Silk Road
Magnificent stands palace bold
madrasas and bazaars of old.
We’ve heard many a story told,
but nothing does prepare the eye,
to see so colorful and bright
from far and wide in rich sunlight,
The blue and turquoise colored tiles.

Not just façade but archways, roofs,
ceilings, domes and windows too,
covered with tessellated tiles .
In awe we stare, forget our trials
of weary paths we’ve trod,
in countries strange and odd,
nor language we barely comprehend
true artists see and understand
things crafted by a master’s hand.

Named after the old name of the city Samarkand in present day Uzbekistran, this crescent shaped shawl draws its inspiration from the intricately tiled Mardasas and Bazaar buildings of old. Blue and Turquoise flashes that rise above a landscape of tan and dust colored buildings, visible from afar.
The shawl is worked top down in seeds stitch and bands of Mosaic colorwork, an easy slip stitch technique using only one color per row and requiring no stranding or carrying the second yarn.
Pattern is both charted and fully written.

Yarn
Plucky Knitter Traveler Sport (65% extra fine Superwash Merino wool, 20% mulberry silk, 15% yak; 325 yards / 297 m per 3.5 oz /100 g skein)
2 Skeins MC, 1 skein each in Color 1,2, and 3

OR Sport weight yarn
approx 420 yds / 385 m MC, 140 yds / 128 m Color A, 290 yds / 265 m Color B, 300 yds / 275 m Color C.

Sample in Slumber (MC), Fancy Free (Color A; turquoise), Sounds Like A Carnival (Color B; blue), Strut Your Stuff (Color C; teal)

Needles
US 4 (3.75 mm) 32”/ 80 cm min circular needle, or size to obtain gauge

Gauge
24 st and 40 rows = 4” / 10 cm in seed st

Finished Size
75”/ 190 cm wingspan, 18”/ 46 cm center depth

Notions
Tapestry needle