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