“But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy.” ~ Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Act 3, Scene 2.

Macbeth is one of the most psychological, deeply thought-provoking plays ever written. The play deals with the most primal parts of the human psyche and because of that, you realize how truly human and mirror-like Macbeth really is. The first time you read this play you think how can one man be/become such a monster? But upon deeper reflection and contemplation, the play begins to shock us with how we are all Macbeth in a way. This is where the play gains its potency and power.

We tend to think ourselves better than the characters portrayed in the play, but in reality we are no better off than Macbeth. We all crave power and control and would do anything to gain it. Is Macbeth any more of a monster than the “modern” humans we claim to be?

This triangular shawl was inspired by one of the most famous Scottish cultural heritage items: the tartan. The woven bands of color on one side of the shawl are a highly stylized homage to plaid and dissipate into the stripes on the second half of the shawl. I tend to view this as the tartan of Macbeth coming undone with his villainy and how his own morals fray slowly throughout the play.

Size: 48 inches along top edge X 18 inches along center line. This is the size of the blocked/photographed sample and due to blocking differences, gauge differences, and/or knitter’s preferences, your shawl may be a different size.

Recommended yarn: Two colors of fingering weight yarn in semi-solid/tonal/solid colors. Sample used Sun Valley Fibers MCS (75% Merino/10% Cashmere/15% Silk; 400 yds per skein) in the color ways Kensington (A) and Hello Sunshine (B)

Yardage: Color A: 300 yds/ 275 m; Color B: 250 yds/ 229 m

Needles: 32” US Size 5 / 3.75 mm circular needles.

Gauge: 6 sts to the inch in garter stitch

Notions: 2 st markers, scissors, tapestry needle.