Thursday, October 20, 2011
Squash Blossom
Here is the design commissioned by the Tinsmith's Wife in Comfort, Texas, to celebrate their third anniversary: Squash Blossom.
Tinsmith's Wife wanted a one-of-a-kind design, worked in one skein of a specialty yarn from Handmaiden Fine Yarn. Something that they could sell as a kit to celebrate their anniversary.
I was delighted to comply.
The yarn we chose was Handmaiden Swiss Silk (100% silk), a fingering weight yarn that is so luscious it makes you swoon. This beautiful yarn is a new addition to the Handmaiden line and is not even featured on their website yet.
We opted for a solid colour, one that would show up a lace stitch pattern without interference from a play of multi-colours.
Given that the Tinsmith's Wife is located in Texas, I immediately began experimenting with designs from Native American art. I settled on images from jewellery, in particular, the squash blossom. It is a central motif in many examples of Native American jewellery.
The colour choice: turquoise, was the logical next step. The result is this delicate, lacy shawl.
It is worked from the top down. Increases are embedded within each RS row and cause the piece to grow and flare rapidly.
The result is a shawl with a squared bottom border and generous coverage at the shoulders.
You can see its shape here where it is blocking. As always, a good blocking opens up the lace pattern and emphasizes the drape of the finished piece.
You can purchase the kit to make this shawl directly from the Tinsmith's Wife. They are also selling the individual pattern. But who wouldn't want this delicious yarn (Handmaiden Swiss Silk), too?
This is a one-of-a-kind offer and won't last long. And it takes only one skein, too.
