Tununak Shawl Shawl Pattern

This shawl is knit in a lace pattern that reminds me of the patterning on a grass basket made by a Yup’ik artisan in Tununak Alaska, one of the villages featured in my book, Arctic Lace: Knitting Projects and Stories Inspired by Alaska’s Native Knitters. The bottom portion looks like flowers growing in a spring field, and the top portion is a simple mesh that is reminiscent of the woven basket pattern. Each section is separated by a few rounds of garter stitch, and the piece is finished off with garter stitch edges. This is mathematically a half-pi shawl but because of the gauge of the different pattern stitches and the stretchiness of the fabric, it is blocked to more than a half-circle so it drapes beautifully and stays snugly on your shoulders when worn.

Suggested yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Superwash Merino Fingering
Yarn weight: Fingering (14 wpi)
Gauge: 24 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in St st
Needle size: US 5 – 3.75 mm
Yardage: 1500 yards (1372 m)
Sizes available: 54” (137cm) diameter/ wingspan, blocked