Seaside Summer Shawl Knitting Pattern

My Seaside Shawl knitting pattern is ready!  I really enjoyed designing this shawl for the warmer months.  Super easy and only requires 2 skeins.  

I’m often chilly in the summertime when at the office, a restaurant, the shops, movie theatre, doctor office or even someones house. I designed this shawl for just such an occasion.
Gorgeous colors of the sea really pop using gradient yarn and the easy pattern makes for a very satisfying project.
If you have 580 yards/530m of DK weight (3) yarn in your stash you can make this for yourself or as a gift. I’ve added store bought beads to add some interest and a little weight to both ends. You can certainly use pony beads or ready made trim that have beads already on it. Tassels with the leftover yarn would be nice as well.
This is basic knitting, back and forth on straight needles, not a purl in sight! If you can knit, yarn over and slip one, you can make this.
Measurements: 17 “ W x 60” L (43cm W x 152cm L)
Skill level: easy: basic stitches, minimal shaping, simple finishing. I'm always available to help you along the way!
****Selling the finished product is permitted******

You can find all my patterns in my shops at

Craftsy

Etsy

Ravelry

Have a great weekend,

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

When choosing beads or charms for a project, keep in mind the weight of the yarn AND the weight of the beads.  Too heavy a bead or too many beads will distort the stitches.  Plastic beads are relatively light compared to glass or metal.

Summer Shawl and Thrift Store Findings

I'm working on a summer shawl pattern.  Gorgeous colors of the sea and very easy to knit up.  

It's in the blocking stage at the moment.  I block most of my shawls "dry" then give them a heavy spray of water with a few drops of Soak in the bottle.  I find it much easier this way as sometimes a soaked shawl or scarf is a bit unruly. 

I'll be adding some beading to the short ends for interest and a little weight.  Still working out the details on that.

One lonely, yarny blanket in a thrift store last week.  Usually you can find 5-10 on a rack.

But....

I did spy these vintage flower loom project books.  So retro and lovely.  Really takes me back to my childhood as I grew up in the 60's and 70's.

Last, but not least, my pal Joan is riding her bike across Scotland.  She's my age, mid 50's and I just can't imagine doing that myself.  I'm so very grateful that she took the time to hunt down a shop, send me photos of fiber, worked it all out with the shop owner and get it in the mail to me.  I'm going to get two shawls out of this yardage, one for myself and one for Joan, of course.  She lives in Denver, Colorado USA, so it will be perfect!

Anyhoo, she sent me this lovely spool of sapphire worsted weight goodness from the Isle of Iona with two labels.  The shop is Iona Craft Shop if you happen to be up that way.

The sheep graze every corner of the island and when summer comes they are sheared to enjoy the sun.  They sort through the fleeces one by one then they are spun together to become Iona Wool.

The postcard on the right shows the beautiful sunrise over the sound of Iona.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom,

I purchase my blocking boards from any store that carries giant foam puzzles for children, in the toy department.  So much cheaper than traditional blocking boards. Don't have blocking boards?  Lay out your project on the carpet or bed mattress. 

Just a Quickie!

  

I'm SO very late in posting something and I do apologize.  I know I promised you Holiday Knitting and Crocheting Part 4.....sweaters, but I have had a sudden onslaught of custom blanket orders. We are also getting ready for a Big Fat Greek Wedding and a custom made veil for the bride.  It turned out lovely and I'll post some photos next week!  

I have also been rushing to get this pattern written.  I designed this especially for me as I did not have anything in black.  I know, hard to imagine, nothing in black!!!!!

Anyhoo, here it is.  Midnight Granny Shawl with a pom pom fringe.

I must say that I DO love it.  Now, I am rather "fluffy", so it is quite large, but my petite daughter loves and wears it well, too.  The pattern includes a link on how to crochet the pom pom edge....so simple, yet very effective don't you think?

I love the size and could see this in so many different colorways.  Red shawl with black pom poms for our beloved college football team the Nebraska Cornhuskers!  I should have made one for the bride in her wedding colors of yellow and orange.  Not bright, but something in a more subdued hue. 

I love wearing it this way, off to the side.  Maybe it's a bit warm, but you don't want to carry it on your arm while shopping or walking.  I've seen Meryl Streep where her shawls this way in Out of Africa.

It almost looks like a coat here.  Arg!  I just noticed the big wet spot on the patio!  Good thing she wasn't standing right over it like she had a little accident!

Of course, wearing it in the traditional way is fine too!

Open weave, solid black, contrasting pom pom fringe....I love it!

Back next week with sweaters.  

Best,

Sheila

Find this and all my patterns at the top of this page in the heading bar or in my

Etsy shop

Craftsy shop

Ravelry shop

Annie's shop

Yarn tip:

Here's some US/UK abbreviations that are included in the pattern, courtesy of Craftsy

Holiday Knitting and Crocheting Part 1

It's that time of year!  Holiday knitting and crocheting for the ones we love.  Hand made, yarny goodness for all.  I don't know about you, but curling up in a favorite chair, a hot cup of tea by my side, hooking or clacking away is pure heaven!  I never tire of bringing a hand knit or crocheted gift to life.  

Even though I make my living as a pattern designer, I enjoy other designers patterns as well.  More on that in a moment.

Please indulge me to first direct you to my designs.  These are my most popular patterns for neckwear.  The above photo is perfect for the beginner with spectacular results!  Chunky Twist Scarf.  You only need 162 yards of super bulky weight (6) yarn.  I always crochet tons of these under the tree for women, teens, men and women.  You could easily adjust it for a child size.

I've made so many of these Triangle Scarves in all kinds or yarn weights from crochet thread to super bulky!  A picot edge with beads makes it extra special.  In cotton, it's perfect for Spring and Summer.  I always take one to the movie theatre as they are usually freezing!  In sock yarn, it's just the thing for fall and winter. Long run yarn is stunning and worsted weight yarn makes a very generous size.

This is a TON of scarf at 16 feet long!  Super easy for the beginner.

Super bulky (6) yarn in many shades or...

just one is super chic!  Crochet a Mile Long Scarf for your bestie!  

Now, on to other designers...

the Crocodile Stitch Scarf by Bonita Patterns is one of my favorites for gift giving and craft fairs.  Crochet this in your long run yarn to show off the stitch at its finest.  

You can read my post about it here.

Make it shorter and more affordable.  Read the post and see more photos here.

I love all one color too, but keep it in a lighter shade to show off all your hard work.  Read more of this blog post here.

The Hitchhiker by Martina is also a fav of mine.  I must have knit a dozen of these and I always add charms to each point.  Find the yarn info in this blog post.  Sock yarn to...

worsted weight, you can't go wrong!  Here's this blog post.

Just add your charms with a tiny crochet hook as you knit along or sew them on at the end.  There's a photo in the Yarn Tip section below.  Here's the yarn info for this one.

The knit Lacy Baktus by Terhi is another.  You have to click through Rav to her Flickr page and write down the instructions, but it's worth it.  My story about this one is here.

I've made a number of these Lollipop Shawls as well.  Really easy and the color changing yarn keeps it interesting.  All the yarn information is in the post.

So, there you have it.  A number of easy projects to crochet or knit in time for holiday gifting.  Next week, blankets!  I hope you can join me.

Find all my pattern shops at the top of this page or

Etsy here

Craftsy here

Ravelry here

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

Here's a tip from Knitting Daily on how to add beads with a crochet hook.