The Bonnie Banks Shawl is my personal version of a travel shawl. Last summer I followed the travels Gudrun, MJ, Lori, Nicole & Claire via Instagram. Meanwhile I was rocking a newborn and dreaming of traveling again, someday. (And loving the fact that I was working with some wonderful Shetland yarn at the time.) It's one of the things I miss most as a mother with two young children- travel. But I know this time with my kids will fly by, and so I don't mind waiting for those adventures for the moment. But it doesn't mean I can't knit with those adventures in mind! This name of this shawl, and it's travel daydreams is two part.
Part one: Do you know the song? The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond? Shetland is on my 'someday' list, and when I get there, I'll be visiting those banks for sure. And, of course, the yarn from which this shawl is knit is Shetland wool!
Part two: This song makes me thing of travel because the first time I learned it I was high up in a tree in Tuscany harvesting olives. The Brits working on the harvest with me taught me the song and we sang it many times to pass the weeks spent in those trees. And so the lyrics always make me think of my travels to Tuscany.
More details on the shawl:
I love a good rustic yarn, Lopi and Jamieson & Smith top my list of favorites. So when I saw Clara Parkes’ next single batch yarn was from Shetland, I very impulsively purchased two skeins. While I considered joining in the Hapalong and turning it into a traditional Shetland Hap, none of the patterns I came across seemed quite special enough for this beautiful yarn. So I came up with my own simple shawl inspired by the Shetland Hap. It is a triangular top down shawl, with a simple lace motif and a bit of garter stitch. (And perhaps some day I’ll be just lucky enough to wear it in Shetland!)
I wanted to use up every last yard of this yarn, and so you’ll need to take note in regards to your own yardage. While I used 600 yards, every knitter is different, and so it may be likely that you’ll need closer to 700 to make the very same shawl. If you have a precious 600 yards you are trying to stick to, then consider doing one less repeat of the lace motif, and working the garter stitch border until your shawl is the desired length.
You can purchase the Bonnie Banks Shawl Pattern on Ravelry HERE.