Growing Native

Early last year I read a book on the importance of native plants to an ecosystem, and since then I’ve been diligently working to plant a wide variety of natives in my yard. I’ve noticed an amazing increase in the number of birds, insects, and butterflies spending time around my home since starting this project, and I am now fully committed to trying to increase the biodiversity on my small plot of land by slowly replacing areas of grass with various native plants. 

The leafy and vine-like laces on this rectangular shawl are both distinct and harmonious, just like my native plants. The simple, four-row repeat in the middle of the shawl keeps your eye moving, admiring the time you have spent making something beautiful, while the larger flower-tipped stems on each edge offer a lovely counterpoint. By starting with a provisional cast on, both ends of the shawl are identical without the need for any grafting. 

Yarn

Miss Babs Avon 

85% Merino wool, 15% silk; 490 yd/3.5 oz (448 m/100 g) skeins

2 skeins, shown in Golden Anniversary

Or approximately 980 yards/896 meters of light fingering weight yarn.

Finished Measurements

Length: 70”/175 cm

Depth: 15½”/39 cm

Needles 

US 4 [3.5 mm] circular needle, 24”/60cm, or size to obtain gauge

Gauge

Blocked: 27 stitches and 30 rows = 4”/10 cm square in Climbing Vine Lace pattern.

Blocked: 25 stitches and 32 rows = 4”/10 cm square in Leafy Edge Lace pattern.

Gauge is not critical for this project but will affect yardage and finished size if different from above.

Notions

Crochet hook

Scrap yarn

Stitch markers (optional, to mark garter edges and/or lace repeats)

Tapestry needle

This pattern has been professionally tech edited.