Blanchefleur Shawl by Karen Robinson

Blanchefleur Shawl

Knitting
December 2014
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
20 stitches and 33 rows = 4 inches
in Chart C pattern
US 5 - 3.75 mm
600 - 800 yards (549 - 732 m)
one size
English
This pattern is available for $6.00 USD buy it now

Construction and Size
This triangular shawl begins with a garter tab cast on and works its way out from the center, increasing every other row for a symmetrical shawl. Two stitch patterns are used in the body of the shawl, one of which has a “faux nupp.” Then, using a different color, a knitted on border is added to the shawl. Pattern includes both written directions as well as charts for the lace.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Skills needed: knitting, purling, yarn overs, decreases (knit two together; slip, slip, knit; slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over; and slip one, knit two together, passed slipped stitch over), increasing to five stitches from one stitch (faux nupp)

Video tutorials are available for the faux nupp and knitted on border.

Materials
US 5 / 3.75 mm 32” (80 cm) or longer circular needle
2 stitch markers

Notes
Thank you to my test knitters (megknitsalot, tempericia, and dambird) and tech editor (kettleandstring) who provided valuable feedback.

About the Name
The story of Fleur (“belonging to the flower”) and Blanchefleur (“white flower”) has both an Old French and a Middle English version, which differ in some respects from one another but the basic story is the same. Fleur is the son of the Muslim King of Spain and Blanchefleur is the daughter of a Christian woman who had been captured by the King (her husband had died and the pregnant widow was on a pilgrimage when captured). The two children are raised together and have a very close relationship which blossoms into love. But the Muslim king does not want his son to marry a Christian woman, so he sells her to an emir in another land and tells Fleur that Blanchefleur has died. Fleur learns the truth and goes to rescue Blanchefleur: she is about to become the next wife of the emir, who remarries each year after killing his previous wife. Fleur does make it to Blanchefleur, but they are caught by the emir. However, after learning of the strength of their love and their willingness to die for one another, the emir lets both of them go. They return to Fleur’s home – the king has died while Fleur was gone – marry, and rule the kingdom together.

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