New pattern: Ivy Shawl

Let me tell you a little story! Ivy Shawl has been in the works for quite some time, if yew start from the time I got the yarn. That was 2024, I think. These two skeins were originally destined for another shawl completely, something intarsia, yes, but with garter stitch and a different shape and I can’t even remember all the details so clearly anymore. I started knitting. It looked off. Not bad, but off somehow. Something wasn’t quite right.

So the whole project went in the bin of UFO’s (UnFinished Objects). I should probably call it abyss. Things so seldom make it out from there. This one certainly didn’t. But after a year and half I thought i’d need the needles (another big problem, and the reason I just keep buying more and more needles). So I frogged that beginning.

Then it came the time to travel to Buenos Aires last year, of Joji’s retreat, and I happened to see the newly wound skeins waiting. I decided to pack them with no clear idea in my mind. I also had two other projects with me: a cardigan and a pair of socks. The cardigan took quite a while, but I finished it (yay!). I had my socks started but also thought I’d start this shawl. It was late October and that means Spring on the Southern hemisphere. I saw green buds, some bigger leaves and flowers everywhere. And that idea of a two-tone elongated leaf shape got stuck in my mind.

I also had been teaching an intarsia workshop many times that time and I wanted to see how intarsia would pair with brioche stitch. And so it started. I figured out the increases and decrease for the first part of the shawl and it looked amazing. Way easier than I thought. I kept going, even worked a bit on the shawl on my way back home - and then promptly forgot all about this project. Again.

Not that it wasn’t looking right this time. Now it was perfect, but all the problems had been solved and all I had to do was to finish the shawl. My attention was elsewhere instantly.

But then I was on another knitting retreat in the Spring, and I thought a little peer pressure might help me to finish the project. And it worked. I knitted and knitted, until most of the skeins were gone and just like that my shawl was finished. And it turned big and beautiful. The drape was unbelievable and even more so after I blocked the shawl.

The next obstacle was the pattern. Did I make proper notes along the way? No. Did I make any notes at all? Also no. So I had to retrace my steps and the writing took quite a few days (on and off). Then testing, photos and finally we are getting to last week: the pattern release week!

So a long story short: It’s hardly ever so straightforward with my designs. The two biggest obstacles usually are the project not looking quite right (and then. I instantly know that I need to rethink and most likely start over) and that stage when it’s looking just perfect (but there’s no mystery anymore, so my attention fades). This design hit both of the bumps on the road and it took me quite a long time before the design was ready.

But it’s here now! Ivy Shawl pattern is finally available! Yay! It’s a rewarding shawl project, quite soothing once you get the rhythm. And the finished object is actually amazing! I simply adore the shape and the colours and the size.

Ivy Shawl sample was knitted with Hedgehog Fibres Oh So Fine Merino, in colours Silence (cream/white) and Coral (coral). It only takes two skeins, and you get quite a big shawl when it’s all done. And now you can still enjoy the introductory discount until the end of today, Monday, 21st of September, 2026 (Helsinki time). Use code IVY for the offer!

I really hope that you will love this project! And even more so I hope that you don’t hit the same roadblocks I did! May all your stitches flow effortlessly forever and ever and may all your projects be just as perfect as you envision them to be! Because that would be a dream!