It’s finally beginning to look like summer here in Upstate New York. So what better time is there for a flowery, feminine shawl? Please welcome the Tulip Lea Shawl.
Worked in a fingering weight yarn, Tulip Lea is light, lacey and airy with just enough warmth to keep away a cool breeze should you encounter one on your summer adventures.
Tulip Lea is asymmetric and features a wide, tulip blossom border along the longer bottom selvedge, nestled between two small cables. The body portion of the shawl features a columnar, lacy mock cable pattern that reminds me of Parrot Tulip blossoms with their turned in, ruffled edges – an entire field of them!
This shawl is worked from the right wingspan tip (starting with a mere 2 stitches) and worked toward the opposite edge where it is bound off. Like the Heirloom Cultivar Shawl, Tulip Lea also utilizes the Vikkel Braid technique. Vikkel Braid looks much more difficult than it is, and it has become a fast favorite with me!
I chose Malabrigo Sock in the Light of Love colorway especially for Tulip Lea. This colorway accurately reflects that particular pink color that tulips so often have and if you work the shawl as written, you will need just two of their generously-sized skeins.
This shawl has a large pattern repeat, but the pattern stitches themselves are intuitive and easily memorized once you get into the body of the shawl. Just enough going on to keep it interesting, but easy enough to keep it relaxing. I may just knit another!
Full pattern details for the Tulip Lea Shawl can be found here.