The Language of Shawls

There is something about a shawl.

The allure...

the softness,

the delicate movement against the skin,

the pure femininity,

that speaks to me.

This one is called

Avalon

The very moment my eyes beheld its beauty in the book

my soul took wings.

I knew I had to crochet it.

About a year ago I purchased two glorious skeins of

Malabrigo Silky Merino

to save for just the right shawl.

During that time I have occasionally

taken it out of the drawer to feel its softness against my face.

I was never quite certain what I would create with it but I knew that

eventually something would speak to me,

like a soft whisper.

Before I was finished with the entire shawl,

I came to the end of the lovely Malabrigo.

Therefore I added a delicate ivory border.

This was done in Berroco Folio which is a fiber blend of

65% Superfine Alpaca & 35% Rayon.

Sometimes the most beautiful things happen when we have to improvise.

There are many more shawls in this divine book I plan to make.

I started with this one thinking it would be perfect for gentle

Spring & Summer Days and Evenings.

No matter what else is on my hooks and needles,

there are times I just have to have lovely shawls in the making.

They bring comfort to my soul.

Without uttering a sound,

they have their own language.

I love the whole process of working on them

and then seeing them around the house.

Maybe I'll just do one more...

before moving on to something else.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort..."

2 Corinthians 1:3

Pretty Puffy Hat

Back in the Winter I crocheted a couple of hats that I really love.

While scrolling through my pictures,

 I realized I never posted them to my blog.

The pattern is just so cute that I hate for you to miss out

 in case you want to make some yourself.

You can find it on an Etsy Shop called

 Mon Petit Violin Patterns.

It's the 

Tiered Hat

My youngest daughter,

 Chelsea,

 is modeling the Green one for me.

It's  for sale on my Etsy Shop.

Vita, 

the designer,

 gives permission for those who purchase her patterns

to sell the finished product.

I also made one in charcoal Grey for my sister,

 Bridget,

 who loves to wear hats.

It was part of her birthday gift from me in January 

and one of the very first things I crocheted with my

Laurel Hill Crochet Hooks

which I honestly don't know how I ever lived without.

My love affair with these is going strong...

The way this hat circles around in little puffs

 is what really does it for me.

This is Me wearing Bridget's

 because I had someone snap a picture before I wrapped it up.

 I knew once the birthday party started

 there would be too much commotion

 to try to get a picture of her sitting still in it. 

She really was so happy with it though.

It doesn't seem to matter how many

  grey hats

 I knit or crochet for her,

she is always thrilled.

Both of these hats were crocheted using 

Knit Picks Gloss DK

70% Merino Wool

 30% Silk

Green ~ Clover

Grey ~ Hawk

If you want to use this yarn to make this hat

 you will need to purchase 2 balls.

This is a lovely fiber blend for this particular hat,

as it is soft and silky

 with just the right amount of drape and a slight sheen to it.

It makes beautiful knitted and crocheted shawls as well.

And speaking of shawls...

I must get back to the one I'm currently working on.

Hopefully there will be pictures of it before much longer.

Many Blessings to You All,

Danette