Some of the most engaging projects mix stretches of easy knitting with enough fancy bits to hold your attention, and Floraline is just such a pattern. The shawl begins with a garter tab cast-on at the center of the top edge and grows outward, with increases along the edges and central spine forming the triangle shape. After a stretch of stockinette come three swaths of delicate double-sided lace (written and charted), each wider than the last. Finish it off with a picot bind-off and you have an eye-catching finished piece without the effort of all-over lace.

Floraline is also delightfully flexible. Use the tips in the pattern to alter the shawl size or swap out the picot bind-off for something less fancy. Also included is a link to a free weight-based planning worksheet to help you use more than one color in your version. Let your creativity loose!

Why Floraline? Leaves are some of my favorite lace stitches, and Floraline’s motif is no exception. “Flora” is meant to capture the glory of spring: a sun-dappled shady spot under a favorite tree, buds and blooms bursting forth as summer approaches, vines growing over a lovely old stone wall. The “-line” at the end is used in English to mean “relating to.”

SIZE
Wingspan: 72” / 183 cm
Center Depth: 36” / 91.5 cm
Measurements taken after firm blocking. Shawl will shrink some with wear.

YARN
Shown in Essence of Autumn Zephyr (75% Merino, 15% Cashmere, 10% Silk; 420 yd / 384 m per 115 g / 4 oz skein), 2 skeins, in Nectar

To substitute another fingering-weight yarn: approximately 880 yd / 805 m of fingering weight yarn; this number includes a 10% buffer above what the sample used to accommodate different bases and gauges. The pattern includes tips for modifying the size to use more or less yarn.

NEEDLES
US 5 3.75 mm circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge; 40” 100 cm or longer are recommended to accommodate large number of stitches

NOTIONS
1 stitch marker, tapestry needle

GAUGE
18 stitches and 33 rows = 4” 10 cm in stockinette stitch after firm blocking. Gauge is not crucial but will affect yardage used and final dimensions.

TECHNIQUES
Single increases, single and double decreases, yarn overs, twisted stitches, lace with no rest rows, garter tab cast-on, picot bind-off. Pattern includes links to more information about required stitches and techniques.

Here’s how testers described Floraline: fun, elegant, beautiful, entertaining, engaging, absorbing, impressive, clear, relaxed, intuitive, therapeutic, creative, satisfying, unique, enjoyable, pleasurable, flexible, fulfilling, varied, comfy, meditative, interesting, challenging, extraordinary, intricate, intense, fabulous, “five stars,” “clearly written,” “absolutely stunning,” “worth repeating,“ “easier to knit than it looks,” “well worth the effort,” and “a good mixture of easy stitches and more challenging lace sections.”

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