I apologize in advance for the rambling introduction to this pattern. Even though I am often brief and to the point, sometimes I get wordy!
I don’t think most knitters realize how slow my turnaround for work actually is… In most cases, the process that eventually ends with me publishing a pattern in a specific yarn starts many months (often years) before you see the results. In this case, this story started 2 years ago.
It was at that time when Mónica, the dyer whose yarn I used for this design (@yarnexperiments), shared with me that she had been inspired by my work and my journals, and she decided to create a whole collection of colors based on my country: Argentina.
When we met in person and she gifted me two of these skeins, I wanted to design something with them right away, but my process takes so long… Time went by and months and months passed but finally here it is, my Circle of Friends shawl.
The name comes from how much this yarn and design mean to me. I sometimes feel very lonely and vulnerable… And little gestures that come from sincere people really make me want to celebrate friendship and company. Especially those gestures that celebrate who I am and where I come from.
During the past few years, I have come to value friendship very much. Friendship to be found in many places: in old life-long buddies, but also in casual encounters around the world. Unexpected friendships, even brief moments of comfort and confidence that warm my heart. Often I see myself in the world taking part in a circle of friends. Some of its members are always there, some explore other circles and come back.
I don’t think of friendship as a steady thing that’s always there and the same. I think of friendship as something dynamic that dances and moves. I don’t feel sad for friends who have left as I believe there is always a time for us to meet again, possibly in a different circle of friends. This concept of circles of friends is manifested in the design specifically around the shawl’s edge
This design is a celebration of all the friends I’ve found through my life as a knitter and all the friends I’ve yet to find!

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Approx. 70 inches (175cm) from side to side and 16 inches (40 cm) from top to bottom at deepest point (after blocking).

MATERIALS
Yarn: 2 skeins of Monkey Sock by Yarn Experiments (75% Merino / 25% Nylon; 462 yards 420m/100g) or approx. 880 yards (800 m) of fingering weight yarn in 2 different colors. You will need approx. 440 yards (400 m) in color 1 and 440 yards (400m) in Color 2. The sample was made using colorways ’Merienda’ (color 1); and ‘Rosario’ (color 2).
Needles: US 6 (4 mm) needles.
Other notions: Tapestry needle, a split ring st marker, blocking pins or wires.

GAUGE
19 sts and 38 rows to 4” (10cm) in garter st on US 6 (4 mm) needles after blocking.