Today, though I should be posting about Rhinebeck, and I may get to that, we’ll see.. instead, today is about two shawls.
The First shawl is the Wool Peddler’s Shawl. I finished it the other night, I am very pleased, it was fun, it was easy, it will be a pleasure to wear. What more can you ask from a pattern? It is a Traditional Shawl. I knitted it from my dyed merino / silk 2 ply yarn on a #7 Bryspun circular needle. Make this pattern when you need a slightly more than mindless project. I found I could take this and knit without worry while visiting with others or concentrating on a movie. That’s a great project.
As it turns out, that the areas without pattern (shown here) are not nearly as blatant as I had worried. Looks fine to me. Would I change it if I made another? I might try to swatch that area, it would require a single decrease instead of the double decrease as only one yo would fit into the pattern. After seeing this picture online, I’ll take another.. next one, in focus!
The Second Shawl I want to tell you about is a shawl dealing more with Tradition. My niece is marrying this weekend, hopefully outdoors. As it is going to be cool (hopefully sunny) I offered her a very special shawl to wear; my Great Grandmother’s, her Great, Great Grandmother’s wedding shawl. WooHoo!! This morning I gave it a bath. I know for certain it hasn’t been bathed in 40 years, and I bet it hasn’t in lots longer than that. Who would know. I wasn’t sure if it would just melt in the water or what. I let it sit in lukewarm water with a bit of Eucalon for fifteen minutes or so then rolled it carefully in a couple towels and have just hung it on a drying rack outside. It is a very fine (not terribly soft) ivory colored wool with silk embroidery. I can hardly tell you the pleasure it gives me to hold it.
Tomorrow… Rhinebeck… I promise.
Comments
12 responses to “tradition and traditional shawls”
wow, gorgeous wedding shawl!!! I will hopefully have a new one to pass down too! And rhinebeck…I need the update as Cindyknits is having technical problems with her camera! 🙂
omg, that wedding shawl is a treasure! and so nice to see you again at rhinebeck!
Judy….both shawls are beautiful!!! I’m so happy your fears about washing your grandmother’s shawl were unfounded.The bath made it beautiful.
Beautiful shawls! That’s so wonderful your niece will get to where a family heirloom for her wedding.
I can’t wait to buy some of your yarn. I’m just trying to figure out what pattern I want to use – maybe that Wool Peddler’s Shawl. I love it!
Both shawls are beautiful. It’s so wonderful that your niece will be able to wear a family heirloom like that for her wedding.
Oh Judy……both shawls are wonderful! Your neice is a lucky girl.
It was so nice to see you this weekend, I just wish that I had had more time. Next year for sure~
Oh, they’re gorgeous. Lucky niece!
Oh, oh, ohhh, that wedding shawl is incredible. And it didn’t yellow after all these years, or get moth-eaten? How wonderful! And how wonderful that somebody stupid (sorry, but people are stupid sometimes!) didn’t put it in bleach, and thank the good stars for Eucalan. Wow, that is a treasure!
There is something about textiles that tie us to the past in a very powerful way. It is so lovely that your niece will get to wear this piece of continuity with her ancestors.
Oh, wowie, wow, wow! Two fabulous shawls in one day!
I have some splendid variegated red yarn that may need to become a Wool Peddler like yours. I was originally thinking Leaf Lace, but your shawl is SO beautiful, it’s truly an inspiration.
The shawls – gorgeous – both the heirloom and the someday to be heirloom.
The wedding shawl is such a treasure! Your shawl is beautiful and looks very cuddley and warm. Nice work!