Doña Leonor Shawl by Marsha White

Doña Leonor Shawl

Knitting
May 2016
DK (11 wpi) ?
19 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches
in pattern stitch
US 6 - 4.0 mm
795 yards (727 m)
one-size
English
This pattern is available for $6.00 USD buy it now

Enjoy a Gift pattern! Buy 2 patterns get 1 as a “Thanks Gift”. Add 3 patterns to your Ravelry cart, and the least expensive will be no charge.

The inspiration for the Doña Leonor Shawl design was from stockings worn by Eleonora di Toledo, a 16th-c Spanish noblewoman who married the ruler of Tuscany, Cosimo I de’ Medici. The book A History of Handknitting by Richard Rutt has a detailed description and photos of the stockings (pg 71-72). They are described as “elegant and elaborate stockings”. There are many paintings of the lovely Eleonora di Toledo wearing stunning elegant gowns, but alas, none show her equally elegant stockings.

A detail photo of the back of the shawl worn on a model shows off all the stitch patterns used: on the right side is the cast-on edge, and the left side of the shawl is worked even. The main stitch patterns, starting on the right edge are: double moss border, zig-zag lines of knit on a purl background; a trellis in purls with lace centers; and the main portion of the shawl worked in alternating columns of double moss and double garter stitch.

The lace and texture patterns look great on both sides of the fabric, so the shawl is reversible. The reverse side of the shawl is shown in the main photo with the shawl worn sideways, and the photo of the shawl laid out flat . The other 2 detail photos on models, show the right side of the shawl.

The top of the shawl is shaped by decreases worked from tip to tip, which forms a gentle curve for a good fit around the neckline.

Sample on left shown in Shelridge Yarns Soft Touch DKW, Lilac.

Pattern was professionally tech edited by Robin Melanson.

NOTE: Provenance Knit patterns use charts.
Recommended for Intermediate knitters.

Approximate finished and blocked size:
Top width – 61”, length of sides – 43”, depth – 26”