I am in love.
This year our spring seasons pattern is the Fennel Shawl and was designed by Bristol Ivy. The beautifully soft ‘Angel Sock’ yarn paired with the subtle lace pattern is a match made in heaven. This is the style of lace I really love. The knitting flows from one motif into another seamlessly and feels really cohesive.
As a shawl, it’s also deceptive. The stitch patterns and charts look complex, but each stitch pattern builds on the previous one, so once you’ve mastered the first repeated stitch, you know that you’ll be able to do everything in the shawl.
If you are new to lace patterns, then this club will be extremely helpful. Each section comes with a step-by-step video talking you through the charts and showing you how to work each stitch. At the very beginning, I’ll also give you an overview of how the shawl and stitch patterns all fit together. This way you’ll be able to read your knitting and if you go off centre on one of your repeats, you’ll quickly be able to notice it and see how to correct it.
Fennel Shawl Pattern Inspiration
We thought we’d share Bristol’s words on the inspiration behind this lace shawl design:
“Fennel was inspired by the time of year during which it is getting to meet all of you! Where I live in Maine in the United States, April is a month of thresholds. It is a month of last snows and first flowers, of frost in the morning and bare arms in the afternoons.”
“I wanted to create a shawl that felt like that sense of possibility and transition, with organic, almost fragile blooms proliferating on a soft and cloudy background. “
“I also knew that I wanted to play with a stitch pattern that built itself, using increases concealed in the lace to create shape and texture without obvious lines. That felt the most like that first abundant rush of spring blooms, heedless of the snow that often blankets them soon thereafter-their emergence! The shawl finishes with one of my favorite stitch patterns, which both adds a touch of modernity and structure to the piece, but also reminds me of nothing so much as the first little snowdrops peeking their way skywards.”
Fennel Shawl Pattern Details
SIZES
One Size
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Wingspan at Top: 56” / 142 cm
Depth at Centre: 20.5” / 52 cm
YARN
Life in the Long Grass ‘Angel Sock’ (70% Baby Alpaca, 20% Silk, 10% Cashmere; 438 yds / 400 m per 3.6 oz / 100 g); colour: Dough; 2 skeins
Approx. Yardage: 876 yds / 800 m
NEEDLES & NOTIONS
US size 5 / 3.75 mm circular needle, 24-60” / 60-150 cm long
Always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed, as every knitter’s gauge is unique.
Stitch markers, tapestry needle.
GAUGE
21 sts and 26 rows = 4” / 10 cm in Border Pattern, after lace blocking
How to Buy
You can now purchase the single Spring Season Club 2024 digital version here. This gives you access to the pattern, all the step-by-step workshops, exclusive forums, and our live zoom launch and replay.
To knit the shawl, you will need at least 876 yds / 800 m of a fingering weight wool. LITLG ‘Singles’ (3 skeins) could create a beautiful shawl, and other good options would be Manos del Uruguay ‘Fino’ (2 skeins) or LITLG ‘Corriedale’ (3 skeins).
Absolutely beautiful! I might try this in Jade Sapphire Sylph, which has a fibre content of 58% Cashmere/42% Linen. I think the linen content would be great for getting good, crisp lace stitches. Not sure which colour to go for yet, maybe Pudding and Pie, as it not only sounds delicious but has lovely subtle variegation
That sounds like a great yarn choice.
i’m confused. i’m in the seasons club for the second year. i just started knitting the projects. My husband became handicapped and i haven’t had the time until now. How do i accesss the pattern . isn’t it included in the kit? i received the yarns and no pattern
Hi Allyson, I’m so very sorry to hear about your husband. I’ve just sent you on an email reply but I’ll add it here also. The easiest way for you to access both your patterns and video workshops on through Teachable.
If you haven’t accessed it before you will need to create an account with this email address then you will find all of your classes and patterns in there.
You can access your Teachable classes by logging into the home page here.
https://stolen-stitches.teachable.com/
On the top right you will find the login link (or the first time you go there registration link) and will then have access to your classes by logging into the link on the top for ‘My Classes’.
When you go into each class you own you will see ‘Resources: Pattern’ and the pattern can easily be downloaded from there.