Loopy Friend Lori emailed me this week to say that the Farmer’s Almanac calls for this winter to be “Numbingly Cold” in the Midwest. Can I just get a big “Woohoo!”? I like cold weather just about as much as I like a rainy day! But before we get to Winter, we need to go through Fall. I love the fall. WH took these pictures at a local garden/nursery, just a block from Loopy Central.
I posted a question on our Loopy Ewe page on Facebook over the weekend, asking for everyones favorite shawl patterns. If you’re on Facebook, click over to our Loopy group and read all 53 suggestions. Fall, Winter and Spring are perfect seasons for shawls. (And perhaps summer, depending on where you live. Most days, you would not want a shawl sitting on your shoulders here in Missouri in the summer.) Doesn’t that mean that we ought to be stocking wardrobes with seasonally colored shawls? With that in mind, I walked through Loopy this morning and pulled a few good fall colors that would look pretty done up in shawls. (And I think I just added another project to my list.)
I started my Multnomah over the weekend. It’s an easy knit and has one of my favorite lace patterns on the edging – Feather and Fan. The one I’m working on is gift knitting, but now that I have pulled out Colinette Jitterbug Sahara, I want one of those for my own. Other great Jitterbug fall colors: Autumn Leaves and Chamois. The pattern uses approx. 412 yards, which means 1 1/2 skeins of Jitterbug would work. (Don’t you love it that we sell half skeins 
of Jitterbug?) If you haven’t done much lace knitting before, the Multnomah is a great place to start. It has a lot of regular garter stitch, until you get to the edging, and it’s a small shawl. (You can make it bigger by adding more repeats, or knitting it in a heavier weight yarn, like Hand Maiden Sea Silk. YUM. I pulled out Fleur, Cezanne, and Autumn Apples for this photo.)
The other shawl I have ready to cast on is Traveling Woman, and quite a few of you mentioned that one over on Facebook, too. It is also made with fingering weight yarn. (Just over 300 yds, unless you want to make it larger.) I think the Hand Maiden Casbah would be gorgeous for this. I’m making mine out of Swiss Mountain Super Sock or Lorna’s Laces Pearl – I haven’t decided yet.
The most popular shawl pattern on Ravelry right now is Damson, by the extremely talented Ysolda Teague. It comes in her book “Whimsical Little Knits 2“. She made the cover one in Malabrigo Sock Yarn, but I also think it would be stunning in Alchemy Juniper Sock, in either the multi colors or the semi-solids. (Shown here in Chickasaw Ground, Hidden Place, Fireburst, and Montreat Path). It takes approx. 440 yds, so you’d need 2 skeins of Alchemy. It’s a fun pattern with a ruffle on the bottom. Come to think of it, that would be a great style for spring, too. We’ll have to talk about that again next March!
I have car time coming up in October, which means extended knitting. This weekend, we visit College Girl for Parents Weekend, up in Indiana. I’m so looking forward to seeing her! She’s good about keeping in touch, but I miss hugging her. That’s a little difficult, long-distance. The last weekend of the month we’re traveling to Ohio for the wedding of two of Web Guy’s friends. I’m really looking forward to that, too. I haven’t seen Web Guy since the end of July, which is entirely too long. We won’t get much time with him that weekend, but I’ll get my hugs in. 🙂
Photos of knitted projects coming again soon. I have about forty three in progress. (Or fifty seven. Or eighty nine.) Are you knitting anything up specifically for the fall weather?
Sheri noblogonFridaybecausewe’llbedrivingtoIN,butI’llbebackonMonday!
Wow! I cast on Multnomah last Thursday or Friday. Decided to make a larger version and am knitting it out of NN Saucy in Green Goddess. Yum. It’s a great TV project.
Lace and shawls have become a passion of mine. I have about 7 projects OTNs right now – most are for gifts although the Multnomah may end up being mine.
Anne Hanson has some great patterns for shawls. Clear, concise and easy directions. I know I’ll end up making at least one of her patterns before the year is over. I finished Japanese Fan and Feather and it turned out beautiful in Bugga. I’d make another in a heartbeat.
Shawl that Jazz is also on my to be knit list. But now I’m going to have to add Damson and Traveling Woman, too. Sheri, you’re just bad. Great suggestions.
Hope you have an awesome visit with your daughter : )
Oh yes, shawls! There are sooo many gorgeous patterns out there it’s just so hard to decide which one to do next! Having just finished Order to Chaos, I’m now working on Autumn Gold (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/autumn-gold-shawl) in the fabulous Dye Dreams Luster Sox in Gold (http://www.theloopyewe.com/browse/yarns/dye-dreams/luster-sox/gold/) that I was winding in last Friday’s Loopy blog post (thanks, Sheri!). It’s going to be fabulous!
I’ve admired Travelling Woman before, and also Damson…so many choices!
I am working on a top down v-neck raglan in some stash yarn!! I know, I couldn’t believe it, either. I recently took a class from Jared Flood and he made this way of knitting a sweater seem so approachable.
I keep knitting sweaters. Each time I do it, I get a little better and someday will have one to wear in public!
You are such an enabler! LOL Seriously, thanks for pointing out two fabulous shawl patterns. I am knitting one of Ysolda’s patterns now and loving it. I am going to knit the feather and fan edged shawl you posted in your blog. I LOVE F&F. Think I will add repeats and use a skein of Schaeffer Anne. Not like I don’t have plenty! Have a safe trip to IN.
Great post ! Love the shawls you pictured and I was not familiar with any of them – I plan to place an order for the Sanguine Gryphon if you have some in stock – off to persue the website – Melody
I just finished a Multnomah and loved it! I used one skein of TOFUtsies and did a couple more repeats that the pattern called for–wanted to use up the whole skein! It’s gorgeous, just need to block it and photo it for my Rav page. I’m Many2Knit4 over there, in case anyone wants to see my in-progress photo. Have fun knitting it–I’m in a feather-and-fan place, myself. Just cast on a Liesl for myself last night, after knitting one for my dd this spring. Gotta love that F&F. 🙂
It’s good that I don’t live in the midwest because I hate cold weather. 😉
I was reading this and thought, “gee October is far off,” and then I realized that it will be October tomorrow! Where did September go?
I am knitting mostly for holiday gifts. But I always have socks on my needles for one of us. I am trying to knit my socks faster since winter is coming and it is already sweater weather, yippy.
I am seriously in need of fingerless mitts, as we get ready for our predicted ultra cold & wet (read snowy & potentially icy, please no ice) winter here in Michigan, so that is what I will be knitting first. I need to wear them indoors to keep my hands warmer, since my hands have real problems in cold weather.
Have a great visit with CG this weekend, along with some wonderful coffee & ice cream, & other goodies in her town. 🙂 I hope you have better weather in Indiana than we are predicted to have here in mid-Michigan, where it is supposed to be very cool & rainy, not a good combo for my youngest son’s (senior) high school homecoming.
Damson is a gorgeous shawl, but I should finish Ishbel first!
The only fall thing I’m doing right now is the diamond gansey socks out of a handspun sock yarn in very gloriously fall colors. I’m almost done the first one, which means it is time for me to cast on for another sock project!
I love the fall! It’s hard for me to decide if April or October are my favories months. I’m not knitting up any specific for fall but I do have a sweater on the needles and tons of others in my Ravelry queue. Now I need to buy some more worsted weight yarn:-)
Numbingly cold…I hope we get some of that in Toronto, too! But maybe not yet.
I’m knitting an Owls sweater for one of my daughters. They love to wear handmade sweaters (they’re not so much into shawls yet) and will need them if we get that cold weather.
Have a great weekend with College Girl and get in lots of hugs.
Oh, I love lace shawls! I wish I were faster at them, though. On the needles right now is Anne’s Boxleaf wrap, which I am determined to wear before all the leaves fall off the trees! I also have some Caper lace in periwinkle for something – Ishbel perhaps?
I wish it were fall all the time! Have a great time over parents’ weekend!
You just gave me the idea of what to do with the Sanguine Gryphon I just snagged! It’s so beautiful that I knew I wanted it to be something other than socks, so that it would be seen. Multnomah was a pattern that I looked at a few weeks ago, not paying attention to what yarn was used…serendipity.
My Girasole is my fall piece. It’s in Cloud Jungle which is a good fall color. I originally tried it in Malabrigo Lace which wasn’t heavy enough to start with DPNs. I’ve moved right on to Christmas garments (not gifts). I’m making Whispering Pines Shawl (hopefully it’ll be done by Christmas) and a tee top from Nashua Grand Opera in red and will have enough to make a scarf to dress it up. This yarn has some sparkly to it and will be festive. I really want to knit a pair of socks which I haven’t in a while (cast on and knit about 4 rows of Nebula). Have a great weekend! Back to the Girasole.
What a great selection of patterns!
BTW – the Swiss Mountain Super Sock is to die for! I just knit a Clothilde with it and am in love. 🙂
I just finished my Girasole Shawl in mid-Septemeber. Too bad when I started it in June, I wasn’t thinking fall colors:-). But, I like it anyway.
I just added Multnomah to my queue and I’m trying to wrap (no pun intended) up a few other shawls that are in progress – those being Catherina, Alka and Exonumist. I’m wanting to cast on Order to Chaos and Ishbel but must get other stuff off the needles first
Woohoo!!!! I live in Northern Virginia – 40 miles west of Washington, D.C. Our winters have been so warm in the past few years that I rarely wear my heavy winter coat – maybe 5 times a year. Would love some bitter cold snowy weather for a change. And yes, I work, and yes, I have to drive in the snow! And us in the DC area – even us natives – never learned to drive in it!!!
Right now, I’m cranking through The World’s Largest Shawl for the fall fashion show at the LYS. (It’s more formally known as the Cable Shawl from the Fall 2009 issue of Vogue Knitting.) But I’ve got a bunch of other stuff on the needles, and will start with my holiday projects as soon as I finish TWLS. 😎
I am now officially addicted to knitting shawls/shawlettes
Have done Ishbel in the mini Maiden, the Aestlight Shawl in the Plucky Knitter *GREAT, fun pattern! (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aestlight-shawl)*, Multnomah in String Theory, started Damson in Malabrigo Sock and next I want to do the Springtime Bandit (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/springtime-bandit).
Think everyone AND my brother will be getting a shawl for the holidays…
i love knitting lace shawls, and wear them year round. my queue is filled with shawls. sharon miller, anne hanson, elizabeth freeman, mimknits, ysolda, knit/lab, badcatdesigns….just a few of the designers on my must knit list.
with so many great designers, it’s hard to settle on the one i want to knit next. could be maplewing or laminaria. or high seas. or the mimosa shawl.
gee. if i want to knit all those, i better get busy.
Multnomah and Traveling Woman are at the top of my list, too!!! First, I have to finish an improvised Feather and Fan scarf with a ruffle, then a rectangular shawl in some beautiful Impulse of Delight Camel and wool in the Cherry colorway , can’t decide on the pattern to use. I know it sounds ambitious, but that’s not even the whole list. I am gearing up for Christmas, so am glad I will get started soon. I want to do Exonumist soon, also. Oh, and Stefanie Japel’s new shawl, Mirth. I am slowing down on the ideas, and that’s probably enough to make most people think I’m nut, so—have a great trip and return home safely.
Have a wonderful and safe trip, and enjoy the visitation rights! 🙂
I must finish something, before I start the next something. All those shawl ideas sound like very tempting winter knitting. However… I must finish something before I start the next something!
love, love love all those fall colors you have chosen. I really enjoy fall too and am so glad we have finally had a few days cool enough to wear my woolly socks.
Have a great weekend and enjoy all the time with your kids.
Thanks for the shawl ideas! I think Traveling Woman would be gorgeous in STring Theory’s Casper — don’t you??
ENJOY your time with KD! Tell her Lou (from Sock Summit and Spring Fling) said “Hi!”
Whoah — I thought I had a lot of WIPs, but you got me beat. I’d like t get back to them now, but I’m in Craft show/GIft/Charity Knitting mode. Alas, maybe in January I can knit for me again.
Wow, this was an expensive blog post for me! I had already ordered the Sea Silk, now have a pattern for it (Multnomah), and then I saw the word Malabrigo!!!!! Yeah, I proceeded to order enough for 2 more shawls and 3 pairs of socks! Got the Sea Silk in the mail yesterday, and the Malabrigo should be here today. It’s like Christmas in October for me! Thanks, Sheri!