The Common Blue butterfly the inspiration for this asymmetric shawl, the most widespread blue butterfly in Britain, found in heathland, woodland, grassy meadows, parks and coastal dunes.

The male has bright blue wings with a brown border and white fringe, while the female is more secretive, being primarily brown with a blue dusting and orange spots on the underside of her hindwings. Her upperwings vary from almost completely brown in southern England to predominately blue in western Ireland and Scotland.

Version 1 of the shawl (made in Iolair Yarn) captures Common Blues in flight: glances of orange, brown and blue. Version 2 (made in Woollenflower Twig yarn) is inspired by the colours of Scottish hills covered in heather. But the shawl can also be knitted in different colours: let your imagination spread its wings by choosing your favourite mini skeins to create your own meadow full of butterflies.

The Common Blue Shawl is knitted in rows sideways, starting at a narrow point and increasing in width and length to the other end.

SIZE

Measurements are approximate and are given at widest points, after blocking.

Finished width 131 cm / 51.5 in Finished depth 50.5 cm / 20 in

YARN

MC: Iolair Yarn Luing, fingering 4-ply weight, 70% baby alpaca, 20% silk, 10% cashmere, 400 m / 437 yds per 100g

2 skeins

OR
Woollenflower Twig, light f ingering weight, 50% baby alpaca, 25% linen, 25% silk, 600 m / 656 yds per 100g

1 skein

CC1 – CC5: Set of 5 Iolair Yarn Luing miniskeins, 80 m / 87 yds per 20g

OR
Set of 5 Woollenflower Twig mini skeins, 120 m /131 yds per 20g

5 mini skeins

MC: Howlite CC1 – CC5: Common Blue miniskein set Version 2 MC: Sumac CC1 – CC5: Twig miniskein set: Cochineal, Cow Parsley, Madder, Nettle & Oak

OR in fingering (light fingering) weight yarn which knits to the specified gauge and has similar stitch definition and drape.

APPROXIMATE YARDAGE REQUIRED

MC: 600 m / 656 yds
CC1: 24 m / 26 yds
CC2: 32 m / 35 yds
CC3: 40 m / 44 yds
CC4: 48 m / 53 yds
CC5: 56 m / 61 yds

TECHNIQUES

I-cord cast on, slipped stitches, increases, decreases, I-cord bind off, reading charts (optional)