Start of GS Catharina

There is a Yahoo knit-a-long list for the Stahman Shawls and Scarves book.

Myrna Stahman occasionally posts to answer questions. After reading her book and starting one of her patterns, I place her right up toward the top of my Most Admired Knitters list.

And she gets extra points for being from Idaho, home state of the sweetest grandbaby.


After reading all the glorious, well-written instruction for knitting a Faroese shawl top down, I decided there were so many new things it might be best if my first attempt was not in slippery, fingering weight linen yarn.

I was delighted to see the first patterns in the book were suitable for working shawls that tie in the back. Perfect for the CIC caretakers. So last week I ordered and received twenty ounces of Peace Fleece to knit the GS Catharina Shawl. Even the shawl name sounds Eastern European.


Pattern: GS Catharina from Stahman's Shawls and Scarves

Yarn: Worsted weight Peace Fleece, 30% Mohair/70% wool.

Color: Ukranian red.

Note: Knitting this shawl as a working shawl for the CIC caretakers. Red is their most requested color.

Needles: Addi Turbo #7

Gauge: 4 stitches/inch, 6.5 rows/inch

The caretakers are generally large ladies. They like red and they like their shawls large so they can tie them in back. They work in very cold conditions and need all the warmth they can get, but they also appreciate something pretty. I'm hoping this project is perfect for one of them.

GS Catharina can be lace from the shoulders down. For warmth, I've elected to knit boring garter stitch until the shawl is twenty inches long with 315 stitches on the needle.