Hemlock Ring Shawl

With each year that passes, I become more solidly entrenched in past times that are linked to the seasons.  This past summer, I did not knit much at all.  Instead, I spent my time gardening, preserving food, biking and enjoying being on the move.  Now, with winter settling in, I can't get enough of the yarn and needles! I didn't completely abandon knitting during the summer; I slowly and sporadically worked on a cotton, circular shawl. Considering this project went on my needles many, many months ago, it was a relief to get it done!

The details:
Yarn: Araucania Lonco Solid
Pattern: Hemlock Ring Blanket by Jared Flood
Ravelry Project: Hemlock Ring Shawl

The feather and fan pattern forms the bulk of this shawl. beginning after the center flower is knit, with the stretches of increases and decreases getting longer with each repeat.  In retrospect, this stitch pattern wasn't the best fit for this yarn as it requires a good amount of stretch to balance out the sections.  After working on this project for a few months, I learned that there is an alternate version available with more petals, which  means more repeats to help the shawl lay flat.  By the time I found out about the option better suited to my yarn, my stubbornness was in full effect and I refused to undo all of the knitting I had already gotten done.  My decision meant I had to make peace with a bunchy, ruched look in the decrease sections.  It wasn't what I envisioned when I started the project, but I am ok with it.

I opted to do the crochet edging because the idea of the knit edging made we want to weep.  There were approximately a billion stitches in each round so it would have taken SO LONG to knit the edging.  Oh! I also added a few inches of stockinette stitch with the same rate of increases as the feather and fan to get it a little bigger without continuing the feather and fan to the edge.

The yarn was a gift from my friend Tessa and is a gorgeous red-orange with very subtle color variations.  I am curious to see how it behaves after I wear it more.  It is kind of stiff straight out of the gate.  I have worn it a few times and it is still holding the structure it got from the blocking.

This pattern has long been one I wanted to try so I am glad I gave it a go.