Joining Ginny again this week. I started a fun new project for me. We live in a drafty old Edwardian (1907). In fact our house doesn’t have insulation in the walls. It’s one layer of brick, studs, then another layer of brick, then lath and plaster walls. Somehow the air pocket is supposed to act as insulation. Needless to say, it gets so drafty some days the curtains actually sway in the breeze. I think I mentioned earlier that I wanted to make a sontag for myself, that way I could keep warm but still have my arms free for work. Well, the beautiful wool I bought from Tina turned out to be too fine for every pattern I found. I started roaming around the ‘net looking for ideas and found these; Danish tie-shawls. Perfect! Still had a bit of a problem because all those patterns want thicker wool too (worsted size). Our house is chilly but not that cold 🙂 So I decided to take the shaping theory from these old shawls and make my own pattern. I’m using 3mm needles which are a little bigger than the ball band calls for. The main body of the shawl is just garter, but I will put a simple lace pattern towards the bottom. If this pattern turns out well, I’ll make one for Ella too.
I’m back reading the Catholic Home: Celebrations and Traditions for Holidays, Feast Days, and Every Day. I started this book a while ago and am just getting back at it. I would like to introduce more traditions into our lives. Many Catholic traditions are the same as the Anglican ones my Grandma would have had. This book has lots of great suggestions.
At Home With Us 
Wow Paula. I love this shawl. so very old world. You say you live in an Edwardian. People are going to be confused when they step into your home. They’ll think they’ve entered a time warp.. I LOVE that!! And the yarn…
Blessings, Debbie
I’d dress 16th century (http://www.kipar.org/baroque-costumes/images/costumes/working-women/1662-65_YOUNG-WOMAN-READING_METSU.jpg) Guess I spent too much time in the SCA 🙂
I love the Misti Alpaca, the colours are beautiful. I used this wool for Grandma’s shawl (that I still have to block).
That yarn is so pretty, and the shawl is already looking beautiful. Good pattern idea too 🙂
those shawls are awesome! and i think i could actually make one! that will need to be something mama makes for herself after x-mas is done! i would love one of those seeing as how i don’t like to wear coats…even in the winter!
🙂
jen
Shawls are great in the winter. I’m not sure where you are Jen, but coats aren’t optional up here. I often wear a shawl over my coat. It’s wonderful to throw over my head to keep extra warm and doesn cause hat head or anything. I think it looks very stylish that way too. But then I’ve never been accused of being modern 🙂
If the shawl turns out well, I’ll be post the pattern on Ravelry (for free)
I have a ball of Misti Alpaca, not sure what to do with it, but I frequently pull it out of the drawer and fondle it, so BEAUTIFUL.
Isn’t it beautiful stuff. I’m not sure how much this shawl is going to take. I have a feeling it’s going to be more like 2 balls. But I have 3 so I’m ok 🙂
I have put off spinning and knitting until my hands heal more, I find any sort of friction is still to irritating for the eczema damaged skin, but I love the tie-shawl you are knitting. I have some lovely handspun soft fibre from Bernadette that I meanrt to work into fingerless gloves, but it is still on the skein winder! I like to have something on my neck and shoudlers in drafty houses. I seem to mind the draft there the most.
The tie shawl would be a perfect style for you too. My Scottish predecessors wore something similar too. I’ve seen a number of pictures of women with tie shawls so they can carry baskets and knit while they walked. A feat I can’t manage! I’ll share the pattern with you when it’s done. Hope your hands are feeling better. Ella’s elbows are getting red again, now that we haven’t been in the pool for a while. Maybe I’ll have to give her Epsom salt baths once in a while.
Cool shawls! Can’t wait to see you modeling your finished one! I’m still amazed how much we have in common sometimes, the SCA but of course!! 🙂
Were you in the SCA too? It’s funny how many ‘home body-types’ that I gravitate to online that turn out to have been SCA.
Yep, I was for a few years! That is kinda what got me more into cooking from scratch, cheese making, etc. I always was into needlwork and sewing and the like though.
oh how beautiful and cozy that will be! i love tie shawls and really hope to make one soon also. i have this one queued in ravelry, you may be interested!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kays-tess-durbervilles-shawl
I saw that one when I was searching. But she uses a thicker wool than the one I wanted to use.
I have one of these and use it a lot fall and spring. It was made not intentional to be a wrap shawl but I really enjoy them. I love your colours. I can see you using it a lot. Thanks for the wrap site. They are all so pretty.