The Blue Mountains in NSW Australia left me in awe of their beauty and ability to grow in harsh conditions. Trees grow in a symbiotic relationship with each other, with fungi, vines, and other denizens of the forest. Different types of trees grow into one another and then back out again, providing strength and water to trees that are weaker, giving each a greater chance of survival.

These trees inspired my shawl, Mossy Grove, as two different colors of yarn work together, twisting around each other, on a bed of stockinette stitch surrounded by eye-catching cables. It is beautiful in its simplicity and lets the fuzzy, squishy alpaca/merino yarn be the star of the show. Mossy Grove is knit from side to side, starting and ending with only a few stitches. Increases then decreases create the beautiful shallow crescent shape. Then an integrated fringe finishes the whole thing off.

Finished Measurements: 17”/43 cm depth x 70”/178 cm wingspan (+ 3”/7.5 cm fringe)

MATERIALS:
Yarn:
650 yds/595 m each of two colors of fingering weight yarn for a total of 1300 yds/1190 m (one strand of each color is held together throughout)

(Worsted weight yarn can be substituted for the two strands of fingering, but yarn requirement may differ if you get a different gauge)

Shown in:
Pascuali Filati Naturali Balayage (1.76oz/50g, 191 yds/175 m, 80% baby alpaca, 20% organic merino)

Colors used in sample:
616 Nazca: 4 skeins
611 Aguas Calientes: 4 skeins

Needles:
US 7 (4.5mm) 24”/60 cm circular needle or size needed for gauge

Tools:
Cable needle, tapestry needle, stitch markers

Gauge:
20.5 sts x 27 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch after blocking

Skill Level:
Advanced beginner

Skills Needed:
Knit, purl, cables, increases and decreases

This pattern has been professionally tech edited and test knitted