Sacagawea
Sacagawea
This shawl is a tribute to Sacagawea and her amazing contributions to the Lewis & Clark expedition. The various sections of the shawl represent their crossing of the Plains, Rocky Mountains, Cascade Mountains, multiple rivers and the Coast Range. The colorwork bands depict the many challenges and myriad adjustments required to reach the Pacific Ocean.
Construction is top-down, triangular and the instructions are both charted and written. This is fun and relatively easy colorwork - only one color of yarn is used per row! The solid bands are worked in simple garter stitch. The slip-stitch (Mosaic) colorwork sections are perfect for a gradient yarn. Strongly contrasting colors and smooth yarn is recommended for the colorwork to be vibrant and visible.
Sacagawea was a Native American woman who accompanied Lewis & Clark on their expedition in 1805-06 from the northern plains through the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and back again. Remarkably, while only about 16 years of age herself, she cared for her newborn son, Baptiste, the entire way and back, an estimated 7,690 miles. Sacagawea was instrumental in the success of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, using her skills to navigate the rough terrain and gather food, as well as translate and negotiate with the Shoshone, her original tribe from which she had been kidnapped at about the age of 12. I hope the design of this shawl does Sacagawea justice.
The sample shown is made in Miss Babs Yummy 2-Ply in background color McHale and the gradient colorwork is done in color set Amber.
The instructions are both written and charted and the pattern has been professionally tech edited and tested.
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SIZE
85 inches/216cm wide across top edge and and 26 inches/66cm deep at point of triangle.
RECOMMENDED YARN
Main Color (MC): Miss Babs Yummy 2-Ply: Fingering (100% superwash merino wool); 400 yds (365m)/4 oz (115g); Color McHale.
OR: Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock, OR Manos del Uruguary Fino in color Admiral.
Contrast Color (CC): Miss Babs Yummy 2-Ply Gradient Set: Fingering (100% superwash merino wool); 798 yds (726m)/7.8 oz (228g); Gradient Set in Color Amber.
OR: Sweet Georgia Party of Five gradient set, OR Manos del Uruguary Fino in color Gilt.
ESTIMATED YARN REQUIRED
MC – 640 yards (585m) - 2 skeins would be 800 yds
CC – 303 yards (277m) - 1 skein or 1 mini-gradient set
Yarn usage will vary depending on gauge and specific yarn used.
RECOMMENDED NEEDLES
Medium – US 5 (3.75mm) 29–32” / 70–80cm circular needle for main body (garter sections) or size needed to obtain gauge.
Larger – US 6 (4mm) 29–32” / 70–80cm circular needle for mosaic work only (if indicated by swatch results).
Smaller – US 4 (3.5mm) 29–32” / 70–80cm circular needle for finishing band only.
GAUGE
22 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette using medium needles
NOTIONS
Stitch Markers
Yarn needle to weave in ends.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND SKILLS USED
Accessible to an advanced beginner knitter.
Skills Used: Increases, decreases and reading color charts.
Instructions are both written and charted.
RAVELRY PATTERN PAGE
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