The Mad Queen Shawl

This semi-circular shawl is shaped using two types of increases, and is worked from the center back neckline down to the hem. The pattern features intertwined Tudor cables and floral lace patterns, and is finished with a simple lace bind-off, to form a cape-like shape.

You will need approximately 775 yards of fingering weight yarn to complete this pattern as written.

This design benefits from a fairly robust blocking. To most easily achieve the half-round shape, after soaking shawl and spinning or pressing out the excess water, use blocking pins and/or wires to pull the top edge (garter-stitch edging) into a straight line. From there, working in quarters, block the shawl into a pleasing semi-circular shape, pulling out the points at the bottom hem for each motif and allowing the remainder of the edging to stay slightly ruffled.

Johanna of Castile (also known as Johanna the Mad) was the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and the older sister of Katharine of Aragon.