The “inspiration” for this was a “kolam” (pronounced kõlaṁ) which is a form of painting that is drawn by using rice powder/chalk/chalk powder/white rock powder. A young girl was copying her mum, and her efforts, I thought were ‘photograph-worthy’ :)
Somehow, I saw a ‘lotus’ in this kolam.. the flower, buds and all !!

Started off as a simple ‘just lotus flower’.. and then turned into something ‘different’ ;)

A mildly complicated pattern, not by virtue of the sts used, but the way they are ‘connected’!

This pattern is worked from the top down (neck / shoulder - down). With this wrap, we will attempt to make a set of buds, lotus flower in bloom, as well as the gorgeous “seed head” of the super lotus flower.
The ‘seed heads’ will be built as a long ‘hanging’ border which will be an extension off the last row and ‘built-in’ along with the last rows.(i.e no fasten off & weaving-in with each extension).

The name for this wrap comes from the Hindi word for Lotus : कमल kamala / kamal (pronounced “ka – mull”)

This pattern is also available at http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/accessory/kamal...

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This pattern has been tested using :
a) 3 ply light fingering acrylic yarn, Oswal Mills ; 100 gm/570 yds ; 4mm crochet hook ;

b) Southwest Trading Co. Tofutsies , 424.3 meters ; G (US) ; : Finished size: 19” x 35” (not counting seed heads, which were 11” long)
Gauge : 3 tr = 1-3/4 in (long); 4 tr = 1-1/2 in (wide) ;
Comments :: For the most part, yes. I found the (to) direction very unlike standard US terminology. The photos were very helpful as a reality check ; took about a week of a couple of hours a day. I treble quickly!
Skill level by tester : Advanced

c) : Newton’s Yarn Country Flash…not in Ravelry database. Acrylic with a metallic thread, probably fingering weight ; 100 gm, 418 yds ; Hooks: used 4.0 hook for most of the shawl, used 5.0 only to chain the stems of lotus buds
Gauge: 6 rows is 4 inches….. except on trc3tog, where 6 rows is 4.5 inches
Comments :Final version is good , The pics, charts and annotated instructions definitely help the crocheter beyond written directions alone. Difficult and complicated. The resulting symmetry of the design is just STUNNING however. This project has grown on me once I completed it. It is definitely a challenging crochet, but I am very proud of the wrap!
Skill level by tester : Advanced.