I remember the day I swore I would never make a shawl. It was just so grandma and I just did not see myself ever wearing one. I also said the same thing about handspinning…
I have to say I have found myself reluctant to make socks with some of the beautiful sock yarns that I have collected and dyed myself. Shawls are the perfect thing to make with them.
I have more than 12 shawls on the needles. Seriously, 12+. And thanks to the 10 shawls in 2010 challenge on Ravelry, I have over 200 patterns in my queu. Evidently I am much better at starting shawls than I am at finishing them. I think it has to do with blocking procrastination. And shawls need to be blocked. I took one afternoon and finally blocked 5 languishing shawls.
The Auchtung Shawl.
Made with less than one skein of UrbanGypZ South American Fingering weight yarn in Auchtung.
I have had this yarn in the stash forever. There is something to be said for lovely soft lace yarn in a color that will make your eyes bleed. And let me just say I am a new fan of Susanne IC patterns. Shawlettes, in crescent shapes that hug your neck and knit up fast using only one skein of sock yarn. I seriously may be making another one of these.
The Yarn Bliss Shawl
Made with one skein of UrbanGypZ Alpaca Bliss yarn in Grassy
I wish I had a dime for every time I had to convince a customer the you could not make a scarf out of one skein of yarn. Here is where I eat those words. In a failure to heed my own advice, I proceed to make a shawl (HA, okay, shawlette….no, kerchief) out on a skein of Alpaca Bliss. Heh. But blocked with in every inch of its life, this shawlette becomes a somewhat respectible small wrap…..okay with a very good shawl pin…
The Noro Shawl
Made with a gazillion tiny balls of Noro Scraps.
I have never thrown away a scrap of Noro Yarn. I just can’t do it. I love this stuff, always have. I think Eisaku Noro is a color genius and I have learned alot about combining colors by studying his colorways. I took all those tiny balls of yarn along with some other yarns with long color breaks and made this awesome comfort shawl. This shawl is not really the kind you wear out of the house, but is wonderful for cuddling down into it like you would an afghan.
The Banana Clap
Made with 6 skeins of UrbanGypZ Helping a Sister Out Banana Yarn
This shawl is big. I had brought it with me to LEAF this May, shortly after finishing it, but before I blocked it. Bruce actually used it as a blanket to nap under the tree. The banana yarn has a great drape once it is blocked. And I really love the weight of this shawl. I did modify the clapotis pattern to accommodate the gauge of the banana silk yarn.
Well my shawl obsession has found it’s way into my yarn business as well. I have added several new lace weight yarns to the inventory and I am working out awesome, and unique colorways especially for them. All to be premiered at SAFF in October. But look for some sneak peeks at the shop.
