The Whakahoahoa Shawl is a symbol of friendship. This design was commissioned by Eylul Kilim, a local yarn shop in Osaka that I've had the wonderful opportunity to not only form a relationship with, but also a friendship with the owner, Yuri Kojima. In the aftermath of the Great Kumamoto Earthquake of 2016, I vividly recall her reaching out to me on Instagram asking if I was safe and if I needed help. Since moving to Osaka, Yuri has demonstrated the meaning of friendship again and again, welcoming me and my husband into her family, providing assistance, and feeding me cookies and tea whenever I visit her shop. Being able to design a pattern for her shop's 5th year anniversary is small payment in return. She is definitely knit- worthy.
This shawl is knit side-to-side, from tip to tip, in four main sections: the set-up, the increase, the decrease and then the finishing. The design features a simple diamond motif that is easy to memorize and even easier to knit. You can adjust the size of the shawl for the amount of yarn you have in your stash or to the length you wish (as the increase and decrease sections are just halves of each other). Due to the simplicity of the stitch pattern, you can use that beautiful skein of variegated yarn that's been hiding in your stash for so long but haven't had an opportunity to use (until now!).
Knit this shawl for a knit worthy friend that you wish to celebrate, or knit one for yourself (you're deserving of love and appreciation too!).