It’s March and Spring is around the corner! When the weather is unpredictable, a perfect accent is a handknit shawl like the Elisabetta Damask Shawl, a light-as-a-feather piece made in fine tussah silk yarn that shimmers in the sunlight.
The shawl is knit loosely in a geometric design that adds texture as well as dimension. It is wide enough to wrap around the shoulders and long enough to loop, twist, knot, and tuck into a variety of ways that adds a bit of warmth — and a lot of style!
I love the bands at each end of the shawl, which are made using doubled yarn + strands of embroidery floss. The added weight helps the delicate shawl keep its shape.
The color is called Starlight and is a pale lavender — a perfect shade for Spring.
What is Tussah Silk?
Tussah silk is also known as wild silk because the silkworms are collected in the forests of South Asia rather than cultivated. Tussah moths feed on the leaves from oak and jamun trees, which are rich in tannins, giving the undyed silk a golden hue. The jamun tree, native to the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia, is a tropical evergreen tree known for its fruit, timber, and ornamental value.
Compared to cultivated silk varieties, tussah silk is more textured and has shorter fibers, making it less durable. However, it still retains the luster and sheen that are hallmarks of silk.
Handknit Shawl Details
The Elisabetta Damask Shawl was designed by Cecelia Campochiaro
The Shimmering Tussah yarn (100% tussah silk) is from A Verb for Keeping Warm
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