Esprit d'Evelyn: Leaves, Love, and Creative Collaboration
Esprit d’Evelyn combines the rhythm of stockinette and lace while challenging you to step up to the plate and elevate your knitting skills. An asymmetrical, triangular shawl, it's designed for three sizes so you can make a size that works for you. You’ll enjoy this journey exploring and celebrating your creativity while creating a shawl you’ll love to wear.
Esprit d’Evelyn
Parallel bands of stockinette stitch and a lace leaf stitch pattern.
PRE-GAME WARM-UP
After starting on this design journey almost two years ago, Esprit d'Evelyn is out in the world. This cozy and elegant asymmetrical triangular shawl holds a special place in my heart, inspired by the collaborative spirit of my newsletter subscribers and a heartfelt tribute to my mom, Evelyn, who loved the color green.
This design in Knotions' December 2023 invitation-only issue added an extra layer of honor to this project which also features designs by other talented creators.
AT THE PLATE
The design journey
The journey began with an invitation by Knotions in March 2022 to design for their December 2023 first-ever, invitation-only issue. It was a very early and long commitment, and I didn't start working on the design right away. Even though I thought about ideas on and off throughout 2022, I waited until 2023 to start the design process.
I spent the first few months of 2023 swatching and charting stitch patterns and playing with different design ideas. Truth be told, I was having a hard time making design decisions so I decided to poll my newsletter subscribers for their input. I'd been wanting to try that ever since Jen Lucas did that with her Patreon subscribers in 2017.
My newsletter subscribers really came through! I didn't have to make some of the bigger decisions - they did that for me, and I happily obliged. Now I could move forward.
With poll results in hand and a clearer picture of the design, sourcing yarn was next. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have several wonderful local dyers from whom I could seek yarn support. Lovely yarns + wonderful people = hard decisions!
It came down to two things: color and non-superwash yarn.
I'm a loose knitter, and while the needle material can help with that, I discovered that non-superwash yarn is a true gift to loose knitters. The fibers in non-superwash yarn haven't been stripped of their ability to grip so the stitches can "grip" the needles instead of slide around.
The stitches slide around, even on wood needles for me.
I found the perfect shade of green when I looked at Sea Change Fibers' color palette. Fern Gully is a lovely medium green - not too dark, not too light. The stitch pattern would show up well in photos, and the shade was just right for a winter design release.
Sea Change Fibers Swale Sport
Color: Fern Gully
80% fine merino / Rambouillet (Shaniko) wool / 20% cashmere
My mom would have loved this color.
I got in touch with Sarah to ask if she'd be interested in this collaboration, and she said yes! This is our third collaboration. Check out Grant Avenue Stroll and Flowing Leaves Shawl for our earlier works together (links to Ravelry).
I was undecided on the yarn base so Sarah sent a couple samples in DK and sport weight for me to swatch with. I loved both bases she sent, but Swale Sport produced better stitch definition for the lace leaf stitch pattern.
My mom was all about the details and finishing.
The shawl shape
Asymmetrical triangular shawls are one of my favorite shawl shapes to make and wear.
Why?
The neck edge of the shawl lies along the knit fabric's bias. A fabric's bias is flexible, and this makes wrapping the shawl around your neck easy and comfortable without feeling stiff.
This also means less bunching of the fabric to show off the shawl's stitch pattern when it's worn. For Esprit d'Evelyn - the parallel bands of lace leaves and stockinette.
You've put in all those hours knitting - you want your work to show!
Let's talk other design details since my designs have evolved to be all about the details and finishing:
🧡 The scalloped neck edge - the organic shape is inherent in the lacy leaf stitch pattern. This was a lovely surprise when I was swatching.
🧡 A rate of shaping that forms a soft curve at the neck edge - this plus the fabric's bias forms a fluid curve allowing for a softer drape of the shawl.
🧡 The continuous i-cord edge all around the shawl - I've always loved a neat, finished edge (thanks, Mom! - for that story, check out this blog post), and i-cord edges produce just that. I took it a step further with a provisional cast-on, an i-cord bind-off, and grafting those last stitches to produce the continuous i-cord.
But fear not! If i-cord bind-offs and grafting are not your cup of tea, you can do your choice of bind-off. It's totally up to you!
🧡 I love to wrap my shawls around once and have both ends fall in front, but sometimes these ends fall lower than I'd like (I'm short) which means the shawl is too long for me.
While I enjoy doing math calculations to make something to my preference, sometimes I just want easy so I can JUST START.
I imagine that many makers feel this same way. So rather than have you guess at customizing and spend time doing math when you JUST want to START, three sizes are offered for Esprit d'Evelyn. Whether you prefer a shawl worn snugly, loosely, or with a generous drape, you're sure to find a size that works for you or for the lucky person for whom you're making this shawl.
POST-GAME WRAP
By the way, don't let the word "details" intimidate you or let you think you can't knit this or it's too advanced for you.
I got you.
I provide all the instructions plus diagrams for grafting, and the pattern has been tested. All you need to do is grab the pattern, yarn, needles, and a few notions. And don't forget another important first step: read the pattern before casting on 🙃.
My mom would have worn this shawl well. She loved to get dressed up, and she loved to accessorize.
ON DECK
Do you also love to make and wear asymmetrical shawls?
What's your favorite shawl shape? Why do you love making or wearing that shape? Let me know in the comments!
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May your stitches be filled with warmth and creativity. Until next time, happy making!
Yvonne 🧡
