“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”

Alice, Through the Looking Glass, Chapter 1 Looking-Glass House, Lewis Carroll.

In the winter, when the snow drifts against the fences, the nights are dark and the days are short, I wish I could, like Alice, step through the looking glass and find a warm and sunny world.  But, as I can’t, it is the perfect time to settle down with a good book, a warm drink and a shawl to snuggle in.  This shawl starts from a 3 stitch garter tab and grows with soft cables and eyelets to a tiny lace border. Knit in a silk cashmere blend, if knitting were food, this would be the comfort food of the knitter’s diet.

Size

70” wingspan and 38” drop at point [175 cm x 95 cm]

Yarn

Jade Sapphire Silk Cashmere 55% Silk, 45% Cashmere 2 ply 400 yds/ 55gms [366 meters/1.94 oz) 2 skeins, shown in color Sterling.

Needles

US size 5 [3.75mm] 32” [80cm] circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions

Waste yarn for provisional cast on, cable needle, large eyed tapestry needle for weaving in ends, T-pins for blocking optional stitch markers and blocking wires.

Gauge

22 sts and 20 rows = 4” [10 cm] in pattern st after wet blocking.

Abbreviations

See our standard abbreviations.

2/3 LC – slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front, knit next 3 sts, knit 2 sts from cn.

2/3 RC – slip 3 sts onto cable needle and hold at back, knit next 2 sts, knit 3 sts from cn.

Charts

Main Body

Edge

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked from the top down.

Cables are worked over an odd number of stitches.

For a smaller piece the knitter can omit repeats of rows 5-52.

For a larger piece the knitter can add repeats of rows 5-52.

Gauge and yarn choice will determine final size and yardage needed. 

Shawl

Garter Tab:

Using a provisional CO (see our tutorial on working a provisional cast on) CO 3 sts, work 7 rows garter st (k every row), turn work 90 degrees, pick up and p 3 sts, turn work 90 degrees, pick up and k 3 sts from provisional CO; 9 sts. (see our garter tab tutorial)

Main Body

Row 1 (RS): K3, yo, k1 (this is row 1 of the Body Chart), yo, pm, ktbl, pm, yo, k1 (this is row 1 of the Body Chart), yo, k3. You have now worked row 1 of Body Chart; 13 sts.

Row 2 (WS): K3, p to marker, sm, ptbl, sm, p to last 3 sts, k3.

Row 3 (RS): K3, yo, work chart to marker (see our tutorial on reading charts), yo, sm, ktbl, sm, yo, work chart to last 3 sts, yo, k3.

Row 4 (WS): K3, p to marker, sm, ptbl, sm, p to last 3 sts, k3.

Cont in the manner of rows 3 and 4, work following Body Chart rows 5-52 one time, then rows 29 to 52 five more times for a total of 6 repeats; 353 sts.

Then work Edge Chart rows 173-190 one time; 389 sts.

Bind Off

Bind off as K2,*return 2 sts to left-hand needle, k2togtbl, k1 repeat from* until all sts have been worked.

Finishing

Cut yarn leaving a 9 inch [20cm] tail and pull snuggly through final st.  Weave in all ends. Soak finished piece in cool water for 30 minutes, pin flat, pulling out the gentle points on the lower edge and using blocking wires if desired across the top and allow to completely dry before removing pins.

About the Designer: Mary E. Rose

Mary learned to knit as a young child and it has had an impact on her life ever since. As a teen, when her friends were getting jobs at fast food restaurants, Mary worked at her LYS, where the hours and working conditions were much better.

As with many knitters, when she couldn’t find patterns for what she wanted to knit, she started designing her own.

She currently lives in Central Ohio with her three children, who also craft. She can be found on Ravelry and her blog, or with knitting needles in hand, guarding her stash.