This crescent shawl was designed as my 2020 project for The Longest Day, a fundraiser sponsored by Alzheimer’s Research (www.alz.org). The idea is that participants engage in a favorite activity from sunrise to sunset on June 20, the longest day of the year. On this day I’ll knit another version of the shawl shown here and post my hourly progress on Instagram (annbuddknits).

This crescent-shaped shawl begins with a narrow garter-stitch tab from which stitches are picked up around three edges. To achieve the crescent shape, two stitches are increased inside each edge stitch every right-side row and one stitch is increased inside each edge stitch every wrong-side row. A modified picot bind-off produces tiny points along the lower edge.

The yarn shown here is The Mystery of the White Plum colorway dyed by Schmutzerella Yarns based on the purple color in The Longest Day logo. The Morphing Mini pack grades from purple to pale gray to represent the fading memories of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s (kits are available for pre-order at www.schmutzerellayarns.com) The shawl is worked from the darkest shade to the lightest. The stitch pattern also grades from predominately stockinette stitch to progressively more eyelets to represent the increasing holes in those memories.

For every pattern sold, I will donate $5 to Team Ann Budd Knits at www.alz.org. For every kit of The Mystery of the White Plum sold, an additional $5 will be donated.

A number of yarn shops have agreed to donate the proceeds from sales of the following specially dyed purplish yarn (photographed at left) to Alzheimer’s Research as well.

• Jorstad Creek Ursa Minor in Stardust Memories (available at The Bazaar Girls in Port Townsend, WA)
• Emma’s Yarns Hella Hank in Bright Spot (available at Four Purls in Winter Haven, FL)
• Sun Valley Fibers Merino/Cashmere/Nylon Fingering in The Longest Day (available at The Longmont Yarn Shoppe in Longmont, CO)
• Colinton Australia Lace Blends in Slate Variegated (available at The Bazaar Girls in Port Townsend, WA)
• Elemental Affects Civility in Fading Memories (available at The Bazaar Girls in Port Townsend, WA)