In autumn the geese and ducks on the river call a truce. As the temperatures drop and the water levels fall, the competing flocks grudgingly share space. These odd mixed flocks will remain all winter, as this region is at the northern edge of the winter range for both species. While the skeining flocks of geese and whistling mobs of ducks always fly separately, in the gathering of winter’s darkness they swim and feed together.

This shawl is worked from one long edge to the other, with narrow wedges worked on either side of the middle panel to create a shallow, flat-bottomed V shape. The first section is patterned with the V shapes of flying geese, with the first frosts of the river between them. The second section is patterned with the foaming waters of the river as they fall over the dams and weirs that control flood levels through the park.

Materials Needed:

• 3.25mm (US 3) needles or size needed for a pleasing fabric
• @900 yards of lace weight yarn
• cable needle
• four stitch markers
• darning needle for weaving in ends

Optional:

• An additional 30 stitch markers for motif repeats
• a second colour to work part two of the pattern if desired: for a 2-colour shawl you will need @510-555 yards of body colour and @315-345 yards of border colour.

Instructions
Instructions are both Fully Written and Fully Charted, except for the cast on instructions which are written only.

This pattern requires advanced chart reading skills: you will need to be able to work from five separate charts across all rows. The written instructions incorporate all the charts in their proper sequence.

A note on gauge:
I do not consider gauge to be particularly important for a shawl; instead, ensure you have a fabric that you prefer.