The motif used in this shawl is Estonian, and there are many lovely versions of it. Until recently, increasing stitches by knitting multiple times in the same stitch had not been used in quite this way and certainly not widely outside the Baltic states and Russia, but it has been readily adopted during the last few years, thanks to the internet and certain knitting designers who have brought it to our attention. And I am grateful for it! I was intrigued the first time I saw these types of stitches and for some time I have wanted to create a lace shawl using this charming design element.

This is a feminine triangular shawl without the obvious yarn over spine in the center to distract from the star of the show, the lace edging. Instead, I have chosen to use matching increases along each edge of a four-stitch knit spine.

The prototype shawls I made in this design are not very large, but the design is easy to expand or not, as the knitter chooses.

There is nothing really difficult about this shawl, if you have basic knitting skills. The multiple-increase stitch is easy to do. There are multiple decrease stitches as well, but they are also simple to do. Once you learn how to do those techniques, it’s smooth sailing with this pattern.

I have named this shawl after my dear daughter-in-law, who is Peruvian, not Estonian! I just wanted to honor her for her many fine attributes and as a delightful addition to our family.

The shawl begins with a garter tab, then expands from there with four increases on each right-side row and into the lace border and edging, and ends with a frilly little picot edge. The top border is wide enough to prevent rolling over. The shawl can be knitted somewhat solidly as I have done, or if you like a lighter and more open looking shawl, you can use larger needles. The light blue shawl is knitted with a 100 percent baby alpaca yarn, and the magenta shawl is made with a 50/50 blend of wool and silk.

Knitting skills needed: Intermediate. Basic knitting skills, increasing and decreasing, ability to use charts. There is a stitch guide with more detailed instructions for a few of the stitches in the pattern.

Needles US size 3 or 4; 3.5 mm. Or any size needle that produces the effect you want.

Yarns and yardage: Blue shawl is Cascade Yarns, “Alpaca Lace,” 50 g, 400 meters/1.75 oz., 475 yards. Two skeins.
Magenta shawl is Juniper Moon Farm, “Findley,”50% Merino Wool, 50% Silk; 100 g, 730 meters/3.5 oz., 798 yards. One skein, color “Hyacinth.”

I recommend a solid color yarn for this pattern. Variegated yarns will obscure the design details.

Note: If you make the shawl larger, you may need more yarn.
Gauge: Not essential for this shawl.

Other notions: Smooth waste yarn for garter tab, stitch markers, sharp yarn needle, crochet hook in a size compatible with knitting needle size. Blocking pins or wires, if you have them.

Final measurements, blocked, relaxed.
Blue shawl—wingspan 63 inches, depth 29 inches.
Deep pink shawl—wingspan 60 inches, depth 27 inches

I wish to thank my lovely models, Micah and Chloe.