Cotton Candy Shawl

I just finished crocheting a shawl that's pink, fluffy, and light like cotton candy.

It's so delicate and pretty!  Here it is worn bandanna style...

And, a more traditional shawl style...

So light and airy.

I used the South Bay Shawlette pattern that I've used many times.

The mohair in the Crystal Palace Kid Merino yarn transforms it and creates a very different look.

I used a size "G" crochet hook.  Crocheting with this yarn was a challenge whenever I had to rip back.  The yarn tends to lock itself together and pulling stitches out sometimes seems impossible.

I had to rip back a few times because of silly mistakes.  I was worried a couple of times that I wouldn't be able to pull it back to the mistake.  Luckily, I was able to...with lots of patience.

This was a fun project because of the results and that I was able to de-stash two balls of yarn!

However, I won't want to wear it because of the mohair.  It's a little itchy to me.

So, I will need to find a home for this beauty.  If anyone is interested in buying this, let me know.

I won't be charging much for it.  I'd just like to find someone who will enjoy it.  :-)

Pretty Pink Cloud

I've been eager to start a new crochet project.  I've been going through my stash and patterns, trying to find a perfect match that I'm excited about making.  I've tried a few different yarns and patterns but haven't been happy with any of them.  During another sleepless night last night, I got up and searched Ravelry again.  I decided to look through some of the projects of another Raveler who's talent and projects I admire.  It paid off!  She'd made a South Bay Shawlette with a fine and fuzzy yarn and the results were gorgeous.  Turns out I have some beautiful pink mohair just waiting to be used.  I pulled it out this morning and got started.  It was love at first sight!

Check out this pink, fuzzy, angelic, lacy cloud of wonderfulness...

I'm using a "G" size crochet hook and Crystal Palace Kid Merino yarn.

I've made a LOT of shawls with this pattern but with this yarn it has a totally new look.

I'm having so much fun with this!

Bora Bora

Hip Hip Hooray!  This shawl is finally done!

I started it last spring and I should have finished it long ago.

All of the other South Bay Shawlettes I've made have crocheted up very quickly.

But, not this one!  The fine, single ply lace Malabrigo yarn was a bit slippery

and I didn't enjoy crocheting this project with it.  I took a lot of breaks from it.  

But, I sure do love the colors and how it looks!

  

I crocheted it with a size "G" hook.

It's delicate and oh so soft.

The finished size is 66" across and about 36 inches long from the center top to the bottom point.

It's big enough to wrap around arms and shoulders or drapey enough to wrap loosely at the neck.

It's light enough to wear in warmer months on a slightly cool day or evening.

The beautiful colors, pattern and texture will be such a wonderful addition to an outfit.

It's like soft jewelry.  And, I noticed that it goes with a lot of things.

It will soon be on it's way to a very special person...Patti.

She's my cousin's wife and she's one of the sweetest people you could ever meet.

She loves the beach and vibrant colors.  I thought she'd love the colors in this yarn.

The blues and greens look like the gorgeous colors you see in photos of tropical islands like Bora Bora

...the lush green landscape and incredible blues in the water.  So pretty!

I hope she likes it!

I made it with two skeins of Malabrigo Lace.  

There was a total of 940 yards but I have a bit left over.

This was my first experience with Malabrigo and it definitely won't be my last.

Malabrigo comes in such gorgeous colors and it's SO soft.

A Shower of Shawls

I sure did catch a case of shawl fever this year! I think I'm up to 12 in 2010! The three most recent shawls were made over the past few weeks to give as Christmas gifts.

I made this one for my mom. The pattern is the South Bay Shawlette. I crocheted it with an "I" hook and one skein of Knit Picks Stroll Tonal yarn.


The colors are pretty but this skein was horrible! I will never buy this yarn again! It was filled with bad spots...knots, breaks in a single ply, little lint pills, etc. It was a frustating to have to keep cutting the bad spots out, reconnecting and then having to tuck in all those ends. I don't remember how many times I ran across bad spots but it was enough to dislike the yarn! The skein was supposed to be 462 yards but after all the breaks, I had much less than that! I do love how it looks though. The colors are so pretty!


We've had a lot of stormy, dark days. So, good lighting has been a rare event. That explains the dark photos and differences in color between them. Here's a close up of the shawl I made for my mom...


I made this shawl for my sister-in-law, Michelle. I chose black because it's her favorite color. I used an "I" hook on this one and two skeins of Knit Picks Sroll solid black yarn. Here it is during blocking...


I really like how it turned out! And, I'm really happy that she loves it! Yay!


It looks so elegant in black.


When I block these shawls, I've started doing extra pinning on the edges. I love how much prettier they're turning out.


I made this one for my sister-in-law, Kim. She likes purple and I think she was pretty happy with this color. It's another South Bay Shawlette (can you tell how much I like that pattern?!).


It's also crocheted with an "I" hook. I used two skeins of Knit Picks Stroll solid in the color, "Duchess Heather". I know, it's hanging on the front of my dress form...it seemed like a good idea at the time. lol And, besides, I was in a hurry. I blocked this on Christmas eve and on Christmas morning I blow dried it some more to be sure it was nice and dry, un-pinned it, photographed it and quickly wrapped it. Talk about last minute!


I love the different shapes in this pattern, depending on how you look at it. The hole patterns look like flowers. The sections of double crochets look like mushrooms or little tropical huts. So cute!


I did get burned out on crochet shawls a few months ago and it seems like I'd be reallllly burned out after doing three in just a few weeks. But, believe it or not, I'm not! I'm actually thinking of starting another one. Theyr'e sooo much fun! :-D

Wrapped in Love

My daughter is all wrapped in love! This shawl was made just for her for her 19th birthday!


She wanted it large and chose two skeins of Schoeller Stahl Fortissima Socka in a gorgeous tuquoise color.


I used almost all of the 874 yards and crocheted it with a size "I" hook.


This is the third time I've used this South Bay Shawlette Pattern. But, this is the first time I've used two balls of sock yarn instead of one. It sure made a difference in size. After blocking, it is 70" wide at the top by 39" long from the center top to the bottom tip.


Yay! She loves it!


I did a different border on this one. I ended with an odd row of the repeat and chained four, turned and in the chain three space below, double crochet, chain one, double crochet, chain four, slip stitch in the third chain from hook, chain one, double crochet, chain one, double crochet, chain one, double crochet. Then, **single crochet in center double crochet of the next group of three double crochets in the row below, in the next chain three space, double crochet and chain one (2x's), double crochet, chain four, slip stitch in third chain from hook, chain one, double crochet and chain one (2x's), double crochet** Repeat what is between the double *'s across one side. At the center point on the bottom I ended with the single crochet stitch center and at the double chain three space at the tip I did three double crochet, chain one in the first space, double crochet in the center/tip stitch, chain four, slip stitch in the third stitch from the hook, chain one, double crochet, chain one. Then, in the second chain three space at the tip I did a double crochet, chain one (2x's), double crochet and then single crochet in the center stitch of the next three double crochet group and continued on with what is between the **'s across the other side. I hope that makes sense. It's pretty simple, really.

Here's a close up of the bottom/tip...