Mother’s Comfort
A leaf falling off the family tree is a common image in the Pregnancy and Infant
Loss (PAIL) community. In some hospitals, when a woman is experiencing a stillbirth instead of a typical delivery, the nurses put a picture of a leaf on the door so that staff coming in will know what’s happening and will be appropriately sensitive in their interactions with the family. I really like this image; I even have a pendant with a picture of a tree with a falling leaf that I often wear in memory of our son Paul.
After we lost Paul, I discovered how much I appreciated being able to envelop myself in a big, soft, comfy shawl when I felt sad. It really does feel like a hug to me, so I give you A Mother’s Comfort. The motif of the leaf falling from a tree makes this a larger and slightly more complicated than Simple Comfort, but a grieving mom won’t mind waiting longer for this special gift; she’ll miss her child forever.
Designer: Erica Hernandez
Finished Measurements: 73″ / 185.5cm wingspan × 24″ / 61cm depth
Measurements are approximate; size will depend on if or how severely you block your finished shawl.
Materials: Malabrigo Yarns Arroyo (100% merino; 335 yds / 306m per 100g skein); color: Coffee Toffee; 3 skeins
Gauge: 20 sts and 32 rows = 4″ / 10cm in St st
Gauge is not critical in this pattern, but a different gauge will affect yardage and size of finished item
