The mature oak and maple trees in our yard provide wonderful shade. This triangular shawl is a lace sampler in which depicting the canopy these trees provide. The shawl begins with an original stitch pattern repesenting the sun shining down on the tree tops. Additional elements include the leaves of the trees, acorns that the oaks produce, butterflies that flit among the trees, and finally more leaves. Two different ending versions of these final leaves are included in the pattern.

Skill level: Advanced beginner or intermediate lace skills. Ability to read charts is required as there are no line-by-line instructions. WS rows are rest rows. Lace stitches used include k2tog, ssk, centered double decrease and YOs. Experienced lace knitters will find this a relaxing knit.

Yarns: Either sport weight or fingering weight may be used. The use of fingering weight will make a smaller shawl. The shawl looks great in either a gradient, solid or tonal yarn.

Sizes: You can customize the size of your shawl by choice of yarn weight and two different endings.

Yardage: 600 yds of fingering will make the smaller version, while 640 yards of sport weight are needed for this size. To make the extended version in either weight, you will need 800 yards.

Needles: U.S. size 6 (4mm) are used with fingering weight. Size 7 (4.5mm) are used with sport weight - or size you need to give you a fabric you like.

Beads are optional. 880 size 6/0 beads are needed for the regular version and 1100 beads are used in the extended version.