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| Photo above © Alla Borisova |
Lily-of-the-Valley-Rosea by Alla Borisova is an elaborate lace shawl with an unusual multi-part construction, delicate floral motifs and bead embellishment.
Originally published in 2016, the design combines a wide central section, side wings and separate lace edging to create a dramatic finished shawl suitable for special occasions.
The digital pattern is now discontinued and no longer available online from its original sources, so this page has been updated as a historical pattern guide rather than a download page.
Pattern Availability Update
Lily-of-the-Valley-Rosea by Alla Borisova has been discontinued. Ravelry currently states that the digital pattern is no longer available online, and its original publication sources are listed as out of print. Amazing Knitting does not host or link to unauthorized copies of the pattern.
Lily of the Valley Rosea at a Glance
Pattern: Lily-of-the-Valley-Rosea
Designer: Alla Borisova
Published: February 2016
Category: Shawl / Wrap
Yarn Weight: Cobweb, held three strands together
Suggested Yarn: Moscow Yarn Company Lidiya W
Needles: US 4 / 3.5 mm
Hook Sizes: 0.6 mm and 2.0 mm
Published Yardage: Approx. 2,381–2,406 yd / 2,177–2,200 m
Finished Size: Approx. 90 × 198 cm
Construction: Five-part shawl construction
Instructions: Charts only
Skill Level: Difficult / Advanced
Current Availability: Discontinued / no longer available online
About Lily of the Valley Rosea
Lily-of-the-Valley-Rosea was designed by Alla Borisova and first published in February 2016.
It is a large lace shawl with a highly decorative appearance, combining complex openwork with beads and an unusual structural approach.
The original pattern was available in both English and Russian.
An Unusual Five-Part Construction
One of the most distinctive features of this shawl is its construction.
According to the designer's published pattern information, the shawl consists of five main parts:
- A wide central back panel
- A knitted-on lace upper edge
- Two side wings
- A lower border
This is much more involved than a conventional triangular shawl worked continuously from one point or from the neckline.
Finished Size
The published finished size is approximately:
90 × 198 cm
The designer also notes that the final dimensions can vary depending on yarn weight, needle size and individual gauge.
Original Yarn
The pattern calls for approximately 135 grams of Lidiya Wool by Moscow Yarn Company.
This is an extremely fine 100% wool yarn listed at approximately 1,613 meters per 100 grams.
The original instructions specify working with three strands held together.
Why Three Fine Strands?
Holding several very fine strands together can create a fabric that still feels delicate while giving the knitter more control over the final thickness and drape.
It also affects yarn substitution. Matching only the label “lace” or “cobweb” is not enough; the combined fabric and finished gauge are what matter.
Published Yardage
Ravelry lists approximately:
2,381–2,406 yards / 2,177–2,200 meters
That figure reflects the very fine yarn and the large finished shawl.
Needles and Hooks
The published needle size is:
US 4 / 3.5 mm
The pattern information also lists crochet hooks in 0.6 mm and 2.0 mm.
These are associated with finishing and bead-related techniques in the original design.
Beaded Lace
Beads are an important decorative feature of Lily-of-the-Valley-Rosea.
The combination of fine lace yarn and beads gives the shawl a formal, almost ceremonial appearance that suits evening wear, weddings and other special occasions.
If working from a legitimate copy of the original pattern, organize the beads before beginning and use the hook size recommended for the specific bead-placement technique.
Charts Only
One important detail for prospective knitters is that the pattern is listed as charts only.
This means it is not a project for someone who relies exclusively on fully written row-by-row lace instructions.
You should be comfortable reading chart symbols and following complex lace repeats before attempting this design.
Chart Direction Matters
The designer notes that some charts show only right-side rows, while others show both right-side and wrong-side rows.
Because different charts follow different conventions, careful reading of the chart key and notes is essential.
Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the charts or the designer's copyrighted row instructions here.
Advanced Lace Techniques
The pattern uses a substantial range of lace techniques.
The designer's pattern information includes techniques such as:
- Knit and purl stitches
- Yarn overs
- Knitting through the back loop
- K2tog
- SSK
- Pass-slipped-stitch-over decreases
- Centered triple decreases
- Special multi-stitch manipulations
This combination explains why the design is classified as difficult.
Skill Level
The designer identifies Lily-of-the-Valley-Rosea as:
Difficult — for the advanced knitter
This is not simply because the shawl is large. The challenge comes from complex lace, several construction stages, charts, fine yarn and bead work.
The Lily-of-the-Valley Lace Motif
The central section of the shawl has an interesting historical connection.
The designer states that its central section uses the Maiglöckchen 603/115 stitch pattern by Herbert Niebling, published in Strick-Lehrbuch Burda in 1983.
“Maiglöckchen” is the German word for lily of the valley, which helps explain the floral character and name of the shawl.
Why Lifelines Are Especially Useful
With fine yarn and complicated lace, a lifeline can save a great deal of work.
Place one through a known-correct row at regular intervals, particularly before beginning a new chart or structural section.
If a later mistake requires unraveling, you then have a secure point to return to.
Use a Row Counter
A project with several charts benefits from disciplined row tracking.
Use a row counter, printed chart checklist or another reliable method rather than assuming you will remember where you stopped.
This is particularly important when a project is put aside between knitting sessions.
Check Stitch Counts Frequently
Complex lace can magnify a small error.
A missed yarn over or decrease may not become visually obvious until several rows later.
Checking counts at logical points can make errors much easier to locate and repair.
Choosing Substitute Yarn
If you already own a legitimate copy of the pattern and wish to substitute yarn, focus on the resulting fabric rather than matching only the printed yarn category.
Consider:
- Combined thickness of the held strands
- Drape
- Stitch definition
- Behavior during blocking
- Strength when carrying beads
- Total available yardage
Blocking Is Essential
Intricate lace often looks compressed directly from the needles.
Blocking allows the floral motifs to open and helps establish the final shape of the large lower border and side sections.
Follow the care requirements of your yarn and allow the shawl to dry completely while held in its intended shape.
Is Lily of the Valley Rosea Still Available?
No current authorized online copy could be verified.
Ravelry currently states: “Discontinued. This digital pattern is no longer available online.”
The listed original sources are also marked out of print.
For that reason, Amazing Knitting does not provide links to copied PDFs or unofficial archives.
View the Historical Pattern Record
Ravelry still maintains the official pattern record with the designer, yarn information, project examples and historical specifications:
View Lily of the Valley Rosea on Ravelry →
Looking for a Free Lace Shawl Instead?
If you want a complex lace project with a pattern that is currently available for free, try Begonia Swirl by Carfield Ma.
It is a different design, but it offers substantial lace knitting and its original free Ravelry download remains available.
See the Free Begonia Swirl Shawl →
Another verified free lace option in our archive is:
See the Free Birds Nest Shawl →
More Lace Shawls
Before You Start
Lily-of-the-Valley-Rosea is now a discontinued pattern. If you already own a legitimate copy, read through all of the charts and construction notes before beginning.
Prepare your yarn and beads in advance, use lifelines and a reliable row-tracking system, and expect the different construction stages to require careful attention.
If you do not already own the pattern, use the Ravelry page as a historical reference rather than downloading unverified copies from unknown websites.
Pattern credit: Lily-of-the-Valley-Rosea was designed by Alla Borisova and first published in 2016. The existing photograph on this Amazing Knitting page is credited to Alla Borisova. Amazing Knitting provides an independent historical pattern guide and does not reproduce the designer's copyrighted charts or complete knitting instructions.