Kenroku-en, one of the most famous and beautiful of the many extraordinary gardens in Japan, is known for its elegant pine forest. To protect the trees from breaking under the heavy snows of the Kanazawa winters, gardeners have developed yukizuri—structures with hundreds of ropes, each one hand-tied to a single branch at one end and the central structure on the other—to support the delicate limbs. Not content merely to protect the trees until the next spring, the yukizuri are erected each fall with strings of lights along every rope; they stand through the dark winter months as bright points of beauty and interest in their own right.

Our Yukizuri is a rectangular stole worked on the long edge in one piece. The primary lace motif echoes the elegant trees and delicate support structures of Kenroku-en in winter, with the last flurries of snow dancing around before spring. The outer border, worked in an open mesh variation on garter stitch, references the heavier snows against which the yukizuri protects.

The pattern soars in Why Knot Fibers’ Swoon, a cashmere blend lace-weight yarn that combines luster, strength, and warmth with an enviable delicacy, while its hint of sparkle evokes the lights of the yukizuri and snow glinting in the sun. Crafted to support warmth and elegance, Yukizuri is the best of both luxury and beautiful function.

Yarn: 1 skein of Why Knot Fibers’ Swoon, a very aptly named cashmere blend with a hint of sparkle, or approximately 800 yards of lace-weight yarn.

Gauge: 23 s. and 28 r. to 4” (10cm), knit flat in stockinette stitch and blocked.

Notions: Stitch markers and a tapestry needle. The markers aren’t strictly necessary, but I find having a few of them can make it easier to keep track of the pattern when working on the long edge.

Techniques: Knit, purl, knit through the back loop, yarn over, double yarn over, knit two together, slip-slip-knit, and slip one/knit two together/pass the slipped stitch over.

Instructions: Yukizuri includes both charted and fully written-out instructions.