bring on the winter so I can wrap up warm

my crochet shawl is finished and I for one think it looks great.

The pattern is a freebie - link to it here on www.redheart.com, another great resource for free patterns.

I have crocheted it on size 7mm hook in Phildar Kadisha 130 75% acrylic/25% wool, 15 balls of which I found on sale at a car boot sale for a couple of euros a couple of years ago and it has been lurking in the project cupboard ever since.

I even had enough wool left over to add the fringing.

A very satisfying crochet project.

Sucked in...

...to an ever increasing degrading spiral of Christmas themed shows on TV.

In fact they only have to have the eponymous C word in the title and I'm wedged in front of the goggle box looking for yet more knit it yourself turkey dinner hints and tips.

This has never happened to me before.

Even as recently as last year I only had to hear those dreaded words that signalled another trip into the lastest dish of the day chef and their pseudo kitchen eating some undercooked poultry with the best extras that Rent a Friends R Us could find on short notice, and I would be cruising the channels for something more interesting to watch - like One Man and His Dog.

But 2010 - oh yeah - this year, I even have TV reminders set for Kirstie, Jamie, Nigella, Gordon, Kirstie again, Kirstie and Phil, River Cottage and bliss of blisses they all get repeated on a Sunday!

I am officially old and officially a saddo - I have square eyes and reams of tips and hints scribbled on the backs of envelopes shoved down the side of the sofa cushions.

In the meantime at least my shawl is nearing completion - it shouldn't be because I have only done half of the pattern, but I am running out of wool.

Crochet confusion

This is by far the most complicated thing I have ever attempted but I am enjoying the challenge.

I found the pattern here:

http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Accessories/SN0124+Sidewalk+Shawl.htm

via http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com which also has a directory for knitting patterns too.

I think perhaps it would be easier if I was using the wool recommended instead of this thick felted wool, but I just adore the rich cerise colour and the felty feel of it. (Katia Mystery, shade 7655)

Each day I attempt at least the next 3 rows, and slowly but surely it is advancing. I do have to have complete silence so that I can count out loud and have several little reusable stickers that I can attach to the pattern to mark my place in the counting.

yesterday's rows

today's rows added

Finished shawl pictures as requested.

Open holed shawl, or pulled tight for a scarf.

(please note - my robin cross stitch has actually made onto the wall)

Easy crochet shawl.

With help from Ferguson of course.

I made this easy shawl in about 4 hours, I think it looks really nice, because you can wear it as a shawl, but if you pull it (like that JML magic scarf), the holey bits pull together and you can wear it as a thick and fluffy scarf too.

The finished wrap measures approximately 50cm wide by 150cm long, depending on how many rows you put in – which for me was conditional on the amount of wool skeins I had.

Gauge is not hugely important as it depends on the wool you use, size of hook and how loosely you want the loops to drape.

I used an 8mm hook on lightweight fluffy wool, but ran two threads together in my main colour of icy blue snowflake wool and a mohair black wool.

Ch 101.

Row 1 (Right Side): Dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next ch, * ch 5, skip next 5 ch, dc in next 3 ch; rep from * across; turn.

Row 2: Ch 3, skip first dc, dc in next dc, * (4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc) all in next ch-5 lp; rep from * to last 3 sts; skip next dc, dc in next dc, dc in top of ch-3; turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, skip first dc, dc in next dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, * ch 5, 3 dc in next ch-1sp; rep from * to last 6 sts; ch 2, skip next 4 dc, dc in next dc, dc in top of ch-3; turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, skip first dc, dc in next dc, 4 dc in next ch-2 sp, * (4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc) all in next ch-5 sp; rep from * to last ch-2 sp; 4 dc in last ch-2 sp, dc in next dc, dc in top of ch-3; turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, skip first dc, dc in next 2 dc, * ch 5, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * to last 10 sts; ch 5, skip next 7 dc, dc in next 2 dc, dc in top of ch-3; turn.

Rep Rows 2-5 for pattern, end by working Row 5. Fasten off.

To finish the top edge: With right side facing, join yarn in first st of last row; * (hdc, dc, 4 tr, dc, hdc) all in next ch-5 sp; rep from * across; sl st in last st. Fasten off.


Bottom Edging: With right side facing, join yarn in free loop of first ch of foundation ch; * (hdc, dc, 4 tr, dc, hdc) all in next ch-sp formed by 5 skipped ch; rep from * across; sl st in last ch. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS:

ch = chain

dc = double crochet

hdc = half double crochet

rep = repeat

sl = slip

sp = space

st(s) = stitch (es);

* = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.