Astera Shawl

Astera Shawl draws its initial inspiration from the bold and intricate geometrical beauty of layered petals of zinnias - a part of Asteraceae flower family. I love how each layer builds onto the next, creating depth through repetition rather than excess. The contrast between soft curving of petal rows in the pattern and the underlying symmetry of mitered squares gives the design its restrained, quiet elegance. While I am often inspired by plants, I wanted to create a design that is more subtle and timeless in its rendering of natural shapes found in flora.

Astera is a symmetrical, modular construction shawl of a wide, shallow triangular shape, featuring an edge comprised of mitered squares in a slip stitch colourwork, a simple moss stitch body in main colour and a twisted knit stitch ribbing in one of the contrast colours.

For this design I have created 2 samples:

Sample 1 is worked with two yarns held together: a strand of laceweight wool in a single colour and a strand of laceweight mohair silk in three colours alternating throughout the project. Sample 2 is worked in a single strand of fingering weight yarn.

The pattern includes full written instructions with supplementary charts and work process illustrations.

SIZE

Sample 1

Wingspan: 96.5” / 245 cm Depth: 25” / 64 cm Ribbing Edge: 55” / 140 cm

Sample 2

Wingspan: 88” / 225 cm Depth: 23.5” / 60 cm Ribbing Edge: 50” / 127 cm

YARN

Sample 1

MC (laceweight wool): Sonder Yarn Co. Haven (75% Falkland Merino, 12.5% BFL, 12.5% Masham. 711 yds / 650 m, 100g)

MC colourway: Offline

CCs (laceweight mohair): Sonder Yarn Co. Halo (72% Mohair, 28% Silk. 459 yds / 420 m. 50g)

CC1 colourway: Hibou

CC2 colourway: Cirque

CC3 colourway: Cathédrale

Sample 2

MC and CCs(fingering weight yarn): Sonder Yarn Co. Fleece & Flax (75% Bluefaced Leicester, 25% Linen. 395 m / 432 yds, 100g)

MC colourway: Catnap

CC1 colourway: Dirty Weekend

CC2 colourway: Under the Duvet

YARDAGE

Sample 1

MC: 1422 yds / 1300 m

CC1: 897 yds / 820 m

CC2: 165 yds / 150 m

CC3: 250 yds / 220 m

Sample 2

MC: 864 yds / 790 m

CC1: 126 yds / 115 m

CC2: 312 yds / 285 m

NEEDLES

Two US 2.5 (3 mm) dpns, optional, only if you prefer to work small areas of flat knitting with dpns instead of circular needles

Two US 4 (3.5 mm) dpns, preferably with needle stoppers to avoid dropping stitches

One US 2.5 (3 mm) circular needle with 24” (60 cm) cable

One US 2.5 (3 mm) circular needle with 40” (100 cm) cable

GAUGE

27 sts x 36 rows = 4” (10 cm) worked flat in moss (main body) st with US 2.5 (3 mm) needles after wet blocking.