I love Shakespeare comedies. Even though they are predictable, and (in the current liberated climate) dreadfully un-PC, there is just something universally appealing about the Bard’s sense of humor. Throw in a few cross-dressing women, add some gender-bending repartee and sneak in a practical joke or two and you just can’t go wrong.

I also love to make and wear well-fitting shawls. Unfortunately I find so many patterns (including several of my own) are beautiful when they are flat but put them on and they bunch and gather. If I spend untold hours creating a wrap, I want my work to actually show!

When I created the structure used for all the shawlettes in this series –a half-circle which conforms lovingly to the shoulders– I knew I needed to dedicate the series to Good Old Bill’s ladies. Like the comedies, the framework is the same for all the shawls but each has its own unique pattern.

Both written and charted formats are provided.

About Portia
Difficulty: Advanced

Portia’s father really did mean well. In an effort to save Portia from grasping fortune hunters after his death he devised a test for potential suitors to prove their worth. What he didn’t seem to realize is that Portia was perfectly capable of picking her own life partner. But, since she loved her father she complies with his wishes. When all works out well and her beloved Bassanio passes the test the young lovers are suddenly separated by Bassanio’s best friend’s legal crisis. Not willing to sit at home and wait for things to resolve Portia sets off in disguise and ultimately saves (through her sheer brilliance) the Merchant of Venice.

This shawlette is truly worthy of the clever Portia. The lace is the most complex in this series and there is something happening every row. The repeat is easier to follow using the charts, but regardless of the directions you use remember that a lifeline is your friend.