Sambucus Pi Shawl by Cath Ward

Sambucus Pi Shawl

Knitting
March 2025
Lace ?
US 2 - 2.75 mm
875 yards (800 m)
Adaptable
English
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Sambucus is a three-quarter pi shawl, incorporating some Estonian lace stitches. As I look out of my workroom window, I can see a Sambucus Nigra, or Black Elderflower, so it must have filtered into my brain. This shawl knitted flat from the centre outwards. All the lace stitches are on the right side and wrong side rows are purled. The pi shaping means there are only 4 rows of increases in the shawl. The same tree design is repeated throughout the piece and I’ve used a couple of Estonian twisted or gathered stitches that have appeared before in my designs. There are full descriptions of these in the Stitch Glossary at the end of the pattern. The size of the shawl can be modified in the final section Chart 4, but be sure you have enough yarn in reserve for the edging – at least 12g or even a mini-skein. My shawl is about 60cm deep after blocking.

Requirements
100g 800m/872yds of 2 ply/laceweight yarn, preferably in a solid or semi-sold colour with a high wool content.
2.75mm/US 2 circular needles or your preferred size for your yarn. It is good to have a shorter cable to start on and then a longer one as the shawl gets larger.
Wool needle to darn in ends.
Contrasting coloured thread for lifelines.
Stitch markers (optional).