How and where do you store your works-in-progress (WIP’s) or unfinished objects (UFO’s)? I usually keep them either in a basket or in a project bag. Most of the time they are scattered around the floor in the living room. Next to the chair where I sit most of the time when I crochet or knit. Or on the kitchen table at the ready to take it outside for some al fresco knitting or crochet when the weather permits.
About a month ago, I noticed that one of my project bags was empty! How did that happen? 🙂
A very good reason to start a new project! I decided to make the Moonlit Shawl. This particular pattern is designed by Sandra of Cherryheart. She showed the finished versions of her two shawls on her podcast. What I really like about the pattern is that the finished shawl is not very large, it is a very wearable, crescent shaped shawl with a lovely border. The pattern is available on Ravelry.
Selecting a pattern, of course, is only one step (and maybe the easiest one). Next, comes the yarn… What am I going to use? What colour do I like? Do I have something in my stash or do I have to shop some new yarn (a true punishment, ha!)?
I browsed my sock yarn stash (you’ll find most of it here on Ravelry) but didn’t really find something that I liked for this pattern. Then I realised that I had a skein of Drops Lace in my stash (up until about a year and a half ago this yarn was sold per 100 grammes, they now sell it per 50 grammes).
Out came the yarn umbrella and ball winder. For this pattern, I wanted to use the yarn double-stranded, so I made two small cakes.
Pattern? Check! Yarn? Check! A cute pair of scissors? Check!
And off I went, starting with the base of the shawl. Looking at that cup of tea, apparently, it was not a very warm summer day…
I kept going and slowly the crescent shape of the shawl started to show.
Border time!
A perfect combination of crochet and a homemade rhubarb gin & tonic.
On a side note, the rhubarb gin is delicious! And it is so easy to make: cut fresh rhubarb in chunks and mix it with white sugar. Leave for 24 hours, then add the gin and wait for 4 weeks. That is probably the hardest part! For the exact quantities, find the recipe here.
Oops… a serious game of yarn chicken happened. And the yarn definitely won. My lucky guess that 400 metres of yarn would do when the pattern states 420 metres are necessary obviously was wrong.
But there’s the Internet and with a few clicks, I had ordered extra yarn. The lovely people of Echtstudio delivered it the next day! Pfew…
After completing the last few stitches my Moonlit Shawl took a short bath and was pinned down on the blocking boards.
A serious warning at this point: should you consider making this shawl without blocking it afterwards, then you might as well not even start! 🙂
Just look at how much the border patterns opens up! It so definitely worth the little amount of time that blocking this shawl takes.
Here it is in full glory!
I asked my better half to take a few photos of me wearing the shawl. I really like the one above and it also resulted in a new profile photo here on the blog.
Yesterday was a perfect day to wear this light shawl, it was cold and rainy. Hopefully, summer returns soon!
Thank you, Sandra for designing this beautiful pattern! It was a great make, a perfect in-between project! I love it!
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