Sometimes all it takes to heal a place is to gently step away. Ecologists call this process “rewilding” and it is transforming landscapes around the world. Rewilding means stopping the bustle of human activity and giving the land back to itself, allowing the earth and the creatures that live there to get on with the work of growth, and balance and restoration. It is a beautiful concept and one that is doing so much for biodiversity and the health of our wildlife.

It’s also a lovely concept for people: stepping away from the busyness of our lives and just letting ourselves be for a little while. That’s one of the greatest gifts we can get from a creative retreat: the chance to rewild our souls, just a little bit.

The Rewilding Shawl was created for the Autumn 2018 Curious Handmade Country House Retreat. As with many of the shawls I create for retreat knitting, this asymmetrical design features large comforting sections of garter: my ultimate “just be” stitch. A simple eyelet lace section adds a sprig of pretty detail, and the shawl is finished with fun, boho tassels. This is a light shawl, a perfect transitional piece for those in-between seasons.

The Rewilding Shawl was designed using the stunning Meadow from The Fibre Co, our generous retreat sponsor once again. This is an incredibly luxurious yarn, a blend of merino, baby llama, silk, and linen. It creates a very sophisticated, drapey fabric, but the little flecks running through the yarn give it a gently rustic, untamed character, just perfect for this design.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
137cm (54”) across top edge
102cm (40”) across cast off end

YARN
The Fibre Co. Meadow
40% Merino wool, 25% baby llama, 20% silk, 15% linen; 498m/545yds per 100g skein, 1 x 100g skeins,
Colour: Ladyslipper

ACTUAL YARN USED:
Heavy lace weight/ light fingering 374m/409yds; 75g

NEEDLES
4mm (US 6), 100cm (40”) long circular needles (or size to obtain gauge)

NOTIONS
Tapestry needle
1 Removable stitch marker

GAUGE
17sts/32 rows = 10cm (4”)
in garter stitch after blocking