Ulverston Shawl by Bridget Pupillo

Ulverston Shawl

Knitting
July 2021
Aran (8 wpi) ?
18 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches
in Stranded Stockinette Stitch, blocked
US 8 - 5.0 mm
800 yards (732 m)
Adult One Size
English
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Ulverston came together after a 2019 trip to visit my brother in Cumbria, UK. I made purchases at the local yarn shop and at Woolfest, a local Cumbrian fiber arts festival. I tried to make meaningful purchases from local mills using locally sourced or rare breed wool, and fiber made from the nettle plants ubiquitous in northern UK. These fibers have come together to create the Ulverston Shawl, with a beautiful Fair Isle border and simple short row shaping, finished with an I-cord bind off. Cozy and elegant, there are plenty of ways to combine your own special fiber purchases in this shawl.

This pattern includes one size, which will fit most teens and adults.

The gauge is 18 stitches and 20 rows over 4” (10cms) in stranded Stockinette Stitch over the Fair Isle border.
The gauge is 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4” (10cms) in Stockinette Stitch, blocked.

This is an intermediate level pattern. Knitters should have experience with stranded knitting technique, long carries, and following color charts. Knitters will also use short rows, basic shaping techniques, and the I-cord bind off technique.

Since some of the fibers used are locally sourced and spun, I will describe the fiber content and then make suggested substitutions. The contrast colors all require less than 100 yds/m each, so this is a great way to use up stash yarn. Any Aran weight yarn can be substituted for this pattern.

  • MC (natural off-white): I used approx. 440 yds/402m of West Yorkshire Spinners Fleece Bluefaced Leicester Aran (100% British Wool; 182 yds or 166m per 100g): 3 hanks of Ecru #001. Any of the WYS Aran weight wools will work.
  • C1 (yellow): I used approx. 60 yds/55m of wool from a local mill in Florence, Italy, bought many years ago. I wanted to include a little piece of my Italian heritage in this otherwise British shawl. My yarn: Campolmi Filati Sport (100% Merino Wool, 1092 yds or 1000m per 400g): 1 hank of Senape #100. I would suggest West Yorkshire Spinners Croft Aran in Melby or Bluefaced Leicester Aran Solids in Honey.
  • C2 (dark blue): I used approx. 70 yds/64m of Erika Knight Wild Wool (85% Wool, 15% Nettle; 186 yds or 170m per 100g): 1 hank of Wander #702.
  • C3 (light brown): I used approx. 70 yds/64m of a locally sourced, handspun and undyed Manx Loaghtan (rare breed sheep), 50g hank (total yardage unknown). If you cannot find Manx Loaghtan, I would suggest West Yorkshire Spinners Fleece Bluefaced Leicester Aran in Natural Brown.
  • C4 (light blue): I used approx. 60 yds/55m of Erika Knight Wild Wool (85% Wool, 15% Nettle; 186 yds or 170m per 100g): 1 hank of Meander #701.
  • C5 (dark brown): I used approx. 45 yds/41m of Parvabrook Rare Breeds Pure Hebridean Wool, 50g ball (yardage unknown). If you cannot find Hebridean Wool, I would suggest West Yorkshire Spinners Fleece Jacob Aran in Brown Black.

You will also need US 8 (5.0 mm) 40” (100cm) circular needles, or size to obtain gauge.

This pattern includes a schematic, full color chart, written instructions, and notes on short row and I-cord bind off technique.