Sonder Shawl by Helen Stewart

Craft: Knitting

This pattern is available on Ravelry.

The Sonder Shawl is a big, soft, cosy shawl to wrap up the Shawl Society journey. “Sonder” is a new word, originally defined as “the realization that each random passer by is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.“ That sudden flash of recognition occurs at random moments. Sometimes it’s brought on by the novelty of a new place: taking a crowded train through a foreign country and watching the evidence of thousands of unknown lives flash by in seconds. Other times, a mundane moment spent standing in a coffee shop queue becomes suddenly mysterious as you wonder about the inner lives of the strangers who surround you.

The moment we meet a new friend, we gain entrance into the rich story of their lives. It is the best way we have of tapping into that abundance of experience, and for the final Shawl Society project I wanted a design that reflected the connection and warmth we share as a community of knitters. The Sonder Shawl is an elongated triangle shape, veering towards a scarf. It has an open, easy to memorise stitch pattern and is finished with playful tassels. In the spirit of sharing, it is wonderful gift knitting: the bulky yarn knits up super fast and the contemporary design will appeal even to shawl sceptics.

This pattern is written in the Curious Handmade Percentage Checklist style™

Charts are not included in this pattern

SIZE

One size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

163cm (64”) long

66cm (26”) across bind off edge

YARN

The Fibre Co Tundra 60% Alpaca, 30% Wool, 10% Silk; 109m/120yds per 100g skein, 3 x skeins, Colour: Silver Wolf. Sample used all three skeins of Tundra

OR

Malabrigo Chunky 327m/360 yards

Malabrigo Mecha 327m/360 yards

NEEDLES

8mm (US 11), 100cm (40”) long circular needles (or size to obtain gauge)

NOTIONS

Tapestry needle

GAUGE

12 sts/16 rows = 10cm (4”) in shawl stitch pattern after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this shawl, but a different gauge might result in a different yardage required