stitch pattern on both sides flows in the same direction. To do this she created the shawl in two (almost) identical pieces by casting on at the bottom edges of the shawl and then working them toward the center. She then joined the pieces in the center using the kitchener stitch. Learn how to graft using the kitchener stitch.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable Floral Fantasy Shawl pattern.
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