Aldara Shawl

Aldara Shawl by Fyberspates

What is Being Made

The Aldara Shawl is an advanced-level knitted lace shawl designed by Judy Furlong for Fyberspates. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a finished square shawl measuring approximately 115cm (45 inches) across when relaxed after blocking. The shawl is constructed using delicate lace techniques and decorative stitch elements, making it an elegant accessory suitable for experienced knitters seeking a challenging and rewarding project.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques that require skill and attention to detail. The primary techniques include:

• Lace patterning – The foundation of the shawl's design, creating openwork and decorative holes throughout the fabric
• Nupps – Decorative bobble-like stitches that add textural interest and visual complexity to the lace design
• Picking up stitches – A technique used to add new stitches at specific points in the construction
• Working from charts – The pattern uses written chart instructions that knitters must follow carefully to execute the lace and nupp placements correctly
• Working in the round – The shawl is constructed using circular knitting methods

Stitches Used

The Aldara Shawl incorporates specialized stitches and abbreviations beyond basic knitting. Key stitches include:

• DDEC (Double Decrease) – Slip 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together without knitting them, knit the next stitch, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch, resulting in 2 stitches decreased
• K7tog (Knit 7 Together) – A dramatic decrease that combines 7 stitches into 1
• Nupp7 – A complex stitch that creates a bobble by working (knit 1, yarn over) 3 times and knit 1 all into a single stitch to make 7 stitches from 1. On the following row or round, all 7 loops are purled or knitted together to create the decorative bump
• Yarn overs – Used throughout the lace patterning to create the characteristic openwork

Materials

The Aldara Shawl is designed to be worked in Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace, a luxury yarn blend containing 45% silk and 55% merino wool. One 100g skein is required, though extra yardage may be needed depending on individual gauge and blocking choices. The yarn is shown in the Natural (500) colorway in the pattern photography.

Knitting is worked on 3.25mm (UK size 10/US size 3) knitting needles. The pattern recommends achieving a tension of approximately 16.5 stitches and 35.5 rows to 10cm (4 inches) when measured over the combined lace patterns after relaxed blocking. While exact tension matching is not considered critical for this design, the pattern notes that matching the recommended tension is advisable for consistent results.

Pattern Summary

The Aldara Shawl represents an advanced knitting project that combines technical skill with artistic lace design. Knitters working this pattern should be comfortable reading lace charts, executing decreases and increases with precision, and managing the complexity of nupps and other decorative elements. The use of a luxurious silk and merino blend yarn enhances the finished shawl's drape and elegance, making it suitable as a special occasion accessory or gift for experienced fiber artists.