Keep Yourself Alive

Keep Yourself Alive Mini-Shawl by Emma Sadler

What is Being Made

Keep Yourself Alive is a lightweight mini-shawl, also wearable as a scarf, designed by Emma Sadler. Named after the Queen song, this knitted shawlette features an asymmetric shape with a distinctive structural concept: the design begins and ends with garter stitch sections worked in the main colour, creating a cyclical pattern that echoes the song's lyrical theme of returning to where you started despite the journey.

Design and Construction

The shawlette showcases a thoughtful colour-work approach in which two colours of laceweight yarn are alternated throughout different stitch patterns in the main body section. This alternation creates an interesting and eye-catching visual effect while maintaining the delicate aesthetic appropriate for a summer-weight garment. The asymmetric finished shape contributes to the shawl's distinctive drape and versatility in styling options.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level knitting project employs lace knitting techniques combined with garter stitch construction. The garter stitch sections at the beginning and end provide structural definition and a contrasting texture to the lace patterning used in the central portion of the design. The alternation of colours throughout different stitch patterns requires attention to yarn management and pattern reading, making this an appropriate challenge for intermediate knitters seeking to develop their lace and colour-work skills.

Yarn and Materials

Keep Yourself Alive was knitted using laceweight yarn from Sylvan Tiger Yarn, a blend of 55% British BFL wool and 45% silk. Two colourways were used: Onion Skin and Leafy Green. This yarn composition creates a wonderfully soft fabric with excellent drape characteristics, ideal for the delicate lace sections and the overall lightweight construction. The silk content contributes to the fabric's fluidity and sheen, enhancing the shawlette's elegant appearance and wearability across multiple seasons and styling occasions.

Finished Characteristics

The completed shawlette is a lightweight knit perfect for summer wear, with delicate lace patterning and an asymmetric silhouette that allows for interesting and varied draping options. The combination of laceweight yarn, colour alternation, and structural garter stitch sections results in a garment that is both visually striking and practically versatile.