Autumn Shawlette

I like shawlettes and shoulder shawls. They are easy to wear and don't take forever to knit. And it is nice to have small shawl for cool weather or air-conditioning. This one was interesting to me because it starts at the bottom, casting on what seems like a gazillion stitches, then knitting upwards as the shawl gets smaller. I think I prefer starting from the neck but I do like this scarf.

The details:

• Pattern: Lace Panel Shawl and Scarf (I made the scarf version)
• Yarn: Jamieson's Shetland Sprindrift, color Autumn, 105 meters/skein, approximately 2.5 skeins
• Needles: US2 (2.75mm)
• Finished size: Approximately 11 inches back neck length

As usual, I made some changes, preferring directional decreases, especially the quadruple decreases in the panel. Instead of making them all as a knit 4 together, I made the right-leaning ones as K4tog and the left-leaning ones as SSSSK.

I very much like the I-cord bind-off across the top; to me, it makes a nice finish.

True Blue Damson

I am a big fan of Ysolda Teague's Damson shawl. It is easy and gives a lovely result. I finished this one a few months ago and finally got a photo that I like.

I added small blue and magenta-ish 6.0 beads to the edging. I like beads on the bottom of shawls for sparkle and to add a little weight to the bottom of the shawl. Other details:

• Yarn: Harrisville Shetland Tweed, True Blue, approximately 500 yards
• Needles: US6
• Back neck length: approximately 15 inches

The shawl is is hanging on my 50+-year-old Royal Ann cherry tree; I hope recent wind storms have not destroyed this year's crop.