Monday 16 June 2014

The Thing I Love Ta-dah.....





Like I need any more shawls.....





....but I just love them.



I saw one that caught my eye on Pinterest here. I loved it so. But it was just a picture. It linked to a page that went nowhere with regards to the shawl itself. No pattern link......zip. I figured it was a picture of a shop bought one......so that was that. I just admired it from afar.




I really loved Dottie Angel's little shawl here. It was similar to the one I loved on Pinterest, and there was a link to where the pattern could be purchased. I really really liked it.....but......it wasn't the one on Pinterest.

I stared at the picture of the one on pinterest and thought.......you know.....how hard could it be to work out what the pattern is?

So I spent a day staring at the picture and doing a bit of maths in my head (which is not my strongest point I can tell you), writing bits down and figuring it out. 

The above is what I ended up with.....

....which I love.

I had had this yarn for a while. I was saving it for something rather lovely to make. This was perfect. Phew too, that I had just enough yarn to complete it. I had bought the yarn in a pack that was going cheap in a craft shop. It was a discontinued line and scandinavian brand I think. I had no idea what yarnage I would be using for this project and I knew that I could not source any more. Typical me, it was a 'wing it' make.

But i'm pleased I managed to do it......and love the result.

The really funny thing was though, that a couple of days later after making this shawl, I saw this picture floating about pinterest again, and low and behold, it had a link this time to a pattern of sorts here

So I made another one. I had been given some chunky blue yarn and hadn't really got a clue what to make with it. So I thought i'd try the shawl again using the pattern provided. I wasn't far off the pattern actually, and I did tweak it to a little bit of mine as I felt it worked better.  I love using these shawl patterns with different yarns and hook sizes. That way, each is always a little different. The blue one needs blocking though, so I haven't photographed it, and it's just the same as the pink one, except bigger. I would have included some pics of me wearing it, but you know what, I just felt plain lazy this weekend, and the weather just couldn't make its mind up. Sorry about that, but you get the drift of what it's like. A shawl's a shawl.


Maybe no more shawls for the time being now!


xxx

68 comments:

  1. So pretty !!
    A woman can never have too much shawls :-)

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    1. Thank you Ingrid! I think others in my house may disagree......they are taking over! I do love them so though! x

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  2. Обожаю узоры ракушками! Очень нежно и мило))

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  3. I can see why you had to make one. It's gorgeous. Xxx

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    1. I just loved it in the picture Sara, and in my favourite shade of pink i'm really happy with it! x

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  4. Clever, clever, clever. How wonderful if must be to be able to look at something and then go away and make it. I'm blown away. And it's lovely by the way! And I'm with Ingrid, there's no such thing as too many shawls. I really needed one yesterday at a chillier than expected football tournament, I shivered all morning. Hope you have a good week. CJ xx

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    1. Maths isn't my strong point at all, and the shawl was not flat in the picture, but once I had realised what the repeat pattern was, then it was fairly straightforward to work it all out. Just funny that I found a pattern for it a couple of days after I had finished it! typical! x

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  5. Excellent post! Good to see a sense of humour out there. I have decided I am doing Dottie Angel's shawl out of Paton's Embrace, two actually. I want to go all "strawberries and cream" and do one with a dusky pink edge on a cream body and vice versa. I love yours too. I'm thinking, chunky warm brown farmhouse style!

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    1. The Dottie Angel one is rather lovely also isn't it. Strawberries and cream sounds like a lovely combination for it. I'm really liking the brown chunky farmhouse idea too, although, I have a brown chunky one already....could i get away with another?!!!!!!! ha ha! x

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  6. Really beautiful shawl! I love the color too,so pretty!
    Hope you have a wonderful week!
    Hugs from Portugal,
    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you Ana. I hope that you have a super week too! x

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  7. Oh my goodness, I read every post but rarely comment with the fidgety-ness of trying to comment on blogs (capatcha thing I always seem to get wrong so I give up)... but I have to comment here, you are unreal how you manage to churn out so many projects and your taste is so beautiful and comes so naturally. I don't know how you do it. I love the inspiration this gives me though (speaking from a dull office, I may go buy flowers on my lunchbreak). I also love that your blog is a nice mix very down to earth. I find some of the crochet blogs so sweet-as-pie, some days I'm able for it and feeling the way way but when every single post is along the lines of isn't (my) life so wonderful, I drift away (particularly when I'm usually hiding from my crazy three boys having a sneaky break on the ipad!). Love the blog, thanks.

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    1. Awe thanks Sarah for taking the time to comment. Yes I know, those bleedin' comments verifications are mega annoying. I really didn't want them on my blog, but the spam I get is unreal, it's totally ridiculous, and it's the only way they can be controlled. So, sorry about that. Well, I was baking this morning and spilt everything everywhere. Last night, blackcurrant juice was spilled all over 8 balls of yarn, and my laundry pile is ceiling high....equal to my ironing pile! Very 'un-wonderful'!!!!!! x

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  8. Wow, Vanessa, just gorgeous.....

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  9. Perfection...I know just the pin you mean and I was thinking about writing a pattern when LO AND BEHOLD a new pin with link appeared! This soft pink is just gorgeous. I think I'd like one too! Perhaps in a vintage cream or aqua blue. I love a shawl, too. Did you use a DK yarn? I think I need to step AWAY from the mustard...

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    1. Isn't it so funny Kath! It sort of appeared out of nowhere, but the shawl is just so pretty. It does remind me of pineapples though a bit! Yes, I think a cream or aqua one would be fab.....so make both!!!!!!! But the question is........would you get mustard withdrawal?!!!!!! I used a chunky yarn and an 8mm hook. It came out just a little bigger than the picture....I think. It's hard to tell as it's on a hanger and not a person in the pic. x

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  10. Oh you are SO clever Vanessa ! You must feel so chuffed with yourself - where there's a will there's ALWAYS a way !!
    Such a pretty colour too,
    Kate x

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    1. It's funny Kate, as I felt so chuffed with myself for actually completing it, but then finding a pattern already written after I had made it was just typical. But, I was able to do it, and it was almost stitch for stitch so I was chuffed with that! x

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  11. Il est vraiment très joli. Gorgeous!!!
    Lucie x

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  12. This is really beautiful. Gorgeous pattern and colour.
    Marianne x

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  13. Would you sell us your pattern? I don't think I could follow that pattern on printerest and I just love it! Yours is definitely prettier for some reason. Maybe the color and the yarn you chose.

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    1. Hi Kate, the pattern I came up with was practically identical to the one in the link on Ravelry. It was just 9 shells across for the widest part, then reduce down a shell with every row. I'm not sure that's so clear on that pattern link through Ravelry. I used a chunky yarn and an 8mm hook and I think it came out only a little bigger than the one in the picture, perfect for me though. x

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    2. sorry that should have read 7 shells. I only did 7 shells as I was using chunky yarn. But if you are using dk yarn and a 4mm hook, i'd do a starting chain of 272 (this includes your 7 chain to make your first loop in your first row)(this make 8 shells too). That would be making making 7 chains (for each loop) in your first row and dc in every 5th row of your chain. I think in the pattern it looks a little ambiguous as to where to put the stitch in the first row. The rest then I would follow. Not sure any of that made sense, that's why I don't write patterns!!!!!!! x

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  14. Please write your pattern up and share with me. I want to try to crochet one but I can read a diagram so I am at a lost at how to crochet the one on ralvery.

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    1. Hi Michle, I don't know if my reply to the above comment is any help to you? x

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  15. Sooo beautiful!! Really love the color too, its just lovely! Happy sweet day! xo Holly

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  16. Wow. That is one stunning shawl! In the perfect pink colour...and I am in total awe of your ability to figure out the pattern! I'm really looking forward to seeing the blue one, too...Chrissie x

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    1. The blue one looks a little big! It needs blocking but I think that may stretch it out even further! It might have to be a weird bed throw! ha ha! x

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  17. Lovely shawl &'the color is the most dreamy sweet pink!
    Blessings,
    G

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  18. You're amazing. I love the way it turned out. The color is gorgeous too.

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    1. I was very happy I could do it from a picture. I just loved this yarn too, so was happy that I pulled it off! x

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  19. That's brilliant Vanessa to just work the pattern from a picture. Well done you, it's lovely! Can you have too many shawls? Nah!! Have a great week.
    Jane xx

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  20. Your shawl situation sounds like my scarf one!! This shawl is beautiful, and how great that you worked it out and made it up yourself!! I love the colour. xx

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    1. Ha ha, Don't get me started on scarves! I have far more than shawls! I think I may need a house for them all of their own soon! EEEK! x

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  21. You are clever Vanessa, it's beautiful :-)
    Tracey xxx

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  22. Simply delicious!
    Congratulations on such so beautiful work!
    Kisses from Catalonia!

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  23. It sounds like the pink yarn was meant to be that shawl and it's brilliant that you took the photo apart in your head and worked it out :-) Even better than when you found the original pattern yours was your preferred! Looking forward to seeing bigger blue shawl :-) x

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    1. I'm so glad that I used the yarn for this shawl. I've been so nervous about finding just the perfect pattern for it, as I didn't want to be disappointed with any finished result. Phew! x

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  24. i love your shawls! feeling inspired now to whip out some yarn I have had for years which would be perfect! x

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  25. No need to apologize!! I love shawls too!!! This one is beautiful.

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  26. Hi, I love your craft, is beauty, I love a colors, hugs from Brasil.
    Visit my blog - Tita Carré - crochet

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  27. Beautiful, beautiful shawl. I love making-it-up as I go along and continue my love of lace-weight. Maybe I'll try something a bit more robust when I've finished the 3 hanks of lace-weight yarn still awaiting my attentions! And I bought more in Wool in Bath at the weekend - awesome shop. I treated myself BIG TIME - very bad!!! Enjoy the summer evenings and sunshine.

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    1. I have a few balls of lace weight and would love to start something with them. I'm just trying to find the perfect pattern....which I have yet to come across! x

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  28. Stunning! Simply stunning! Well done to you, I wish I could juggle the household stuff enough to have time to make all the stuff in my head, or even finish half the stuff I've started! You're an inspiration.

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  29. Scrumptious! That is so pretty!! Sarah xo

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  30. This is gorgeous! I love the colour and the pattern and clever you for working it out from the pic too, it looks kind of complicated! How typical to find the pattern for it just *after* you finished. Always the way!

    S x

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  31. This is just gorgeous!! Clever you!

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  32. Gosh... So pretty - and clever! I would have just been left dreaming...

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  33. Your shawl is awesome! I love it! I find it is much nicer & prettier than the others you mentioned. Could not find the one on Pinterest as the page is no longer there. I, too would love to purchase the pattern. You should think about writing it down & selling it - it is too beautiful not to share. I, too, like you & others who have commented love shawls. They are gradually coming back. You can wear them with jeans or dressed up - u can't go wrong. I think they are classy. Yours is fantastic! Very beautiful & different - they do look somewhat like pineapples Pls reconsider & think about writing down your pattern - a lot of people seem to be interested as I am. Here's hoping you change your mind. Great job in your finished work!
    Helen

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    1. Hi Helen,

      It's a really lovely shawl isn't it. I'm glad you like it too. I just checked, and the pattern link is still up there for the pattern. At the bottom of my post where I said I found a link to the pattern....if you click 'HERE' it takes you to the ravelry page, which then gives you a link to click on for the free pattern for it. However, I've provided the link below which takes you straight to the page. It's only a diagram pattern I'm afraid, and if I remember it just shows you the main body, so you are free really to make it however big as you like. I could be wrong as it was quite a while ago I made this and then saw the pattern link. Anyway, I hope it helps!

      http://www.mypicot.com/crochet_patterns_photo_10.html

      Have a lovely day!

      Vanessa

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