Seven Maidens shawl is named after the Chinese festival, Qixi festival, that falls on the 7th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar. The festival came from the romantic tale of the forbidden love of the cow herder, a mortal, and the weaver fairy, an immortal. The weaver fairy was part of the seven heavenly maidens, daughters of the Heavenly King, as legend says. They fell in love and stayed on Earth to live a life together. Th Heavenly King and Queen found out, that their daughter had married a mortal, and created a heavenly river to separate them, known as the Milky Way. Their love was so strong that the Heavenly Queen allowed them to meet once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th month. Traditionally, this festival is for young girls to pay tribute to these maidens for the promise of beauty and love. I grew up with this tale and have heard it in more than one way. This design took me back to my roots and childhood.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Advanced Beginner

CONSTRUCTION: 3-color shawl with lace, German short rows, slip stitches, and garter stitch in a gradually increasing width shape.

NEEDLE: US 6/4.0 mm or size needed to obtain gauge

GAUGE: 24 sts and 32 rows = 4”/10 cm in garter stitch after blocking

YARN: Fingering Weight
Designer’s original sample (not shown here) knit in Star Seed Yarn
Color A: 100% Superwash Merino Single Ply “501 Levi’s”- 420 yd/384 m
Color B: 4-ply fingering weight “Tien Lan”- 420 yd/384 m
Color C: 100% Superwash Merino Single Ply “No Pipeline”- 400 yd/366 m

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Starting at 12” W to 19” W x 76” L/30 cm to 48 cm x 193 cm L

Pattern has been test knitted.