This lightweight shawl is inspired by the aspen tree and its magical, dancing leaves. Three distinct stitch motifs are featured, separated by rows of garter stitch, for a nice variety of techniques and textures. The first section (A) uses cables and twisted stitches to echo branches; the second section (B) features a lace motif reminiscent of foliage; and the third section (C) is made of up a large-scale eyelet leaves. The cables and lace keep you sharp while the garter stitch rows give your mind a chance to unwind.

YARN NOTES
The recommended yarn is a single-ply, woolen-spun fingering weight wool or wool blend. You’ll want something with a good balance between drape, stitch definition, and loft. Combined with the lacey construction, this type of yarn makes for an airy yet squishy shawl that can transition well between the seasons. But really a wide variety of fingering weight yarns could work well. One thing to keep in mind is that the shawl is knit at a very open gauge, so choosing a slippery yarn may cause the shawl to grow a bit more with wear than a rustic wool would.

The sample used almost exactly two skeins of Hinterland Dusk in colorway Truffle (order the third skein to be safe!). This yarn is a blend of Rambouillet and Alpaca.

CONSTRUCTION
The design is knitted flat in “traditional” construction, meaning it’s worked from the top down, beginning from the center. You start with a small “garter tab” and the shawl expands outwards from there. The instructions include both charted and full, row-by-row written instructions as well as video links, photo tutorials, and lots of pictures of the sample to guide you through. The pattern is written in the hopes of making top-down shawl construction approachable even for those who’ve never tried it before. The shawl is finished with the Icelandic bind off, for an invisible and stretchy edge.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
After blocking the shawl measures approximately 66” (168 cm) across the wingspan, and 31” (79 cm) in depth. Your finished measurements may vary depending on your yarn choice and personal tension. The size is large enough to use draped over a dress for a cover-up on cool summer nights, yet small enough to wrap around your neck when you want to feel cozy when the snow flies.

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS

• 32” (80 cm) or longer circular needle size US 5 (3.75 mm) - sample used this size throughout
• Optional: 32” (80 cm) or longer circular needle 1-2 sizes larger for Section A and/or 1-2 sizes smaller for Sections B, C, if needed to keep stitch gauge consistent between sections
• 5 stitch markers
• cable needle
• tapestry needle or crochet hook (for weaving ends during finishing)

GAUGES
Measured after wet blocking, using the same needle size for each:

• Stockinette Stitch, Section A, and Section C: 18 sts and 31 rows = 4” (10cm)
• Garter Stitch: 18 sts and 44 rows = 4” (10 cm)
• Section B: 18 sts and 27 rows = 4” (10cm)

DIFFICULTY
This design is generally appropriate for intermediate and above knitters, or those willing to do some learning as they go. The pattern includes photo tutorials, schematics, notes, and links to guide you through the sections. The hope is to make the project manageable even for those with less experience in the techniques.

FEATURED TECHNIQUES

• garter tab
• twists and simple cables
• lace knitting
• yarn overs
• single and double decreases
• Icelandic bind off