November Pattern: The Louisa May Shawl!
Added 2021-11-01 13:01:04 +0000 UTCGrab some fresh candlesticks, dear students, because the November project is officially here!
Join me in welcoming the Louisa May shawl!
This classic triangular shawl is transcribed from the third edition of Needlework for Ladies for Pleasure and Profit, 1886. The original pattern is included in the PDF, along with a modern transcription that is easier to read and includes step-by-step help with some of the trickier portions. That being said, the Louisa May shawl is a great beginner project! The shawl is worked in two garter stitch triangles, and is seamed up the center using the mattress stitch. There is also an optional crochet border and fringe as listed in the original pattern. Not a crocheter? Don’t worry, I’m not a crocheter either! The crochet used in the pattern only alternates between two types of crochet stitch, and I have included photo tutorials and youtube links to help you along the way.
Because this shawl is worked in two garter stitch pieces, it is a great portable project as well as t.v. knitting! The only stitches you need to know for Louisa May are the knit stitch, and knit 2-together. That’s it! All the fun challenges come with the finishing work. If you’ve been looking for something to practice seaming with and to keep you warm and cozy for the cold days ahead, this may just be the perfect project.
The shawl is written as one size per the original, but because of its construction, it is easily adjustable by either increasing or decreasing the cast on number, or modifying the yarn selection to a heavier or finer weight. You could also create your own stripe sequence, add a different border… the options are endless!
If nineteenth century knitting isn’t your thing, never fear! An alternative to the full shawl is to only knit one half of the triangle, which makes an adorable and quick-knit kerchief to tuck into your 1940s or 1950s coat! The last two photos depict the half-shawl styled with a 1940s jacket. It would make a great gift knit, too!
I can’t wait to see the color combinations you all come up with. Once you cast on, feel free to use the #louisamayshawl hashtag on instagram to tag your work so we can all see your gorgeous WIP!
Yarn Suggestions:
- Sample knit in Juniper Moon Farm Patagonia Organic Merino, colorways “Pebble” (main) and “Burgundy” (contrast); (100% certified organic wool)
- Harrisville Designs Shetland (100% virgin wool)
- HiKoo Popcycle (50% Bamboo, 50% recycled polyester)
- The Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering (60% merino wool, 30% masham wool, 10% mohair)
- A farm local to you! This is a great project for a wooly-wool from a nearby farm.
November Film & Television Suggestions:
Little Women (2019)
The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
Miss Potter (2006)
Gaslight (1944)
The Nevers - series 1 (2021)
The original pattern is in the public domain, and can be viewed on JSTOR: https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.29919068
Comments
As one is not enough I have two on the go one is my handspun alpaca and the other is a colorful merino from Kerry Mills we shall see.....
2021-11-09 12:40:24 +0000 UTCCan't wait to try this and love your "in-character" photos :)
2021-11-04 19:52:00 +0000 UTCLove it! I'll probably be skipping this one as I knit a very similar shawl from the same time period last fall (which is seeing a lot of use, so cozy).
2021-11-04 18:37:09 +0000 UTCLittle Women! 😍😍😍 But also the book with the original pattern is amazing!! I may or may not have saved a few of those patterns to try…😂
2021-11-02 14:31:09 +0000 UTCThese are beautiful photos! My two favourite books are Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. :P Shawls are perfect for our cold, old house. Thank you! While I'm still hacking away at the Scarecrow Vest, I will be late to this party, too. Love it all!
2021-11-02 13:28:56 +0000 UTCOoooh, I love that!! Now you've tempted me to make a Claire version too!
2021-11-02 12:48:03 +0000 UTCSuch a beautiful pattern! I’m going through my stash today . I’ve never made a shawl either ,so very excited!💕🧶
2021-11-02 12:41:25 +0000 UTCI'm tempted to make this pattern in colours reminiscent of Claire's "Rent" shawl from Outlander S1. I've never made a triangle shawl before!
2021-11-02 05:51:16 +0000 UTCSo so so excited! The newer Little Women movie has been on my to watch list for ages, and this seems like the perfect moment to knit a cozy shawl and watch the film. This looks like a glorious alternative to my always present couch blanket :)
2021-11-01 23:31:21 +0000 UTCSO good, right?! I know it's a little out of the era we're looking at, but I wanted an excuse to tell folks to watch it. ;)
2021-11-01 23:14:34 +0000 UTCOooh, interesting! You know, I actually see very few shawl patterns coming out during those decades. It's at this time that scarves and kerchiefs come into fashion a bit more than shawls. Let me do some digging in my vintage pattern stash and see if I come up with anything!
2021-11-01 23:13:37 +0000 UTCAgreed!
2021-11-01 23:11:10 +0000 UTCGorgeous! I think I'm going to try and make the 30s/40s version ☺️
2021-11-01 22:10:58 +0000 UTCI'm glad you joined Emily!! The first Zoom meet-up was this past Friday and was a lot of fun! Hope to see you there next time! ☺️
2021-11-01 22:10:25 +0000 UTCI have always wanted to make one of these. Now is my chance!!
2021-11-01 21:33:26 +0000 UTCSo pretty! I do love the wrap around the waist feature as well!
2021-11-01 18:14:05 +0000 UTCI love these "19th century" shawls that you can wrap around the waist! And I get to buy new yarn because I don't have solid colors in my stash believe it or not...
Laia Garcia Sanchez
2021-11-01 18:04:46 +0000 UTCLove the pattern! And The Personal History of David Copperfield is a truly wonderful film. Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Daisy May Cooper and Peter Capaldi - what a cast! I can heartily recommend The Nevers too.
2021-11-01 17:12:31 +0000 UTCOh I'm so pleased to have been able to shop my little stash a bit for this!
2021-11-01 16:52:01 +0000 UTCThis is like the year of shawls for me!! Can’t wait to cast on!
2021-11-01 16:19:57 +0000 UTCI dove (dived?) into my stash and will be posting pictures to Instagram later today. What fun!
2021-11-01 16:13:37 +0000 UTCI'm so excited for this ! I have some yarn in stash I've been keeping for a Little Women shawl but I wasn't sure which pattern to use so this is perfect :-)
2021-11-01 15:13:34 +0000 UTCI'm really excited to knit this shawl up, especially as winter is coming in quick over here. I do have a query and I'm wondering if you might be able to answer, I am moving my wardrobe to more 1930s/1940s and I hardly ever see photos or patterns of shawls from this time period. Obviously they had them, so I'm wondering if you might be able to help on styling? Thanks Nessy
2021-11-01 14:00:20 +0000 UTCYay, I love this pattern! I just joined your Patreon today after you posted about this shawl on Instagram, I'd been thinking about signing up and this shawl was the push I needed. :)
Emily Boyd
2021-11-01 13:49:54 +0000 UTCOh wow! This is perfect for the up coming travel that we have! I think I have the perfect yarn for it too! The poor yarn has been frogged on two different projects and is begging to find its final resting place. Here is to hoping this it 🤞
2021-11-01 13:46:00 +0000 UTCIt’s the perfect time of year to wrap up in a cozy shawl like this! ❤️
2021-11-01 13:36:36 +0000 UTCGorgeous!
Kim Campbell
2021-11-01 13:24:11 +0000 UTC
