This pattern was created in collaboration with the amazing Selena Miskin of Sweater Sisters. Kits containing both this pattern and your choice of stunning yarn are available here: Sweater Sisters Kits

Dionysus, also known as Bacchus to the Romans, is the Greek god of wine, grapes, fertility, drama, and many other things. According to Greek mythology, he was the son of Zeus and Semele, a mortal woman. Dionysus taught himself to cultivate grapes and invented a way to turn them into a fantastic alcoholic beverage. He then traveled around spreading his newfound knowledge of grapes, vineyards, and delicious wine (and all the ecstasy and madness that comes with it). This invention earned him a spot among the twelve Olympian gods – the only one with half-mortal parentage. Wine was a winner then and that has not changed in the couple millennia since.

If you can’t tell, I’m a Greek mythology nerd and also a wine lover. I’ve had this shawl design brewing in my head since I started designing knitwear in 2016, but I hadn’t come across the perfect yarn to make it a reality – until I saw Fleece Artist’s Chinook base in their stunning Wine colorway, that is! I was so happy to get to knit my sample in this yarn – the color is rich and vibrant, and the yarn itself is squishy, soft, and has an excellent stitch definition.

I experimented with many different cable and lace patterns before I figured out just the right one to represent grapes, vines, and grape leaves (without requiring approximately 5 million bobbles). To accentuate the grapevine motif, I set it against diagonal lines of garter stitch meant to symbolize vineyard rows. I chose a simple selvedge stitch and garter border with matching decrease bind-off to add some subtle elegance the shawl.

Could you use a big, squishy shawl to keep you cozy during a vineyard visit or outdoor wine tasting? Grab a glass of wine and a few skeins of Fleece Artist Chinook or your favorite yarn, think of Dionysus, and give this shawl design a try. The cable and lace motif is fairly simple once you get used to it, and it is surrounded by lots of garter stitch, making this design a perfect project for wine tasting knitting. Even better, your finished work will always remind you of a delectable glass of wine.

Yarn Used in Sample:
Fleece Artist Chinook (Worsted; 100% superwash merino wool; 186 yd 170 m per 125 g skein), Wine; 3 skeins

Needles:
US 7 / 4.5 mm (or size needed to obtain gauge) 32” circular needles (meant for working flat)

Notions:
3 stitch markers, 2 cable needles, yarn needle

Yardage Estimates from Sample:
Shawl: 504 yd (461 m), 338 g (2.71 skeins)
Tassels: 19 yd (17 m), 13 g

Final Measurements:
Length (across widest part of triangle): 60” (152 cm)
Width (at tip of triangle): 28” (71 cm)

This pattern has been tech edited and test knit.

I would like to extend a very special thank you to:

• the wonderful Selena Miskin of Sweater Sisters for collaboration, yarn support, and photos,
• my fabulous technical editor, (MeanestMommy), and
• my clever and helpful test knitters: Lise (Liseannerowe), Julia (Fhorim), Metty (museroo), and Renate (rainbow1907).

Cheers!