In Hans Christian Andersen’s The Wild Swans, Elisa is a beautiful princess with eleven brothers. When her brothers are cursed and turned into swans, she takes a vow of silence and must knit them shirts from stinging nettles to return them to human form...This was always one of my favorite fairytales, and I remember being so taken with it the first time I heard it. I had been on a great search recently to find it again after I had forgotten the name of the story. I love wikipedia…all I knew was that it involved knitting and nettles…and I was able to find the beloved story!
So here is the shawl that the story inspired:
The double sided lace comes from Babara Walker's Second Treasury and I was inspired to adapt it for this project since it was named "Porcupine Lace." A prickly name and an interesting pattern to resemble the nettles. I have a smaller, two-color version in the works, that will show off the wonderful curves in the lace even more.
This is shown in Malabrigo Silky Merino...obviously nothing at all like knitting with stinging nettles! I did find out today that Classic Elite makes a yarn with nettles: Woodland. Pretty amazing, right?! Even though my stash is spilling out of its closet, I may just have to grab some to knit yet another Elisa, I mean that would be totally fitting. Plus the fiber content, weight and sheen would work quite well for this pattern.
I will be away for a bit, so don't think I am abandoning you! Just going on a nice long vacation, in the Florida Keys ♥
So here is the shawl that the story inspired:
The double sided lace comes from Babara Walker's Second Treasury and I was inspired to adapt it for this project since it was named "Porcupine Lace." A prickly name and an interesting pattern to resemble the nettles. I have a smaller, two-color version in the works, that will show off the wonderful curves in the lace even more.
This is shown in Malabrigo Silky Merino...obviously nothing at all like knitting with stinging nettles! I did find out today that Classic Elite makes a yarn with nettles: Woodland. Pretty amazing, right?! Even though my stash is spilling out of its closet, I may just have to grab some to knit yet another Elisa, I mean that would be totally fitting. Plus the fiber content, weight and sheen would work quite well for this pattern.
I will be away for a bit, so don't think I am abandoning you! Just going on a nice long vacation, in the Florida Keys ♥