The shawl is knit from neck down to the bottom hem. It is shaped by yarn-over increases along the front edges and along two narrow vertical bands of a stylized elderberry and elder leaf lace pattern, which run across the shoulders and down the arms to the hem. It requires approximately 800-825 yards of a fingering weight yarn. Be sure to choose one with a nice drape that will show off the lace pattern well after blocking. The original (Nimue Sock) is a 50/50 silk/superwash merino yarn with 435 yards/100 g skeins. It is shown here in Black Dahlia.

The Elder is deeply mixed into the folklore of most northern countries with legends and superstitions passed down to us from the British Isles, Germany and Scandinavia. In pre-Christian times, this plant was seen as highly beneficial - always connected with the female, with witches and faere folk, protection and guardianship. This might also be where we get the old notion that the number 13 is unlucky – because it is the Elder that rules the final 13th Lunar month in the Druid/Ogham calendar, including the Winter Solstice or Yule – the shortest day and longest night of the year.

This pattern is also available from The Yarn Guys as a kit. It is
part of a larger collection of Ogham tree-themed projects.