Color, Color

I've spoken before about my love for semi-solids. Especially playing around with them and making up color combinations. I could just monkey around with a big bin of yarn playing with combinations all day long. If only! Dye and wool are my big-girl versions of Crayolas and paper. And then I get to wear it!

I saw this pattern on Ravelry last fall on the front page under "Jess's selection" and it was one of those Gotta-Buy-It-Now-And-Start-Knitting-Tonight moments. It was delicious knitting, with that main course of garter stitch and a lace border for dessert.

I made it bigger than the pattern by knitting the main section with my entire skein (350 yds) and then, surprisingly, the feather and fan border took almost a complete skein too. I used Sophie's Toes Midnight Sky and Favorite Jeans. The big square shape with a deep vee is super cozy and wrappable.

So I loved knitting Ruffle My Feathers, (above) and I was officially sucked into the Shawl Vortex. Next up: Flamboyan.

Here it is not yet blocked. I am in love with Stephen West's designs, so clean and modern. This one in Sophie's Toes colors Blackberry and Cranberry. Superfantastic detail in the border ribbing that resembles pleats.

It's a triangle, but instead of a straight-across top, the edges curve up making a nice "vee" shape that stays around the neck better. I have noticed this in many new patterns and it is a most excellent trend. I especially recommend this vee shape for the mom (who is trying to hold a couple of small hands and cross the street to get into church while wearing high heels in snow and keep her shawl from falling off)- crowd.

In progress: Aestlight by the talented designer Gudrun Johnston. I am using two greens that are double dyes (Sophie's Toes Layers of Color collection). The colors are a little washed out in this photo, but it is blocking as we speak, so I'll get a better, finished and modeled shot soon. I know the photo above isn't very exciting but I believe this might be my favorite of all. A person can never have too many green shawls! That's my motto.

I will leave you with those words of wisdom. If you don't have a green shawl, I highly recommend it.

And since I'm not ready to leave the Shawl Vortex any time soon...I'd love suggestions for other patterns. I'm eyeing Whippoorwill and Chadwick. Then there's this beauty, Roma. (Although, three colors! That might seriously put me over the edge!)