Milky Oolong

Milky Oolong Shawl by Susanna Winter

What Is Being Made

Milky Oolong is a top-down crescent-shaped shawl designed by Susanna Winter. This intermediate-level knitting project features a subtle halo effect and delicate lace sections, inspired by the smooth, sweet, and creamy characteristics of Taiwanese oolong tea. The shawl is available in three sizes with instructions for customizing dimensions based on personal preference or available yardage.

Design Inspiration and Characteristics

The Milky Oolong shawl captures the essence of its namesake tea through its cloud-like softness and gentle aesthetic. The design combines calming garter-stitch sections with easy lace patterns along the border, creating a balanced and meditative knitting experience suitable for intermediate knitters.

Construction Technique

This shawl employs a top-down construction method, meaning knitters begin at the top point and work downward toward the crescent-shaped edges. The two-strand yarn technique—combining one strand of wool with one strand of fluff—creates the signature halo effect and cloud-like texture that defines this design.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch: Forms the calm, meditative body of the shawl
• Lace stitches: Create delicate patterned sections along the border, provided in both written and charted formats

Materials and Yarn

The pattern calls for Yarn A: Isager Spinni or Spinni Tweed, a 100% wool yarn available in 50-gram skeins with 300 meters per skein. Knitters work with both yarns held together on smaller needles to achieve the specified gauge of 18 stitches by 30 rows over 10 centimeters (4 inches) in garter stitch when blocked.

Pattern Format and Instructions

This downloadable PDF pattern includes comprehensive instructions written in both metric and US terminology, accommodating knitters regardless of measurement preference. Both written and charted instructions are provided for the lace pattern sections, offering flexibility in how knitters prefer to follow complex stitch sequences.