Gertrude McFuzz Shawl
GERTRUDE McFUZZ SHAWL:
This shawl is named after a character from the musical “Seussical”. It is the second in a series of shawls using short rows to create slanted stripes. The featured version above combines the “magic of mohair” with the beauty of hand dyed merino yarn. While I thought that Mohair would be a nice choice for the lace sections of this shawl, I did not get realize quite how perfectly it would pair with the merino in a larger piece like this. It helps the shawl to be amazingly light, but the merino offers ‘ribs’ to help the light mohair maintain structure. I am quite delighted with this version. There are photos at the end of the pattern showing this shawl knit in other yarns and combinations.
YARN:
The “Gertrude McFuzz” Shawl is designed to be knit completely in fingering weight yarn, or by combining fingering weight wool with lace weight mohair/silk. Please see other yarns used on the next page & images on the last page.
NEEDLES & GAUGE:
The pattern works with ANY type/format needles (it is not worked in the round). I like using rounds with a longer cable as the shawl grows every other row, but honestly, I use whatever I have handy at the time. The shawl gets very big, a long cable is great for the end.
“LEANS” use US 04’s/3.5mm, gauge in STOCKING KNIT, before BLOCKING. GAUGE in this section, with these needles:
STOCKING KNIT stitch 26 sts to 4” & 40 Rows to 4”
“LACE” uses US 06’s/4.0mm, gauge does not apply for these sections.
SIZE: This shawl will look smaller and block bigger, depending on how hard you block it, one tester steam blocked hers, others wet/hard blocked theirs.
BLOCKED SHAWL Sizes- ALPHA SAMPLE is 60” wide & 30” tall. (center) BETA SAMPLE is 60” wide & 24” tall. (CTR)
NOTIONS:
Stitch Markers to mark center stitch and for optional use in counting and lace sections. Needle or hook to tuck your ends.