Product Description
My husband has a really sweet tooth - so much so he has a list of his top 100 puddings! The top ten varies from time to time but always featuring in there somewhere is rhubarb crumble and custard! These two colours of yarn together always remind me of this delicious combo so I decided to come up with a new design to reflect this! The shawl starts with a garter stitch crescent - every second row has a yarn over at the start making picking up stitches for the lace border a doddle! Ripples of lace inspired by the leaves on the rhubarb in my garden loosely based on the traditional Shetland Old Shale lace are then added. A very fast knit on 5mm needles, this would make a fab gift! The pattern has written rather than charted instructions as every row is different - good for keeping your interest going! You may find it useful to use stitch markers at the end of each pattern repeat. Although striking in these two shades, I also think this would look fab in neutrals or in a single shade too!
Rhubarb and Custard Shawl by Olach Designs
Project Overview
The Rhubarb and Custard Shawl is a beginner-friendly knitted shawl design inspired by the dessert combination of rhubarb crumble and custard. The shawl showcases the warm, contrasting colorways of the Aister Oo yarn, with the deep rhubarb tones and creamy custard hues creating a visually striking finished piece. This downloadable PDF pattern is ideal for knitters looking to explore shawl construction with an accessible difficulty level.
Construction Method and Techniques
The Rhubarb and Custard Shawl employs a two-stage construction approach that makes it approachable for beginner knitters. The shawl begins with a wedge knitted in garter stitch, which forms the foundation of the piece. This initial wedge section is strategically constructed with a yarn over worked at the start of every second row, creating convenient pickup points for the subsequent lace section. This thoughtful design detail eliminates the difficulty of picking up stitches along an edge, making the transition between sections straightforward and accessible.
Lace Pattern and Stitch Work
The lace section of the shawl is loosely based on the traditional Shetland old shale lace stitch, a classic motif with deep historical roots in textile design. However, the designer has modified this traditional stitch to create much deeper waves that echo the natural appearance of rhubarb leaves. The lace pattern features increases worked directly into the lace rows, creating dynamic shaping and visual movement throughout the section.
Rather than using charts, the pattern provides written instructions for the lace section, with every lace row being unique. This approach allows knitters to follow along more intuitively while understanding the construction logic of each row. The wave pattern flows naturally through the instructions, making the lace section manageable even for those new to lace knitting.
Yarn and Materials
The Rhubarb and Custard Shawl is designed to work with multiple yarn weights, offering flexibility for different yarn choices. The pattern accommodates 6-ply, DK (double knit), and sport weight yarns, allowing knitters to select based on their preferences and available materials. The pattern was developed using the Aister Oo yarn, which provides the inspiration for the shawl's name through its distinctive rhubarb and custard color palette.
Skill Level and Accessibility
Rated as a beginner-level project, the Rhubarb and Custard Shawl is designed to introduce knitters to shawl construction without overwhelming complexity. The combination of simple garter stitch foundation work and modified traditional lace stitches creates a balanced learning experience. Knitters will develop familiarity with lace techniques, yarn overs, and increases while working on a project with clear visual progress and a beautiful finished result.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | 6 Ply, DK | Light Worsted, Sport |
| Pages: | 0 |
| Designer: | Olach Designs |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
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