California Dreaming is a beginner-friendly, top-down crescent shawl with a garter stitch body and a mesh lace border. The body is knit with a speckled fingering weight yarn in a luxurious blend of merino, silk, and cashmere. The border combines the same yarn with a heavenly mohair yarn to create an ethereal, light-as-air border. The crescent shape encourages the ends to curl and flutter in the breeze.

For me, the yarn is as special as the shawl itself. I received the skein as a gift of new friendship from Nicole, owner/dyer of Hue Loco, when we met at a shawl design class taught by Joji Locatelli. Everything about the class and these two women was inspiring. I brought the yarn and all that I learned from the class with me when my family took a short trip to California. While I finished the shawl back home in the cold and rainy Pacific Northwest, I couldn’t stop dreaming of the sun and fun of California. Even the brown specks in the yarn reminded me of the terracotta roofs that are so common there. Whether it’s California you’re dreaming of or some other cherished place, I hope you treasure this shawl and the memories you’ve knit into it.

Suggested Yarn:

• 1 skein of Luxe Sock by Hue Loco Yarns (70% merino, 20% silk, 10% cashmere; 437yd. (400m)/100 g (3.53 oz.) or approx. 437yd. (400m) of fingering weight yarn. The sample was made using the colorway Soho.

• 1 skein of Mohair Lace by Hue Loco Yarns (70% kid mohair, 30% silk; 458yd. (419 m)/50 g (1.76 oz.) or approx. 230yd. (210 m)/25 g of laceweight mohair yarn. The sample was made using the colorway Plume.

Needles: Size US 6 (4mm), 60-inch circular recommended

Notions: Tapestry needle, a split-ring stitch marker, blocking pins or wires.

Gauge 20 sts and 38 rows to 4’’ (10 cm) in garter stitch on US 6 (4 mm) needles after blocking. Gauge is given for Luxe Sock.

Finished Measurements: Wingspan – 76”/194cm, Center depth – 14”/35.6cm

Techniques: Crescent shawl shaping, easy lace, and garter stitch.

This pattern has been test knitted and tech edited.