Hua Mulan is the protagonist in a poem from ancient China known as “The Ballad of Mulan.” It tells the story of a young woman who takes her father’s place in the army. She fights alongside the other men for twelve years. When the war is over, Mulan turns down an official post and returns home, whereupon her comrades in arms are shocked to discover that she is actually female.

(There. Don’t you find that to be a much better story than what Disney or ABC cooked up? I thought you would.)

In Chinese, the word “mulan” means wood-orchid, or magnolia. In an attempt to honor her, I have recreated the concept of a magnolia blossom here in this a-symmetrical, semi-circular shawl.

Gauge is somewhere around 15 stitches/4 inches, but this is relative. As long as you like the fabric you’re getting, you’re good. When have you ever needed a shawl to fit you perfectly?

You will need six stitch markers.