Thursday, November 15, 2007

A Big, Comfy Shawl

Everyone needs a big, comfy shawl. My latest is the Alix shawl by Myrna Stahman by way of Debbie Macomber.
  • Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot (superwash wool, mohair, nylon) in Lupine, 3 skeins (I had about 5 yards left)
  • Needles: US7
  • Finished size: 46 inches center back
The pattern as written finishes with a seed stitch border. I decided to finish with the Catharina border from Myrna's "Stahman's Shawls & Scarves." (Not an original idea; I had seen a version with this border.)

Both the Catharina and Alix shawls use Myrna's variation on the Smiling Diamonds pattern from Barbara Walker's first Treasury. Catharina is a Faroese-style shawl; Alix is a triangle shawl. Catharina was the one of the first shawls I ever made, so I was familiar with the edging. The only tricky bit was adjusting the attachments at the center point to center the bottom scallop.

What's nice about this shawl is that you can knit it in just about any yarn. I've seen it in the finest lace weight to much heavier yarns. I've seen it in solids and variegated yarns. It's easy enough for beginning lace knitters but interesting enough for veteran lace knitters.

4 comments:

Bridget said...

OK, I'm glad you posted these pictures, because I have wanted to see it ever since you started talking about it! It's really beautiful, I love the colors.

And that Mountain Colors yarn is pretty darn nice ...

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shawl! Hope to see it up close and personal next year. Thanks for doing the photo outside so I could see the fall colors there. hugs,
Rene' E. Wells
Granny an Me designs

Monika said...

This is a gorgoues shawl. Great size, and the color is beautiful too.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful piece! I like the 'bang' colour of it too!!!