Shawl Weather

This is the time of year I get to actually show you what I was doing to get ready for the holidays. I haven't made gifts for a few years now (people do not like home made gifts the way you would think) and I didn't have plans to make a whole lot of them this year, but this specific one was asked for. Actually, just a shawl was asked for and then I gave patterns that I was willing to make. I wanted it to be liked and worn because shawls can take quite a bit of time.  And then there's the blocking, which this one needed after it was done. 

I used MadelineTosh Merino Lite in the colorway Duchess. It was amazingly nice to work with, so nice that I would love to blow my mortgage payment on making this yarn into a sweater (but I won't). When I first received the yarn in the mail I was fearful it would be too dark, but once the sun hits it all these shades of purple come out and it's just gorgeous. It took a skein and a half of yarn (the other half of the skein went to a pair of socks which were made before the shawl), and a car ride to Florida to complete, but I think it was worth it.  And, if the recipient decides to never wear it, I would be more than happy to take it back.

The pattern is the Aurelie Shawl by Sara Kay.  It was well written, easy to follow, and forgiving of errors.  All you could really ask for in a pattern. It is written for one skein of yarn, but I wanted to make it a little larger.