On Shawls and Socks
Last week we featured the shawl Tiny Tassels. This week we’re bringing your attention to two more shawls that are airy and loosely knit, just the thing you need for summer! Whether you’re vacationing in a cooler climate or enjoying a meal in an air-conditioned restaurant, it’s always good to have a shawl tucked away in a handy place.
Ishbel, designed by Ysolda Teague in 2009, is one of the most popular shawl patterns of all time. Over 14,000 Ravelers have posted theirs, which results in 394 pages filled with Ishbel projects! Ysolda has updated this design to include four sizes and clearer directions.
Yarn ideas for Ishbel
Ishbel is an exquisite pattern for new lace knitters! My Sister Knits is offering a class on this bit of loveliness on two Saturdays in June. We will be making a small size so it can be finished quickly. Any fingering weight yarn that calls to you can be used but we particularly like to knit with light summery colors at this time of year. Thinking about it, this would be stunning in darker colors for the winter. You might want to make two of different sizes!
You are cordially invited into the shop to try on Ishbel to see if you’d like that size or a larger one! I’ve wanted to make an Ishbel for years but, at the same time, wanted to see it ‘in person’ before I made one. Now that I’ve seen it and tried it on, I understand its popularity! My new motto is “One can never have too many shaws!”
Next up is Veter Shawl, designed by Ksenia Naidyon. Compared to our small Ishbel, this is huge! There are two colors used in this soft shawl. Ksenia designed Veter to highlight the beauty of using kid mohair with fingering weight yarn, resulting in a shawl that is full of air and light as a feather. The Veter on display in the shop uses two colors of lace weight Pebble and no mohair; a good example of modifying a pattern just a little to make it more ‘you’. This pattern reads a bit differently than most, so give yourself time to understand it. It isn’t hard, just different!
Summery colors of Pebble
As with Ishbel, you are welcome to try it on when you come into the shop!
We just found out about an exceptional opportunity for sock knitters and would-be sock knitters! Kate Atherley has teamed up with The Fibre Co. and is teaching a free four-session sock knitting class on Wednesdays in June. The classes are from 10 am to 11 am MDT. If you’ve ever taken a class from Kate, you know how fantastic she is! She will lead you through every stage of knitting your first pair of socks that actually fit!
