Product Description
Princess Cottongrass (Prinsessan Tuvstarr och Älgen Skutt) is the second shawl in a set of three shawls released as part of the Fairy Tale KAL (following Marushka). Princess Cottongras is a Swedish Fairy Tale about a Princess who has never left the dream castle before. She meets Long-Leg Leap, the elk, and he takes her out to see the world. In the deep, dark forest they encounter fairies and other mythical creatures, and Princess Cottongrass loses her crown, her dress, and finally her heart. The original illustrations for the Fairy Tale were painted by John Bauer.
The Princess Cottongrass shawl is knit in a brown colour that captures the colour of the tree trunks in the forest, and the colour of Princess Cottongrass' companion, Long-Leg Leap. The colour Woodsy was especially created for this shawl by Roxanne at Zen Yarn Garden. The central motif on the shawl shows the trees in the forest, the Princess' crown, and then her lost heart.
A version of the fairy tale is avail
Princess Cottongrass Knitted Shawl by Anna Dalvi
Design Overview
Princess Cottongrass is an advanced-level knitted shawl inspired by a Swedish fairy tale about a princess venturing into dark woods. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a large, elegant triangular shawl with intricate charted colorwork and structured sections. The finished shawl measures an impressive wingspan of 140 cm (55 inches) and a height of 70 cm (28 inches), making it a substantial wrap suitable for layering or dramatic draping.
Construction Technique
The shawl is constructed using a top-down approach, beginning with a cast-on of 225 stitches worked using a double-strand provisional method. The knitter casts on with two strands of yarn, then cuts away one strand and continues working with a single strand. This technique creates a secure, flexible edge suitable for a large garment. The pattern progresses through charted sections that are strategically organized into repeating units, allowing for manageable pattern reading across the width of the expanding shawl.
Pattern Structure and Stitches
The shawl employs a symmetrical layout using multiple charted sections worked simultaneously across each row. The pattern divides the working width into five distinct areas: a right border chart, a main chart section, a center chart, another main chart section, and a left border chart. This modular approach is repeated on right-side rows, while wrong-side rows reverse the order of sections. The use of charted instructions indicates that the pattern incorporates various knitting stitches coordinated through visual pattern charts, typical of complex colorwork or textured shawl designs.
Yarn and Materials
The pattern calls for 1 skein of Serenity Silk III from Zen Yarn Garden, a luxury blend yarn containing 75% merino wool, 15% cashmere, and 10% silk. Each skein provides 450 yards (411 meters) and weighs 115 grams. This 4-ply yarn weight offers excellent drape and softness, essential qualities for a shawl of this size. The pattern recommends the colorway "Woodsy" or a similar yarn with comparable yardage and fiber content. Knitters will also need 4.5 mm (US size 7) needles and a tapestry needle for finishing and weaving in ends.
Skill Level and Considerations
Rated as an advanced knitting project, Princess Cottongrass is designed for experienced knitters comfortable with reading complex charts, managing multiple pattern sections simultaneously, and executing techniques such as provisional cast-ons. The large finished dimensions and intricate charted patterning require sustained focus and attention to stitch accuracy. Blocking is essential to achieve the finished measurements and to even out the shawl's shape and drape.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | Fingering |
| Pages: | 28 |
| Designer: | Anna Dalvi |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English, French, German |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Advanced |
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