Hanami
In 1912 the city of Tokyo gave 3000 cherry trees to the city of Washington, DC as a gesture of friendship and goodwill. Today those trees, and others given later, still bloom every Spring for a few short days, in a stunning display of nature's beauty. Hanami is the Japanese word used for traditional cherry blossom viewing activities and it is the combination of this tradition and the gesture of friendship that inspired the design of the Hanami stole.Asymmetrical in design, the stole begins with a beaded cast on and a basket weave lace design inspired by a traditional Sashiko, or Japanese quilting design. The basket weave symbolizes the friendships and interweaving of our lives.
The second half of the stole is dedicated to the cherry blossoms and the reminder they give us of the beauty of life. As anyone who has seen cherry blossoms blow in the wind can tell you, they make a beautiful pink and white cloud of blossoms. Starting out with just a scatter of blossoms, they get thicker until at the end of the stole, there is a full cloud of blossoms. The second end of the stole is finished with a simple, flirty ruffle that is reminiscent of the delicate blossoms themselves.
A striking combination of the geometric basket weave design and the organic cherry blossoms, this stole is the perfect accessory for any special occasion. Complete directions, including a pictorial guide to the beaded cast on and full charts are included in the pattern. The stole can also be worked either entirely in the basket weave pattern, or entirely in the cherry blossom pattern and I have included directions for both variations. This gives you essentially three stole designs in one pattern!
Finished size of the stole as written is 19 inches wide by 70 inches long. Yardage required is 880 yards of laceweight yarn. Shown in KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud in Peppermint. Please see pattern for additional notes about yardage as knitting either of the alternate versions could change your yardage requirements. Also requires 47 size 8 seed beads for beaded cast on. Supply list calls for 44, but this is an error. The whole pattern is 12 pages long and is available in a pdf format for your immediate download once payment has cleared PayPal!
Labels: Patterns for Sale
posted by Melanie at 7:22 AM
75 Comments:
Oh my, that is the most beautiful stole/shawl I have seen!! I really love how you have woven it all together in words.
wow, i don't know what is lovelier, the stole or the story! i lived in D.C. and the surrounding area from 1965 to 1974, and I did always love the spring and the cherry blossoms. Lovely job!!
It's just beautiful. I love the way the patterns move into one another.
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! Making a note for payday, as soon as I finish the LAST stole of yours I fell in love with... :) can you give me an idea of the yardage I'll need so I can start planning? :)
That is absolutely, no doubt about it gorgeous!
What a pretty stole! I love knits that have a story and symbolism behind them. This one is so springlike, just as we are all getting buried in snow. :)
That's quite a classy stole, and I do love the background as well. I've also too much on right now, but I'll be back to pick this one up soon!
Oh, wow! It is stunning! I'm not sure I'd rather wear it or hang it on the wall!
Absolutely STUNNING Mel!
I both the stole and the symbolism behind it. It is gorgeous.
Wondrously wonderful. And making me homesick (born in DC, raised in MD, live in Calif.) What a perfect stole!
Its beautiful. I especially like the cherry blossoms part.
Wow, that stole is gorgeous! Makes me wish I had money in my PayPal account. You don't happen to take money-orders, do you? *grins*
Very pretty! My brother lives in Tokyo. This would be a perfect gift for his wife. I'd love to know the yardage, yarn type/weight and needle size you used and it's dimensions.
That. Is. Gorgeous. Amazing! It's perfect.
Thanks for another wonderful stole design! I have lived in my MS2 all winter :-) I've already purchased Hanami and am preparing to knit it next. being a bead artist as well as a knitter, I thought it might be helpful to add some information about the beading portion of the shawl. Bead sizing varies widely across manufacturers--they are not all created equal unfortunately. The size 8-0 beads you used from Mill Hill are a round bead manufactured by a company out of Japan call Toho. They are easily applied to lace weight yarn with a US 12 or 14 steel crochet hook following the technique you described. However, I was unable to successfully apply 8-0 round beads from the other major Japanese company, Miyuki, or beads made in the Czech Republic or China as the interior diameter or size of the hole is too small. I was able to apply 8-0 cylindrical beads (ie Delica) without difficulty as they have much larger holes.
My point in going through all this is that many people may want to look for size 6-0 or "E" beads to add to their stole as they will have an adequate hole size regardless of manufacturer. These beads are easily found in the bead section of the craft store. The Mill Hill beads are usually located in the needlework section and are not where the rest of the beads are in the store. Oh, and one more thing, I wanted to use Swarovski crystals on my stole, but the holes are too small for any crochet hook. So if you want to use serious bling bling, you'll need to add the beads by stringing them on the yarn in advance, or sewing the crystals on afterwards. I haven't decided what I'll do yet :-)
I just thought this information may be helpful to other knitters who aren't as knowledgeable about beads :-) Knit on!
Absolutely lovely!! Very inspiring.
It just dawned on me I hadn't commented either, to say that this is the only pattern I've bought (books included) in a year. I love all your shawls, but I think this is my favourite so far.
That is the most amazing thing I've seen ever! I'm going to make sure I have that. Wow.... you have an amazing talent!!!
Hello Melanie,
I ordered the pattern on 24. February and payed it by Visa.
But I didn't get any pattern til now.
Heike
What a beautiful stole. I would like to make it using some Rowan 4 Ply Soft that I have in my stash. I would really appreciate it if you could post the dimensions of the stole, as well as the yardage required. Many thanks in advance!
Rebecca
Sorry for being so late, but what a gorgeous and unique stole!!! I love all the stitch pattern transitions.
yes, very pretty stole; i just saw it on someone else's site and love it!
OMG! So Perfect! Must! Make! Now!
On a side note, did you know that when the original trees in Japan (from which the cuttings for Washington were taken) were dying (old age, basically) cuttings were taken from the Washington trees to replenish them? Neat, huh?
As a DC person and yarn lover, I naturally bought the Cherry Blossom colorway in lace weight from Sundara at Purly Whites. I've been wondering what to do with it, and I think this will be the perfect combination!
Hi, I am so impressed by your beautiful Hanami Stole. I am Japanese and living in Tokyo, and this year's Hanami period has just passed...Here in Japan, we've got keen informations of "Sakura Zensen(cherry blossom's front line)" every year, which means when is the estimated date of first flowering of cherry blossom in every regions all over Japan islands. We can see it on TV like weather forecasting, at the moment of it, from March. Once it started, this precious yearly Hanami period is normally around 1 week or so, and it is stunning beauty, everywhere becomes pale pink clouds...
Your stole is so nice and matches perfectly for that dreamy events. I would like to knit one and wear it under next year's cherry blossoms. Wear Hanami stole for the very authentic Hanami!
Just came over from Mason-Dixon blog. The stole is simply stunning! Reminds me of my time in DC. Can't wait to cast on.
Carol
Is this pattern "only" charted? Any chance you will be writing it out at some point? thanks!
Saw this on the Festival of Trees and I have to say your pattern -- and the results are stunning! I could never in my wildest dreams knit anything like this (well, I don't even know how to knit) -- it looks so time consuming. I don't have the patience, but I'm glad there are artisans like you who DO have that kind of patience!
This stole is just beautiful. Stunning. I have been contemplating buying the pattern since Kay (MDK) mentioned it back in April. Of course, since I've never knit lace before, I find it a bit intimidating but I keep coming back to it.
Can you tell me what yarn was used to knit the model Hanami in these photographs?
I'm just very happy I got mine! A must have for anyone who likes shawls! Just gorgeous!
I lived in DC for 10 years (am moving back soon, yeah!) and have enjoyed hanami in Japan as well. You nailed the magic of this special event. I'd also love to know what yarn you used in the sample.
Beautiful! Thanks!
This shawl is gorgeous! No, I didn't make a mistake... I purchased two copies... one for me and one for my friend Denise. Thank you for both the pattern and the history!
I made a mistake and paid for the pattern twice via paypal. How can we fix that?
To Deb who paid twice for Hanami, please email me at HooLooBoo AT aol DOT com and I can refund your money. Blogger doesn't give me email addresses with comments.
What a lovely stole! i´m one of those +6000 who are knitting MS3 and I love that mysterous pattern.
I have been checking for your problem with emails from your commenteing visitors and I have an idea.
Log in to blogspot and change the text/add the text which tells us to leave our comments. I just changed my text to: Please leave your email if you want me to contact/to respond on your comment. Write after this pattern......
ingalill at ridemark dot se
'tis wunnerful. I finished recently and loved every minute.
My Hanami love-fest can be found at: http://clarastitchandtotalbitch.blogspot.com/2007/07/haaaannnnnaaaammmmiiii.html
best wishes!
That is the perfect stole for my Mother of the Bride dress. I can't wait to get the pattern and begin!
I just purchased this pattern from you and was wondering if you could tell me a little more about the type of beads you used- I went to the Mill Hill website-was it Pony Beads 8/0?
I like the asymmetry and the lovely story behind your stole. Is the pattern provided in chart form only or are there also written directions?
I used to live in Tokyo and cherry blossom viewing has become one of my most cherished hobbies. Thank you for writing such a beautiful pattern.
Absolutely beautiful. You know, I've been searching high and low for SOMETHING, ANYTHING to knit... but it had to be exquisitely beautiful. I think I've found what I was looking for.
I paid for the beautiful Hanami via paypal and it put me on "hold" the other day-I still haven't been able to download the pattern-please send me via email at marthamalavansky@yahoo.com. Thank you much.
This shawl is SO beautiful!
Do you accept Visa/Mastercard payments?
Thanks!
Olga.
Hi Melanie, yesterday I bougth your Hanami Stole pattern and I want to know when I will get it, as I would like to cast on it tomorrow (I have Easter Holidays) but I need it asap. My e-mail is luisa.zambrana@avanzit.com
Pls tell me something!!!
Thanks for this beautiful stole!!!
What an incredible shawl, I love it!! I would consider myself an intermediate knitter. Just to clarify, I can do fair isle, mittens, scarfs ext with no problem including charts. Would this be to advanced for me? As in, would I want to kill myself for starting it? Thanks so much!
karlarae1979@gmail.com
My friend Gail is making this shawl and I just saw her version and your pattern the other day, so had to drop by and tell you how delightful it is. I love that it is asymmetrical, as well as love the inspiration behind it!
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I am interested in getting your patterns. Not set up with paypal,cheque or money order perhaps? Could you sent the patterns by mail? Let me know. Love your designs. Thanks
Jeanw.
Hellojeanw@yahoo.com'
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dear Melanie,
I've been enjoying your blog a lot! We had a sealpoint siamese for 21 years - they always catch my eye!! I'm writing because I have fallen for your "hanami" pattern. It's seems like fate calling because I already have the Knitpicks 'peppermint twist' and was searching for a pattern. This shawl will be the perfect gift for my Japanese friend who speaks often of the cherry blossom viewing in her country. BUT ... I am wondering if you offer this pattern in written form, as I have problems reading charts. I look forward to hearing from you- jomellenthin@vassar.edu
I have spent the last two weeks seriously looking for a shawl or stole pattern that is not granny or Victorian. I also refuse to spend my time knitting on something that looks like it could be knitted by a machine. This shawl is a dream come true. I was almost ready to give up the search. I just downloaded the pattern and am off to begin. Thank you, thank you.
Hi, I just downloaded the pattern, but it's missing all text. All the charts are available, and the pictures for the beaded cast on, but just bullet points where the text should be.
My email is:
greyshadeofblack@yahoo.com
I am finishing the stole tonight, and I have to say that I have loved every minute that I worked on it. <3
I too want to knit Hanami, I've got the yarn and all, but I closed my Paypal account after spams/spyware damage I got from fake paypal emails(which cost me megabucks to fix). Any way of paying with Visa but not Paypal? Thank you!
Is there anyway to order the Hanami shawl pattern without using paypal? ptedesco@schalifax.org
hello !
I've just paid for this most beautiful pattern via paypal (you can check I'm mi_aubry) but had a problem when downloading ! (my internet-connexion isn't powerful enough, I'm on a very small island in Africa)... can you help me ? the best for me would be that you send the pdf document on the following email : michelle.aubry@diplomatie.gouv.fr
thanks for your help...
Thank you for this beautiful design, sold by the beautiful story.
I knitted it for a friend, who keeps emailing me with compliments she's received and times and places she's using it. :D
It was so much fun to knit, too. Very clever girl, you.
Can someone tell me if this pattern is charted or written?
thanks
I'm sorry, I didn't see the response to the question, "is the pattern only charted?" Also, what needle size is recommended?
Can't wait!
The pattern is entirely charted and is not available in a written out format. I apologize to anyone who cannot work in this format, but the majority of the pattern changes every row and charting is the most effective way of showing this.
very beautiful and creative art
Hey there,
Really nice job, There are many people searching about that now they will find enough sources by your tips.
Also looking forward for more tips about that
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet.
Great read thanks for the share!!!
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Happy to see your blog as it is just what I’ve looking for and excited to read all the posts. I am looking forward to another great article from you.
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There are may person searching about that now they will find enough resources by your post,
Very nicely made. I have just started this but still need a lot of tips to help. I did make a nice hat earlyer tho. I will have to share the pics.
Great post thanks. I love what you have done.
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Beautiful scarf, I would like one in black.
pink design is very beautiful
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