botanical alchemy
Botanical Alchemy is a large rectangular shawl featuring a leafy lace motif and ripples of color. It is named to celebrate the magic and mystery of the natural dyeing tradition and its skilled practitioners. Techniques include lace knitting, stranded knitting and intarsia.
There are two versions of the pattern, each knit with a different yarn.
The original indigo version (above & below) features Merino silk yarn, hand dyed using natural materials by Liz Baltesz of Wild East Yarns; the soft harmonious colors are reminiscent of Japanese block prints and traditional kimono textiles.
It is knit on 4mm/US6 needles with approximately 255g of Merino silk yarn: 800m/874yds of indigo MC, 80m/87yds each of two supplementary MC shades, and approximately 20m/22yds each of eight CC shades. A limited number of kits will be available from Wild East Yarns in July 2023 - please visit @liz.baltesz on Instagram for more information.
Wild East yarn colors
Dimensions: approximately 190cm/75ins x 63cm/25ins
Gauge: approximately 16 sts & 21 rows = 4ins/10cm in stranded intarsia
There is a variation with sawtooth borders on the long sides.
The second version (below) reworks the design in five interlocking Intarsia colors and features three colorways of Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy yarn.
The Zauberball version is knit on 3.5mm/US4 needles with approximately 200g/840m/920yds of Zauberball Crazy Yarn in three colorways: Cool Botanical Garden, Warm Botanical Garden & Dark Roses. These are part of a set of five colorways which were developed in collaboration with Schoppel Wolle. All five colorways can be viewed here and they are available in both Zauberball Crazy and Zauberball Stärke 6.
Dimensions: approximately 60in/152cm by 21in/54cm
Gauge: approximately 24 sts and 24 rows = 4ins/10cm in pattern
The patterns are charted with short written instructions for the charts, notes on yarn and techniques, photographs and a splicing photutorial.
There is a separate pdf for each version.
$7.00
This pattern is also available as part of a 3 for 2 bundle, together with Donnie at the Duck Pond and Four Seasons Crescent. Use the code bundle at checkout or click here to add the bundle to your cart. (Previous purchases of the individual patterns count towards the bundle!)
