new pattern | adelaster shawl

ad.e.las.ter ~ a provisional name for a plant which has not had its flowers botanically examined, and therefore has not been referred to its proper genus.

I’m so happy to finally be launching my new pattern, the Adelaster Shawl.

I say finally because this shawl has been finished, tested, tech edited, photographed and written up for ages. Absolutely bloody ages, like before we went into lockdown ages. Gah!

It just never felt like the right time to launch a pattern. I haven’t felt particularly ‘right’, the world hasn’t felt particularly ‘right’ and even as I type this I am aware that even now things don’t feel quite right. We are still in lockdown, although a slightly less strict version of it, and the world is still hurting, that much is evident to see, but, nonetheless, I feel like there is some hope on the horizon.

So. The story of this shawl.

I had originally designed it in 2016, written up the pattern in my phone notes (I have many, many, many such patterns in there), and yes I know I do this a lot but it shows you:

a. how unorganised I am but also,

b. how handy that notes app on your phone is, right?

The original sample was made up in the most amazing chartreuse colour Tiddy Brook from Blacker Yarns on their Tamar Lustre Blend 4ply.

I had two skeins of Tiddy Brook in my stash both from different batches and, well, the difference in colour was so shockingly different that I decided to use one for the contrast ruffle and the other for the main body of the shawl and you would never know that they are the same colour.

Really I should say that this version is all made from the same colour yarn. Only it’s not.

If you know what I mean. Weird.

Whilst I loved it, and felt that the sample was awesome, it did feel a little too small to me and whilst wet blocking did bring the stitch pattern to life, because it’s 100% woolly wool, it didn’t stretch quite as much as I thought it might.

So I decided that a version in a merino/nylon blend would give a great comparison in terms of texture and feel, and I also wanted to see how the shawl worked using 2 x 100g skeins of yarn.

It’s massive.

It’s so massive, so soft, so stretchy and I absolutely love both the yarn and the colour which is Cascade Heritage in Dusky Peach. My ginormous blocking mats couldn’t even contain this beauty, so huge is she.

So you get both shawl size instructions in the pattern together with full details of all the yarns used, quantities, finished sizing, and approximate gauge - note that gauge is not necessary for this pattern but given as a guide regardless.

The pattern is written in both UK and US terminology and has been fully tested and tech edited.

It’s a great pattern for using up one of those extra special skeins you have hanging around and also a great pattern for using up any 20g mini skeins you already have in your stash.

The Adelaster Shawl pattern comes with a 50% discount for the entirety of July 2020 to celebrate the easing of lockdown here in the UK, use the code LETSGOOUTSIDE for your discount and you can buy the pattern here.

Also, if you’re on my mailing list you will have already received an even better launch discount*. So if you haven’t done so already, please subscribe for the list now because I will be starting to use it a lot more going forward for pattern launches, testing opportunities and general chit chat about knitting and crochet.

*update to add that this email did not go out when I wished, am having some issues so bear with me if you are waiting to hear from me.