SON OF DOG DAYS I: SOUVENIR

This pattern is designed to work up into a shawl of any size you prefer, from a summer-project-friendlier kerchief to a full-sized wrap!

Souvenir was inspired by the odd-but-precious post-wool-festival skein, although in the end I did not use the actual inspiration-yarn. It pairs a textured repeat with top-down construction for a satisfying project you can knit with nearly any (reasonable) yardage.

The sample shown was knit from about 100 yards of 12 WPI handspun Corriedale wool. This size works as a neckerchief or a head scarf for an average adult. You’ll probably want a 440-yard skein to knit a shawlette, and at least 600 yards to knit a full-sized shawl.

These textured stitch motifs should look good with self-striping yarns, like the chain-ply handspun shown, kettle-dyed/tonal yarns, or solids that show off stitch patterns well. However, it does not, in my experience, look very good in a marled yarn.

Materials:
100-600 yds of handspun chain-plied 12-14 WPI merino wool; shown in Wool for the Dame Corriedale in unknown colorway. (Don’t spin or don’t want to? Substitute a self-striping sportweight, such as Noro Silk Garden Sock.)
1 24”+ circular needle in US5/3.75mm, or size needed for gauge.
Optional: two ⅝-¾” buttons
Optional: sewing needle & thread for buttons

Gauge:
Gauge is 10 sts and 18 rows over 2“/5cm in pattern as written, blocked. Please be sure to check your gauge. Gauge matters for yardage requirements and finished dimensions, but those are left deliberately up to the individual knitter for this project.

One last thing—the PDF includes photo instructions for a removable button that’s nice to have with the kerchief version. It works with any size, though.

Errata applies to the first edition, so here’s the link.