Picnic Perfect

Lazy times in days gone by picnicking at the shore, everyone is dressed in white except that one woman who invariably wears a pastel floral print dress, cabled V-neck pullovers with a navy blue line to set off the neck, big picnic baskets, sun hats, fine china and crystal, boats with pennants flying, reading slim volumes of poetry, a glass of wine, napping under a tree, children watching bumble bees in the grass: all this was my inspiration for this design.

The lace and cable portion is knit first, increasing to full width from a very small provisional cast on, then decreasing to a point. Stitches are then picked up along the edge, and it’s shaped into a crescent with garter stitch short rows. Instructions are included for practicing the bees before casting on for the shawl.

• Yarn: light fingering weight; 340 [410, 475, 550] yards.
• Model: Wooly Wonka Nimue Sock in True Blood in second to the largest size with 1 hank, and about 4 yards remaining; 435 yards in 100 grams; 50% merino wool, 50% silk.
• Gauge: 20 sts and 30 rows to 4 inches in stitch pattern.
• Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) needles with sharp points.
• Finished size: 54.25 x 10.25 [61.75 x 10.75, 69 x 11.25, 76.25 x 11.75] inches.
• Stitch instructions: Charted and written.