Your Finished Object: Vanessa’s Legacy Shawl

Pattern and designer Hearts, Vines, and Flowers Shawl by Grace Yaskovic.

Fiber Qiviut and cashmere, plus a single strand of silk thread.

Preparation Handcarded.

Wheel system/spindle Russian supported spindle.

Singles wraps per inch Qiviut: 48; cashmere: 55.

Yarn classification/weight Cobweb.

Yardage used About 2,700 yards each of the three fibers carried together.

Needles Size 10 (6 mm).

Finished size 45" (114 cm) long; 92" (234 cm) across at bottom hem.

It began with a dream in 2021. Having lived in Alaska since 1974, I have an affinity for qiviut, the soft undercoat of the musk ox. Qiviut is known for being wonder­fully fine and soft, measuring 10 to 15 microns, and it is one of the warmest natural fibers on earth.

Around that time, I was introduced to a woman who raises cashmere goats in Sterling, Alaska, who had a nice amount of cloud available. My creative juices started flowing as I envisioned a handspun, handknitted shawl to leave to my daughter upon my earthly departure. She cherishes all things spun and knitted, of which I keep her abundantly supplied.

The author models her finished shawl in the wintry Alaskan landscape she calls home.

So the journey began. I scoured qiviut from any source I could, from hand-plucked seasonal shed (do not attempt to gather from live wild animals) to small batches of purchased cloud or roving. I purchased the cashmere cloud from the local “goat lady,” Lee Corin. I gathered my fiber in excited anticipation and armed myself with several support spindles, which I had fallen in love with since my first visit to Grandma’s Spinning Wheel—a shop of endless yarn and fibers—in Tucson, Arizona. Experiencing the knowledge that abounds within the walls of this jewel of a place is almost a spiritual experience.

I find that televised sports of any kind are the perfect opportunity to engage in spinning. I have spun my way through NBA, NFL, and MLB games, plus a few golf tournaments and even a season of the Olympics. After a year, I had not only handspun 3,000 yards each of qiviut and cashmere cobweb-weight yarn, I had also enjoyed my husband’s companionship and become acquainted with several sports figures!

Detail of Lynette's shawl, knitted with qiviut, cashmere, and silk.

The task of carding, plucking guard hairs and noils, and continual refining of the fiber to usability was time-consuming. During this time, I was employed recording fuel stats in a tiny shack on the North Slope oil field of Alaska in Prudhoe Bay. I was free to occupy my spare time during the 12- to 14-hour days, seven days a week, for at least two weeks at a time in any constructive manner. I spent countless hours with qiviut spread out on a cloth, plucking guard hairs from the accumulated cloud with tweezers to acquire the necessary amount I would need to complete my project. With my fiber in hand, I completed the spinning project in just over a year, even though I still had to keep a household running!

The back side of the shawl, which can fit through a reasonably sized wedding band.

Knowing how fragile the two fibers are in a cobweb weight, I decided to carry a single strand of silk thread with them for strength. I decided not to ply, allowing more air space between the yarns. My daughter, Vanessa, requested a shawl that she could wrap herself in as well as sit upon, giving her the feeling of a butterfly’s wings encircling her (her name means “butterfly”). After deciding on a suitable pattern, I chose to keep the colors natural—the result is reminiscent of woodland butterflies. I finished the garment in about three months of intermittent knitting, and, weighing 53/4 ounces (163 grams), it can fit through a reasonably sized wedding band. I am pleased to present this garment as inspiration to create your own piece of history.

Have a finished object to share? Tell us about it by sending us an email here.

This article was first published in Spin Off Winter 2025.

Lynette Merrill is a passionate knitter, having taught herself at the age of 16. She is 71 years old (at time of publication) and has been active in guilds in Glennallen and Soldotna, Alaska. She spends her days with her husband, Rick (also retired), living the semirural Alaskan lifestyle and knitting for enjoyment and consignment.