Shawls - different shapes and sizes primer

Today is dull, grey n grim ...fog ....need I say more

Having just joined the "10 Shawls in 2010" on Ravelry........so thought show a few shawls I had made - basically to illustrate how different they can be in shape not to mention colour and of types wool used .stitch sued and pattern another entity entirely!
So the shapes are of course

• triangular
• semicircular
• winged
• serious batwing
• wedged
• circular
• rectangular
• square
• freeform
• 3 dimensional - e.g self ruffled Irish crochet

Gosh that makes 10 types of shawl without even considering yarn weight/colour or stitch  or anything else!

Though at times from a pattern it can be difficult to discern which shape you will end up with ................. so thought try and shed alittle light on some of them

First a basic triangle

This is the South Bay Shawlette - pattern Lion Brand

This is a straight triangle in a lacy stitch and very easy to do

You start in the centre back - so you can make it as big as you like or until your wool runs out

The increases are in the middle and at the side 

I modified it with a  picot edge

Batwing - extreme

This is an extreme batwing shape in a nice lacey stitch that creates a nice texture but not obvious rows 

You start in the centre back - so you can make it as big as you like - or until the wool runs out

It increases in the middle and at the sides to create the winged effect

This sits on your shoulders without sliding off

Its a long lean wedge so not so much shawl over your arms to get in the way - can easily be tied as it has long thin points

This is the Butterfly Wing shawl by Holly Hunter

Batwing - normal

Another batwing - less pointed in shape

Sits on your shoulder without slipping off

This has discernable rows in a repated shell pattern that takes several rows to complete the sequence  

You start in the middle and increase at either side of the centre and inside the edges

This is the Seraphina Shawl by Donni

 Self Ruffling Batwing

This is a batwing with graduated increases to create a self ruffle

This is my own design

I wanted a shawl that fluttered out over my arms but nothing lumpen

Thrilled with it as did just what I wanted

Wedged

This is a wedge (4 sections) - they can be 8 or 10

They sit on the shoulder without falling off

Start in the middle

The increases are at four points and the edges

A simple pattern with a filet row on every third row

In this instance I added a ruffle around all the edge

This is the Eva Shawl by Milobo

Circular- Ripple

This a circular Shawl or throw in a 12 point ripple pattern

You start in the middle and make increases and decreases at set points

You can make it as big as you wish - until wool runs out or achieved desired size

Has distinct rows if using different colours for each row

You can fold to wear to turn it into a half circle

This another circular 12 point ripple but in a single colour in fine mohair

Freeform

This is a freeform shawl - currently under construction

Tore it apart and remaking it in a different shape

This is made in freeform modules which are then crocheted together

Can use up all sorts odds and ends

A few random thoughts ...............

All these shawls start from a  central point - which enable you to make them any size you wish - so less fear of running out part way through making it

For example if you start a basic traingle shawl on the long edge - you have already dictated the size .....so if you run short of wool before you get to the end point .....oops! The its a case of ordering more wool ........or starting all over again!

Different stitches show off some yarns better than others - a crisp yarn will show off complex stitchery whereas a fancy fuzzy yarn will not

Colours work better with some stitches than others - especially painted or space dyed yarns - so key here is to experiment!  A dark colour will not show off fine stitches as well as say a light colour e.g. Aran

Blue Shetland Wool Shawl ......................

Well just finished my latest project - for the brain dead .......seeing as my brain seems to have gone mushy on me - like the snow outside - soft, grey and mushy !!
Now I know there is a brain in there - sloshing about as had enough MRI scans to show there are a few of Poirot's famous 'ikkle grey cells' lurking in there ............it is just they are not working at the moment - on post Christmas/New Years strike methinks .............

So been crocheting this shawl .....dead easy pattern to follow ....but I changed the border (now scallops with picots) and added an inner edge to firm up the edges, why you may ask .......... cos thats the way I like it. Now its photographed wish made the border deeper - to frame the lace effect ............ ooh well next time

Here it is on my kitchen door

heres it little tail end

and heres the scallopy border with a picot

You can find the pattern on the Lion Brand site - and its called ' South Bay Shawlette'

Now to wash it - to remove the oils and the yarn will fluff up and colour will be softer

The green scarf I made has now beenw ashed and now drying - will post pics when thast dry - all fluffy now :-)

Meanwhile outside ...........snow still on all the fields .....but tis soft n slushy snow - the main roads seem clear  well what I can see outside our house! It will be a slow melt ............. and skies been grey n grim all day .. so I tried to clean the bathroom - as cant see outside in there ... didn't get very far as it take me soooooo long to do anyhting - but I did tidy up storage box of soaps n bath stuff ... but that took me ALL afternoon but something achieved.........

I try to do something no matter how small each day - despite the M.E. !!

I will not let it beat me .....but now I need to go lie down ......... groan as so very tired

A New Scarf and Felted Bucket Bag .............and yet more white stuff ..............................

Yup the snow continues in spates - but rather wet snow as it is all slowly melting
We can see tarmac at last as the packed snow gives way to slush ..... ohhh yes much slush

Been busy designing a new scarf .... now completed as taken me a couple nights crocheting - hurrah!
Its a metre long and comprises a series of interlocking scallops in two shades green shetland wool - just needs to be washed to remove all the oils in it, which also brightens the colours and then it will be nice and soft ......pics of before and after to follow
Then to write up the pattern and name it .....any ideas??

There it goes a-twirling around my bannister

The scarf end

The scarf and the two cones of Shetland Wool

Also pics of a small Bag/Tote I finished before Christmas - my friend thought it was a hat .. made it out of odds n ends of Phildar mohair a veritable Stash Buster!

Its a bucket bag - circular bottom with  repeating stripes of random and solids, with a inbuilt reinforced handle - felted so nice and sturdy

Oh and finally rescued the frozen snow covered wash off the line in the garden ................ now in process drying and being ironed ... such fun! ?

Saturday Whiteness ....................more snow but now winds!

Well Saturday brings more snow and winds - so the picture perfect scenery gone - as all that lovely snow on branches in the trees has all been blown off ..................... and grey skies with flurries of snow falling are adding to the accumulated layers of snow
The roads are white - still white n crunchy under car tyres, the few that have ventured out are sensibly creping along the white snow packed roads.

My friends in Canada will find all this laughable as they have to endure a lot more snow for a lot longer and much colder temperatures ..............meanwhile we struggle coping with a few inches of snow

No new snow people on the green - suspect was a little cold last night for creating new snow sculptures on the green  .......maybe they were working elsewhere in the village?

There are a few hardy souls out n about with children pulling along toboggans and dogs
Meanwhile Les out digging out the back door again and feeding the surviving birds in the garden.

Last night another major wilt ................. so slept most of the evening

Another 3" and counting ..........................

Well even more snow overnight - a winter wonderland again this morning - see two new HUGE snowmen built on the green overnight. They used ladders and torches and were at it at midnight! They plan a family tonight .....................and been calling all snow sculptors in the village

View from our bedroom window early this am - the light still tinged blue

The village sign ...................... under grey skies while fine snow falls

One of the new snowmen - complete with feathery greenery hat sporting a chirpy smile :-) under grey skies ..........even as it snows

His/her mate are busy holding on to the bus shelter - in readiness for the forecast strong winds

As you can see the summer chairs have not been put away .....and washing still on line ..............frozen assets?

Can you see the bird feeders..sure hope the birds can!

Les refilling the bird feeders - wearing BOOTS (not his usual sandals!) and the cardigan I made him ....................think many of the birds have died in the cold

& he valiantly cleared the path like a snowplough - so great heap of snow at the back door for the true snow-plough effect......................hmmmmmmmmmmm

The village from across the fields - Les helped me along the way plus stick of course

Frozen furrows with the farm in the distance ...................  sparkling in a brief shaft of sunshine

Looking back to the village and our home .....snow drifting off the trees in the sunshine

Its all so picture perfect I could be out there all day taking photographs ................so the above are only a selection ...............snow covered lobster pots ................ trees glistening in sunshine and looming moody clouds promising more snow, gritters and convoys of cars creeping through snow, some slithering about (lets hope not into our house as they turn at the corner!)  ............... must admit never seen so many people on the green - with dogs, children sledges and cameras and everyone with big :-) s all enjoying the snow and landscape

1600hrs update - snow falling thickly ..................so roads still white

This is whats happening this evening ..................

More Snow .....................

Even more snow today .................. this was Kirton Green this morning

 this is what it loooks like this evening ..... more snow and white roads again

Whiteness piling up on fence

and bushes in front of our house .....

Its very quiet out there ..............still .... peaceful .......soft white fluffy ........but cold bitter winds forecast tomorrow and I think even more snow

There are couple of enterprising young lads busy rolling up huge snowballs building another snow family on the green - pics tomorrow ................. nice to see normal young fun at work

Meanwhile I had a major wilt this evening ....just crumpled onto sofa n slept most of the evening ......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz .......so hate it when like this

snow snow snow

OK folks see it really is snowing!

This is in front of our house .......................... with the village green in front

Happy New Year to All!! - bit late I know - Mea Culpa

Well .........thought I dropped off edge of the planet!

Still alive but barely kicking ---- been very tired (the ME) and then Christmas to contend with and weather - we had to eat what was in freezer for Christmas as I could not get to the supermarkets ............ so between us managed to defrost a pheasant and throw few veggies in oven

House looked super - decorations everywhere and everyone loves my alternative Christmas Trees .....pics to follow - and before Christmas the children had made a family of snowmen in the bus shelter on the village green

Its snowing (heavily) at this minute so wonder if there will be another snowman family .......... freezing in the bus shelter

Took down the decorations yesterday - how drear the house is afterwards :-(
Now attacking tax returns and accoutns - double ugh

This was my main Xmas window - well one of them - a pond scene this year with wooden ornaments skating across, tree, music boxes and angels - with various glass cats in the window (all part of my Xmas ornament collection which I have been gathering together for over 30yrs - some date from my childhood and are 50+yrs old)

Manged to make a few things for friends for Xmas pressies (not much this year - just couldnt do it) - curently making an Eva's shawl but with a ruffly edge ............. I have gifted away 2 shawls for Christmas presents (one to Seattle one to Calgary)

This one to Calgary

This one to Seattle

Lets hope they like them!

Meanwhile making this one ......................

Ruffly Eva Shawl

Well better get one with few things .....but will bring my blog up-to-date with latest things been making n doing and lotsa pics