Fort Saint Joseph was a fort established on land granted to the Jesuits by King Louis XIV; it was located on what is now the south side of the present-day town of Niles, Michigan. Père Claude-Jean Allouez established the Mission de Saint-Joseph in the 1680s. Allouez ministered to the local Native Americans.

The French built the fort in 1691 mainly as a trading post on the lower Saint Joseph River. It was located where one branch of the Old Sauk Trail, a major east-west Native American trail, and the north-south Grand River Trail meet; together the combined trail fords the river. The fort was a significant stronghold of the fur trade at the southern end of Lake Michigan. Prior to the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years’ War), the post had a French garrison of 10 soldiers, a commandant, blacksmith, Catholic priest, interpreter, and 15 additional households.

The colors of this yarn reminded me of nature, especially in the fall and the lace pattern reminds me or arrowheads. When the summer season nears an end, the remains of Fort St. Joseph are open to the public for one weekend where artifacts and the archaeological finds are on display.

Like the Tiscornia Park shawl, this shawl’s creation can be attributed to a customer who mentioned that she likes triangle shawls, but doesn’t like how deep they are or how short the wrap points are. Therefore this shawl is shallower than a normal triangle shawl but is also wider giving the wearer the ability to wear it in a number of different ways. Starting with a easy to memorize garter stitch base which gives way to an equally easy lace repeat, Fort St. Joseph shawl is stunning in its simplicity.