This shawl design was inspired by the incredibly soft wooliness of Quince & Company’s owl yarn. I ordered it as a special treat to myself, and once I had it in hand, I knew it had to become something cozy and delightful. As I started swatching and sketching, it became apparent to me that this yarn wanted to become something great, and it reminded me of autumn walks in the woods. I developed an acorn lace motif, and added a leaf motif to provide a slight scallop on the curved edge of the shawl.

This shawl is knitted side to side, and begins with a garter stitch border. The pattern is written for one size, which is shown in the photos on several ladies of varying size, height, and build. Like the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, this wrap was delightful on every one of us! It can be worn as a cozy scarf, wrapped around the neck with loose ends, as an infinity scarf, and as a wrap in a traditional “heart warmer” style. (The heart warmer is a traditional shawl or wrap brought to the United States by northern European immigrants and was popular on the frontier for its ability to stay put while the wearer tended to chores). However, notes are provided to make the shawl slightly smaller or shorter for those who wish to have a more delicate garment.

Though the body of this shawl is worked in garter stitch (knitting every row), there are a number of lace stitches and techniques used in the lace borders. This is a wonderful beginning lace project for someone wishing to try something new, and works up surprisingly fast. It would be a delightfully cozy gift, and is also a hard-working staple accessory for any shawl and scarf wearer!