I’ve been traveling around the country with my husband in our camper for the past two years. We usually have one or two major goals to accomplish in our annual travel plan and fill in the details as we go along. This past year one of our goals was to reach Colorado by early summer to visit with friends and family. We didn’t have anything planned after we left Colorado, so we set our sights on New Mexico – a state we had barely explored on our westward journey. We both fell in love with the state and ended up spending most of our summer in the Land of Enchantment. The spectacular scenery, quaint small towns, ranges in elevation, and unmistakable pioneer frontier atmosphere all added up to a truly magical experience. We wandered aimlessly around New Mexico, hopping from town to town and state park to state park, only choosing the very next stop on our agenda.

We are all influenced by our experiences and our memories. The Arrows Shawl is an expression of my time in New Mexico – a reminder of the erratic way we wandered the state, carried along on the southwestern wind, following only whatever directions were necessary to guide us to our next destination. We didn’t necessarily have a plan for where we were going that summer, but we ended up exactly where we wanted to be. Maybe the Arrows Shawl can help point the way to your next adventure.

Pattern Information

This is a side-to-side shawl worked flat. It includes written and charted instructions as well as a photo tutorial for making the tassels. It includes knits, purls, slip stitches, increases, decreases, and tassel making. Stitch counts are included for every odd row so you can be confident of your work and see any mistakes quickly. Gauge is important because it impact the amount of yarn used. The pattern has been tech edited and test knit.

Finished Measurements: 63”/160cm wingspan x 25”/63 center depth (Measurements taken after blocking without tassels)

Yarn: 198g/500yds (7oz/457m) DK Weight to make shawl and tassels

Suggested Yarn: Tobacco Root Valley by Ranching Tradition Fiber (DK 100% Homegrown Wool: 250yds/228.5m per 3.5oz/99g skein). Color: Larkspur, 2 skeins

Gauge: 17 sts x 26 rows = 4” (10cm) in St st, after blocking
16 sts x 25 rows = 4” (10cm) in Arrows Stitch, after blocking

Needles: US 7 (4.50mm) circular needles, 32” (80cm) length, or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, and a 3.5” piece of cardboard

This pattern has been tech edited by Susan Hilsop, sue.cat111@gmail.com