WORSTED LOVE SALE! 30% off all of my worsted weight shawl and cowl patterns—including this one—through December 26, 2024. No coupon needed, as discount is taken at checkout.

Quaking Aspen is a top-down triangular shawl featuring a richly textured aspen leaf lace border, which appears like a window surrounded by garter stitch. I love the look of lace knitted in worsted weight. The decreases add an appealing three-dimensional quality to the thicker knitted fabric, making even simple lace patterns look dramatic. With Quaking Aspen, the prominent centered double decreases that shape the aspen leaf raise the bottom of the leaf up a bit while the tip dips down, forming a gentle undulation that adds additional texture reminiscent of the movement of quaking aspen leaves blowing in the wind. The columns of single stockinette stitches that intersect the garter stitch of the shawl body represent the thin, straight trunks of this beautiful and graceful tree.

Quaking Aspen works up very quickly—it might be one of the easiest and fastest lace shawls you’ve ever knitted! The stitch patterns are intuitive, simple to memorize and relaxing to knit. For lace newbies, Quaking Aspen could even be your first lace shawl, as the pattern is filled with detailed explanations, helpful hints and includes lots of video links that show all the stitches and techniques required to knit the shawl.

The Quaking Aspen pattern includes both charts and full written out instructions for those of you who prefer not to use charts.

While dimensions and yardage are provided for worsted weight, Quaking Aspen could effectively be worked in other yarn weights as well. The shawl is offered in two sizes—medium (pictured in periwinkle) and large (pictured in gold)—but instructions are included if you wish to customize the size even larger or smaller. Solid or tonal yarn made of natural fibers is recommended for best results.

SIZE AND YARDAGE: My medium periwinkle sample shawl pictured used about 500 yards (457 m) of Hazel Knits Cadence yarn (Terrywinkle colorway) and measures 62 x 27” (158 x 69 cm). The large gold sample shawl used about 670 yards (613 m) of De Rerum Natura Gilliatt (Genet colorway) and measures 72 x 32” (183 x 81 cm).

Tested shawls ranged from 490-520 yards (448-476 m) for the medium size and 630-670 yards (576-613 m) for the large size.

NEEDLE SIZE INFO: I used US 8/5.0mm needles for the shawl and then switched to US 10/6.0 needles for the bind off.