Wholehearted

Wholehearted Shawl by Nim Teasdale

Project Overview

Wholehearted is an advanced-level knitted semi-circular shawl designed by independent designer Nim Teasdale. This flowing garment features an all-over textured heart pattern that grows and expands toward the outer edge, creating a dynamic visual progression. The shawl was created as a personal commission for a friend who loves hearts, and serves as an invitation to reflect on embracing wholehearted living.

Yarn Requirements and Flexibility

This design accommodates a range of yarn weights and yardage needs, making it adaptable to different fiber choices and desired finished sizes. The project requires a minimum of approximately 700–900 meters (765–990 yards) of lace to fingering weight yarn. For those wishing to extend the edging and use additional yardage, the shawl can accommodate up to approximately 900 meters of yarn.

The pictured sample was knitted using 660 meters (720 yards) of Vivid Fiber Art Lux, a lace to fingering weight yarn, demonstrating the shawl's versatility within this weight range.

Yarn Weight Options

Wholehearted suits heavy lace, lace, and fingering weight yarns. The design works beautifully in solid colors, semi-solid colorways, and gradient yarns, offering knitters flexibility in fiber selection based on personal preference and stash availability.

Needles and Gauge

Needle size and gauge vary depending on the yarn weight chosen. The pictured shawl was worked on 3.25mm (US size 3) needles using lace to fingering weight yarn. Knitters should adjust needle size according to their chosen yarn weight to achieve appropriate drape and fabric characteristics.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

As an advanced-level project, Wholehearted employs sophisticated lace knitting techniques. The all-over heart motif requires understanding of yarn overs, decreases, and stitch manipulation to create the expanding heart pattern that develops from the center outward. The semi-circular construction and textured patterning throughout demand strong foundational knitting skills and comfort reading complex stitch patterns.

Design Features

• Semi-circular shawl silhouette with flowing drape
• All-over textured heart pattern that expands toward the outer edge
• Flexible yardage requirements accommodating various yarn weights
• Optional edging extension for customizable finished size
• Advanced difficulty level suitable for experienced knitters

Inspiration and Context

Nim Teasdale designed Wholehearted as a personal project inspired by a friend's love of hearts and wholehearted living. The designer references Brené Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection as complementary reading for knitters seeking to embrace wholehearted living while working on this project, making it suitable for meditative knitting sessions, including while listening to audiobooks.