The inspiration for the Doña Leonor Shawl design was from stockings worn by Eleonora di Toledo, a 16th-c Spanish noblewoman who married the ruler of Tuscany, Cosimo I de' Medici. The book A History of Handknitting by Richard Rutt has a detailed description and photos of the stockings (pg 71-72). They are described as “elegant and elaborate stockings”. There are many paintings of the lovely Eleonora di Toledo wearing stunning elegant gowns, but alas, none show her equally elegant stockings.

publisher Provenance Knits
designer Marsha White
Inspired by 16th-c Italian stitch patterns
Note: The shawl is reversible.

A detail photo (click on left) of the back of the shawl worn on a model shows off all the stitch patterns used: on the right side is the cast-on edge, and the left side of the shawl is worked even. The main stitch patterns, starting on the right edge are: double moss border, zig-zag lines of knit on a purl background; a trellis in purls with lace centers; and the main portion of the shawl worked in alternating columns of double moss and double garter stitch.

The lace and texture patterns look great on both sides of the fabric, so the shawl is reversible. The right side of the shawl is shown in the two detail photos on the left, and the reverse side is shown in the two detail photos on the right (the shawl laid out flat, and the shawl worn sideways .)

The top of the shawl is shaped by decreases worked from tip to tip, which forms a gentle curve for a good fit around the neckline.

Sample on left shown in Classic DK, Lilac.
* Charted instructions.
* Recommended for Intermediate knitters.
* Pattern was professionally tech edited by Robin Melanson.

Classic DK – 100% merino
3 – 100 gram skeins, 265 yds (242 m)

Approximate finished and blocked size:
Top width – 61”, length of sides – 43”, depth – 26”

Gauge: in pattern stitch
19 sts / 28 rows = 4”

Needles:
circular 4 mm / 6 US in 32” length
or size to obtain gauge.