Ages ago I promised a friend of mine a charity pattern. Sadly this pattern is still hibernating in a pile of half finished pattern drafts.
So when I came up with the basic design for this shawl on the way to his first solo gig I decided to make it a free, donate as you like, charity and awareness pattern. :)

My friend was treated with topical steroids for a skin condition. Topical steroids are highly potent medical drugs, which sadly have a certain risk of addiction and side effects.
His skin problems only got worse over time, until he realized he had a Topical Steroid Addiction.
He stopped using topical steroids and went into Topical Steroid Withdrawal over a year ago.
By now he is doing quite well again and only has minor re-occurrences under particular circumstances.
The whole problematic of Topical Steroid Addiction and Topical Steroid Withdrawal
is sometimes also referred to as Red Skin Syndrome. You can find more information on the topic at the website of the International Topical Steroid Addiction Network.
www.itsan.org

Please consider donating: www.itsan.org/donate/

The pattern itself is a light and airy all-round shawl for everyday use, or for those ‘not quite cold’ days in spring and autumn. It contains simple geometric shapes and is completely reversible, making it ideal for men as well as women. I designed the pattern to go with my gorgeous skein of Marina by Manos del Uruguay in colorway Piedra. Exactly this subtle grey, green and purple mixture in combination with the cave-like appearance of the yarn overs in the structured lace motive is what gave this pattern its name.

Used techniques are knit, purl, pick up and knit, yarn over, and lifted increases.

The shawl can be knit with any weight yarn on needles producing a slightly lose stockinette structure.

Sample is done with 50g (1.76oz), or 400m (470yd) Marina by Manos del Uruguay on 4mm (US 6) needles.

Slightly blocked the shawl is 133cm (52.4in) along the top edge and 42cm (16.5in) from Cast On to tip.

BTW my friend is a very talented and varied musician, going under the artist name of “Sunfire” and is currently releasing his debut album “Sunfire”. Look him up on facebook if you like, he is totally worth it. :)