Leonardtown

Leonardtown Lace Shawl by Christina Loman

What is Being Made

The Leonardtown is a spring-inspired rectangular lace shawl designed by Christina Loman. This one-size shawl measures 34 inches wide by 60 inches long, making it a versatile accessory perfect for layering during transitional seasons. The design captures the essence of spring with its bright, airy aesthetic and echoes the leafy greenery and fresh character of the season.

Design Inspiration and Construction

This shawl features a simple rectangular shape that belies its sophisticated appeal. The design philosophy prioritizes both wearability and visual impact—the surprisingly memorizable lace pattern knits up quickly despite the advanced difficulty level, allowing experienced knitters to create an impressive finished piece without an excessive time commitment. The bright, springy lace work provides enough flair to satisfy even discerning observers while remaining practical for everyday wear.

Lace Pattern and Stitches

The Leonardtown showcases a vine lace stitch pattern as its primary design element. The pattern is notable for being memorable and relatively straightforward to follow once established, making it accessible for advanced-level knitters who are comfortable with lace techniques. The shawl begins with a picot cast on, a decorative edge technique that creates small loops along the cast-on edge. This cast-on method involves a series of cast-on and bind-off steps repeated to build the foundation, adding an elegant finished detail to the shawl's starting edge.

Knitting Techniques

This project employs several key knitting techniques appropriate for advanced crafters:

• Lace knitting with yarn overs and decreases to create openwork patterns
• Picot cast-on for a decorative, finished edge
• Circular needle construction for the rectangular shawl body
• Lace blocking to achieve proper drape and definition of the lace pattern

Materials and Specifications

The Leonardtown is worked in EllaRae Lace Merino, a 100% merino wool yarn that provides the ideal characteristics for lace work. The yarn is fingering weight (4-ply) with a yardage of 460 yards per 100-gram skein. The project requires 3 skeins of yarn, providing approximately 1,380 yards of working yarn. The shawl is worked on a single 32-inch US #4/3.5mm circular needle, which accommodates the width of the rectangular shape while allowing for easy stitch management.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 23 stitches and 40 rows over 4 inches in the vine lace stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the lace pattern displays as intended. The project requires lace blocking pins for finishing, which help set the lace pattern and ensure even edges. Stitch markers are listed as optional notions, useful for tracking pattern repeats throughout the knitting process.