Emily Shawl by Miriam Walchshäusl

Emily Shawl

Knitting
Sport (12 wpi) ?
24 stitches and 27 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette stich
US 6 - 4.0 mm
1422 yards (1300 m)
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Finished garment measurements after blocking:
Wingspan: 200 cm 78¾’’
Width: 185 cm 72¾’’
Depth: 100 cm 39½’’

Yarn:
4 skeins of Purl Soho’s “Good Wool”. 100% Andean highland wool (350 m/100g 383 yards/3.5 oz; 1295m (370 g) 1417 yds (13.05 oz) required.
The sample is knit in colorway “Blue Moon”.

Needles:
US6/4.0 mm circular or straight needles

Blocked gauge:
24 sts x 27 rows = 4-inches 10cm in Stockinette with US6/4.0 mm needles (or needle size to obtain gauge)

Notions:
Stitch markers

Construction notes:
The Emily shawl is an asymmetrical triangular accessory, featuring a delicate column pattern adorned with rosebud stitches. It is knitted from the tip along the short side of the triangle, with stitches increasing symmetrically towards the mid-axis. The top right stitches are bound off using an i-cord, while the remaining stitches are worked continuously, with decreases along the top edge. The shawl is finished with clean i-cord edges on all sides, and optional tassels add a playful touch.

Inspiration:
This pattern is inspired by Emily Dickinson and her quote “Forever is composed of nows.” The Emily Shawl captures this delicate interplay between choice and time.
Like life’s branching opportunities, the shawl’s stitch pattern unfolds in a graceful, branching structure, each stitch representing a moment of decision, a path taken. As the design evolves, the direction shifts, much like life’s unexpected turns. These changes in direction, like the choices we make, contribute to the overall shape and movement of the piece, resulting in an asymmetrical and dynamic form.
The act of knitting itself mirrors Dickinson’s reflection on time—each stitch a conscious moment, a stillness that, when repeated, builds into something larger and more meaningful. As we knit, the deliberate rhythm of each stitch comes together, creating not only the shawl but also a reflection of how the “nows” of life accumulate to form the “forever.”