DINOSAUR BEACHES: Amazing dinosaur footprints are being found more and more in the large flat ledgestones of the Isle of Skye's northeast beaches. This yarn reminds me of their colors and the fun we had trying to decide if that impression or maybe this one were dinosaur footprints. I tried to represent those beaches with their footprints, drying kelp and bits of shell by using the Shetland Old Shale lace pattern in this shawl.
OLD SHALE: This highly textured shawl design is among the oldest of the Shetland lace patterns. This pattern is typically knitted in a variety of weights from a gossamer lace to a heavier triangle shaped shawl called a Half-Hap. They usually have rows of small accents on a main cream color. Mine come in a wide palette of non-traditional colors found in the landscape of Scotland and are individually named for locations or panoramas on the Isle of Skye. To me from the first time I saw it, this pattern reflects the tidal washing of the North Sea on the beaches of the Shetland Islands and is my favorite lace pattern to knit.
Hand knit, durable, lightweight and warm. Hand washed and blocked to stabilize color and sizing. Consider one of my shawl pins to secure the shawl in the front to help hold it in place so your hands are free.
FIBER TYPE: Natural alpaca.
COLOR: Rich shades of brown and black. The brown shades from light to dark and has a coppery tint in the lightest area.
SHAPE: Rectangular with curved ends as is natural with Old Shale pattern.
DIMENSIONS: Length 75 inches Width 19 inches
WEIGHT: 10.1 ounces
SEASON: Perfect alone in fall and spring to keep the chill off. In winter, a wrap type accessory.
HOW IT IS MADE: Hand knit from my original design pattern adapted from the old Shetland lace patterns that I learned in a class with a Shetland Islander. I was inspired by this very textured lace pattern and design and have tried to enhance it with the colors of Scottish landscape. Hand washed and blocked to stabilize color and sizing. Comes packaged right side out in a clear protective bag so you can see the color without having to open the package should the color not appear as you expected.
Made in a smoke-free, cat-friendly home. The cat may have watched the shawl being knitted, but there has been no cat contact with the shawl after it was finished, hand washed, blocked and packaged ready to wear.
HOW TO WEAR: Alone in fall and spring to keep the chill off or as a wrap in winter. Photos show the traditional way the shawl is worn. Adding a shawl pin will make this warm shawl into a hands-free garment. A detailed care card is included in every shawl package.