Wrap yourself is lovely tree-inspired lace!


Knit from the top downward, Tree Hugging is a classic triangular shaped shawl.

Materials

• 2 skeins of Vintage Purls Superstar in main colour (70% Polwarth, 20% Silk, 10% Merino; 380 metres / 415 yards per 100g skein).
• 1 skein of Vintage Purls Superstar (70% Polwarth, 20% Silk, 10% Merino; 380 metres / 415 yards per 100g skein) OR 1 ball of Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball 100 (100% Merino; 400 metres / 437 yards per 100g ball) in contrast colour.
• 4.00mm, 80cm long circular needles or size that gives you gauge of 22 stitches and 36 rows over 10cm (4”) in stocking stitch. Gauge is not critical, but be aware that variations in gauge affect yarn usage and the size of the finished object.
• 2 stitch markers.

Size Modifications
You can work this shawl as large as you like (or more practically, as large as your available yarn allows). The two shawls shown here are the minimum and maximum sizes achievable with the materials listed above.

The smaller green and natural coloured shawl uses only a little more than one skein of main colour. It measures 139cm wide and 62cm deep at centre after blocking (it was allowed to relax for several days before measurements were taken). It is knit in Vintage Purls Superstar, the main colour is Natural Talent, the contrast is Rana.

The grey and autumnal-gradient shawl uses all of the available materials and measures 195cm wide and 95cm deep at centre after blocking (it too was allowed to relax before measurements were taken). It uses Vintage Purls Superstar (colour: Nunki) for the main colour and Zauberball 100 (colour: Für Louise, 2247) for the contrast.

It would be possible to make a smaller shawl using a single skein of main colour measuring approximately 130cm wide and 55cm deep.

Instructions
Lace instructions are provided both in chart and written form - use whichever you prefer.

The very start of this shawl employs a seamless Turkish Cast On and Magic Loop for a few rows. But, if you are not fussy about the appearance of the top centre few stitches of your shawl, you can use a regular cast on instead.

Colour Combinations
Trees come in all sorts of colours, even if you wish to stick with a literal tree-inspired colour combination, there are lots of options.

Tree Tops:
Pink spring blossom, bright green new leaves of spring; red, copper, gold and brown tones of autumn leaves. Maple reds, purples and greens.

Trunks:
Browns, greys, dark reds, moss-covered greens.

But you might prefer fantasy trees. Stripes are a great way to use up ends of yarn. Try a full rainbow, or a wild mix of everything you have. Your only limitation is your imagination.

This design debuted in the Vintage Purls Christmas Club 2016.