Shellcraft Shawl

The inspiration for this pattern are sailor’s valentines, those shell-bedecked crafts made by sailors (or, more likely, bought by them in Barbados) out of found shells and other objects that they would give to their sweethearts upon return as a token that they were thinking of them while on the voyage. In this version the valentine represents a story of a voyage to Europe told in knit stitches from popular ports of call. The shawl uses the typical “pi” construction. At the center is a simple eyelet mesh, reminiscent of the rigging and netting that is so vital to sailors. The main stitches are historic laces from England, France, and Spain, with a short border of the eyelet mesh to hold it all together.