Coralie Shawl

**Dedication** This shawl design is dedicated to the memory of Coralie Welch (nee Baker) — bohemian, a lady of the bush, and a poet — and beloved mother of Rosa Therese Holzberger (nee Welch). **Description** This is a triangular shawl. This pattern is for intermediate to advanced crocheters. The pattern is designed to repeat, so you can continue the repeating pattern until the desired size of shawl is achieved. **Yarn:** I recommend a 4 to 6 ply yarn. My project uses 1500m of KoKonki (Classic A532) in 4 ply. I used a 3.5mm hook. My completed shawl has three repeats, and measures 105cm long, sides of 145cm, and has a span of 190cm. **You can follow me on:** Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/kirsten-bishop Twitter: https://twitter.com/lil_psychotic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lil_psychotic73/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/kirstenbishop50/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilpsychoticdesigner/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KirstenBishopDesigns/ **Tags:** #lil_psychotic73 #kirstenbishop #coralieshawl **No Roots by Coralie Welch from her book of verse “Down the Snowy”** *She went to the bush as a young bride thing As the wife of a station hand Determined to learn how to cook with wood And do all the things that a bush woman should On Monaro’s tableland* *‘Twas summertime then and the days were long As she flaunted her golden band She helped in the paddocks and made her own jam And lived with the love of a young bush man From Monaro’s Tableland* *But seasons soon changed and the days were short And winter held clutched in his hand The cold winds and show and the trees stripped bare No neighbours, no night lights, no comforts there On Monaro’s Tableland* *Her thoughts were of friends and telephone calls The beaches, the dances, the band The shorthand and typing had no place here ‘Mid the frosts and the snow and the wind so severe On Monaro’s Tableland* *But the years crowded past as the young ones came Convenience was naught but a dream There’s the firewood stove. Is the cream skimmed yet? There’s water to fetch and the milk to set By Monaro’s mountain stream.* *She’d six sturdy sons and four daughters fair The y grew up. They left home. They wed She and the bush man now lonely there The snow had tinted the once dark hair On Monaro’s Watershed* *So they left the dear hills and went back to town To a neat little house in a row Where she turns on a tap or a fridge or a light She can keep the lamp burning all through the night In Suburbia’s lasting glow* *Now she has all she wants, a washer, an iron A neighbour, a carpet so grand But a night bird’s call or the smell of the rain Can take her back all those miles again To Monaro’s Tableland* **Bibliography** Coralie Welch was city born and bred, and lived a full and active life for 90 years. A great part of her time was spent in primitive, pioneer conditions with many changes of abode, in lonely, isolated areas removed from medical or family assistance and comfort. The author of several books including “Down the Snowy and other verses”, “The Time of my Life”, “Bohemian Girl” and “Leg Irons and Lace”, Coralie told the story of the day to day ups and downs of a courageous, fun-loving woman who was willing to learn a totally new life in support of her returned soldier and ex-prisoner of war husband – while together they worked and waited for a soldier’s settlement block. Coralie’s simple faith and great fortitude enabled her to take life head on. Although too recent to be classed as pioneer literature, her life story illustrates many of the fine qualities our Australian pioneer women displayed in opening up our vast country and getting on with life in tough circumstances. Coralie enjoyed her life and was able to create simple fun and make life enjoyable for her ever increasing family and circle of true friends.