As much as I liked the shawl design as a whole, I was not particularly fond of the “paw prints” Haapsalu, Estonian motif. Instead, I started with a crocheted doily pattern I had been eyeing for years by Josie Barbier (entitled Cockscomb) in the book, Favorite Throws and Table Toppers to Crochet by Carol Alexander and distributed by Annie’s Attic. Using a size 7 steel crochet hook and employing the “painted doily” technique, I crocheted the nucleus with 3 silk wrapped cotton/polyester sewing threads held together exchanging one thread at a time per 1-3 rounds to transition each color change. I tried to pick not only the obvious colors of antique Blue Willow china, but also the subtleties of grey, cream and aqua brought about by age, wear and the original copper plate transfer process.

I modified the doily pattern to achieve 144 stitches in the last round which was knit in mercerized, bedspread weight cotton, size 10. I then picked up the stitches with a size US 5 needle and knitted one round of (YO, K1) to double my stitches to 288 which is where the middle motif, “Slanting Twigs,” begins in the anniversary shawl pattern. I’ll be knitting the remainder of the pattern as written. I’m currently finishing the last two repeats of the “Willow Leaves” motif (my absolute favorite) in the white mercerized cotton. I will be including some transitional ecru and navy rounds before completing the lace border in white.