Yarn Harlot Auctioning Shawl for Charity

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and her family have been training for the Friends for Live Bike Rally, a six-day, 600 kilometer (that’s almost 373 miles!) journey from Toronto to Montreal in support of people living with AIDS. The ride is only a few days away, and Stephanie has been busing raising funds for the cause on her blog by giving away what she calls “karmic balancing gifts” to some of the people who have donated, as well as hosting auctions of knit items.

Today it’s the gorgeous Omelet shawl (which she allows to be spelled in the American way even though she’s Canadian), described on the pattern at Knitty as a half-circle shawl with a garter stitch border knit from the center back to the bottom, with yarn overs used for shaping. It was designed by Joyce Fassbender and knit by the Yarn Harlot herself.

Stephanie is taking bids until sometime tomorrow, with the highest bidder getting the shawl. She’s been asking through this process that people not bid on items they could realistically make themselves, but I’m sure there are a lot of us who get a little antsy at the thought of that much laceweight and that many charts.

This is a wonderful shawl and a wonderful cause, so go bid if you are able, and donate anyway if it moves you. Best of luck on your trip, Stephanie!

[Photo by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee via Yarn Harlot.]

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Looking for more amazing shawl patterns? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Oh, this one has proper old-Hollywood winter charm.

The Pembroke Coat is a vintage knitted coat pattern that instantly made me think of crisp winter walks, leather gloves, polished boots, and the sort of coat your grandmother would have casually worn while looking impossibly elegant. It has that beautiful longline shape, a classic collar, button front, sleeve tabs, pockets, and a smart plaid-style design that gives it such a tailored finish.

This is not a quick “knit it while watching one movie” sort of project — and honestly, that is part of the appeal. The Pembroke Coat is one for knitters who love a satisfying vintage knitting pattern with a proper garment construction feel. The updated PDF includes the original vintage reference image along with a modern mockup, which makes it much easier to picture how this coat could look in today’s wardrobe.

I especially love that this pattern still feels wearable. Made in grey, camel, forest green, burgundy, or navy, it would be a gorgeous handmade winter coat with that timeless “where did you get that?” look.

As with most vintage patterns, I’d recommend reading through the instructions first, checking your gauge carefully, and being prepared to make small adjustments for fit and modern yarn substitutions. But for confident knitters who enjoy heirloom-style projects, this is a really lovely one to add to the queue.

You can find the Vintage Knitted Coat Pattern PDF in the CraftGossipStore on Etsy.

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