This lace shawl is my ode to the North Carolina Sandhills region. The Sandhills are an inland region, characterized by rolling hills capped by deep coarse sands. Scientists believe the Sandhills were formed by ancient oceans that rose and then receded in response to melting and freezing of polar ice caps. The Longleaf Pine is the dominant tree species in this system and is essential to its integrity. The Longleaf Pine forest may well be the most diverse North American ecosystem north of the tropics, containing rare plants and animals not found anywhere else.

What I find most recognizable about the Sandhills are the dominant pine trees with their often fire-tinged bark, the sandy soil, and the dense forests that envelop the narrow winding roads.

NOTES ON TECHNIQUE:

This shawl is knit top down, in a triangle pattern. To enjoy this pattern, please first be familiar with knitting lace from charts. There are written directions to guide you through the project, but all lace is charted.

This shawl can be knit in various weights of yarn: lace, fingering, DK, and worsted. For each yarn weight I’ve provided suggestions for: yardage, needle size, and number of chart repeats to knit.

No matter the weight of yarn you choose, it is best to have 2 100g skeins on hand.

This intricate lace design is best on solid or tonal yarns, and I suggest using two colors: one for the body, and another for the border. But please be creative and make it your own!

Happy Knitting,

Melissa