Moness Shawl

The design is inspired by autumnal silver birch trees (or ‘birk trees’ in Scots), one of the oldest native species in Scotland. It recalls their small fluttering leaves that turn golden yellow and brown in autumn, set against the birches’ slender silver- coloured trunks. These ideas translate into the shawl design through lace sections, interlaced broken rib motifs, small cables that add texture and the strong straight lines created by columns of stitches. 

It’s easy to imagine an idyllic scene where fallen birch leaves are kicked up into the air whilst the bare silver trunks remain standing. This kind of native woodland, such as that found at the Birks of Aberfeldy, in the Moness Glen, inspired Robert Burns to write the lyric of the same name in 1787.

CONSTRUCTION

Beginning each half with just a few stitches, this lace shawl is knitted from side to side and constructed in two halves which are then joined together after the knitting is complete.

YARN

The Silly Sheep Fibre Company, Lace Weight, (lace weight; approx. 265 m / 290 yds per 50 g skeins/cakes; 100% Shetland) 

4 x 50g skeins/cakes in Natural 

Approximate yardage required: 1060 m / 1160 yds

GAUGE, NEEDLES & NOTIONS 

Gauge

21 sts x 36 rows = 10 cm / 4” measured over lace pattern D, after blocking

Needles

3.5 mm straight needles or circular, or size needed to match gauge needles

Notions

Spare 4 mm needle for 3-needle cast off 

Spare needle (3.5 mm or smaller) / stitch holder / scrap yarn 

2 lockable stitch markers 

Cable needle (optional)

SIZE

One size 

Finished Depth: 61 cm / 24 in 

Finished Width: 172 cm / 67.5 in 

See schematic in photos for further details.

PATTERN ATTRIBUTES

chart, textured, three needle cast off, cables, eyelets, worked flat, written pattern

Pattern includes full written instructions (including chart equivalents), photographs, a schematic, has been professionally tech-edited and preview knitted.

Errata

For the Written Instructions for Pattern A (page 4), there is a small mistake in Row 10 - an extra k4 that shouldn’t be there. The correct version should read -  

Row 10: P2, k2 twice, p4, k2, p2, k2, p4, k6.