“The Fishwife” by Edward Charles Barnes
This painting caught my eye last winter, and so when the coast was clear in spring I dove into a lace designing frenzy. For a while I have wanted to make a female counterpart to my Fishermens Neck Gansey, and so here it is finally ~~~ done & dusted! Inspired by the painting, and in the same colorway as the painting …
Small shawl worn over medium cowl.
Fishwives Shoal = shawl + stole. ( Okay, plus a cowl thrown in! ) A play on words, indeed. As many of you have been reading all the fishy posts leading up to this one (especially Shoal or School? will help you get the name of my new design). Fish tails motifs with yarn-overs resembling splashes, and waves in-between create a beautiful lace pattern. Three styles, and three sizes in each.
The Shawl is square, and worn folded diagonally around neck double thick and tucked into corset, or just pin together. This one shown in pink is the small shawl(ette) size, while largest size, with diagonal of 64”, wraps around whole torso as a traditional Scottish hap does, and would also do nicely as a throw.
The Stole is just as a French neck & shoulder wrap, sized from wide scarf to full shoulder wrap.
Medium stole.
Back of medium stole.
Small stole.
The Cowl is simplest of the three styles, and knit in-the-round.
Medium cowl
But of all the three styles, I think I love most is to wear two of them together!
Small stole in rose, with medium cowl in natural white.
Medium stole in light grey, with small shawl in pink.
Medium stole in light grey, with small stole in rose.
Well that about wraps up an epic project. I will be laying low for a while, but soon back on another big idea I am sure. ~~ Boat loads of thanks to Wendy from Ontario for her test-knitting and generous help with figuring things out! Thanks Wen! ~~xx
Details on Ravelry pattern page over HERE
I will leave you now with some great old photos of a bygone era of real fishwives in their shawls…
and another cheery post card, one of a Newhaven Fishwife!
Jenjoyce Design 
Chookie, you have outdone yourself this time! That is exquisite! X
Hi Kelly!!! Now there’s me done & dusted, a hell of a lot of work went into this. I even purchased a fish-like shawl pin, not owning one previously. I have not answered your last, but now I will get to it. I hope you’re doing great, and thank you for your encouragement!!! xx
Phenomenal! I love it!! The medium gray stole is really spectacular. Thats my favorite, that and the white….uh, now I can’t decide!! The pin is lovely.
Awwww thanks Sorch. I think the grey stole is definitely my favorite too, but I do love them worn together. Isn’t that little fishy pin just perfect? Now I am equipped for shawl designing! 🙂 xx
Jen, it was a pleasure to knit your lovely design. 😊
I love all the pretty versions of Fishwives that you knit.
Hugs from California to Strathroy, and thanks so very much! I can’t wait to see your project page pop up now… 🙂 xx
lovely designs
Thank you so much Morrie! xx
Oh! And I am taking a break from all of this to do some spinning coming up. I miss it so much. xx
Simply stunning!
Thank you Tere! xx
Beautiful Jen. Like you, I love the two together!
Thanks Sara! xx
Gorgeous! I’ve yet to be a good enough knitter to knit something so lacy, but man, your pattern really makes me want to try. Maybe one of these days I’ll get the courage.
Thanks so much Becky! Fishwives is pretty easy as far as lace goes; only k2tog/p2tog, yarn-overs and no unnecessary frill. You could do it!
Why not try the narrow scarf, can’t go wrong with that. 🙂