The last couple of years I've been snapping away on our hunting trips, on the beach, in the veld, and noticed a recurring theme...
...starting with this rock rose in the Free State |
The next year when we visited, I noticed it on the aloe as well:
And the thorny cactus thingey on the stoep
(sorry...not into the cactus trend, I don't know the name :-D
But it's not a new thing. Remember my Klein Karoo stool cover from this photo?
Can you see it now?
The soft greyish green tipped with pinks?
I kept seeing it everywhere.
Outside a beach house at Gourits:
In the Montagu Pass:
My best ever favourite flower in the Garden Route Botanical Garden:
(look at the stem as well!)
These tiny flowers in the Groot Swartberg near De Rust:
There's no better place for a workshop in colour combination than your nearest outdoors.
So. I wanted to make a shawl (having never ever before worn or made a triangular shawl). It would be greenish and the only colour it could ever be is Vinnis Nikkim Khaki. Nothing else. As for the pink tips, I was thinking about a hot pink lacy or tiny tiny edge...then various other pinks came to mind when I started looking through my stash. In the end I used a softer pink from Elle Premier Cotton.
As for the pattern, I wanted to hook up a lacy shawl, not too difficult, not too holey and the Elise shawl was the obvious one that ticked all the boxes.
I had a whole pile of Khaki squares from trying out patterns for my summer throw and I re-used most of these, so I have no idea of how much yarn went into it!
Done!
I love how the green comes alive due to the hand dyeing.
I started the lacy edge off a diagram from a website in a language that I can't even decipher; it's not Russian, it could be anything. After the first row I winged it on my own.
Unblocked I thought it might be too dense:
(hanging off the kitchen counter, held in place by salt & pepper, sugar pots :-D )
(hanging off the kitchen counter, held in place by salt & pepper, sugar pots :-D )
It could have done with a severe block, buuuuut the "neckline" part pulled too tight. Aaaaand I realised almost 75% of the way through that I not making the tr in the middle of the cluster, but a dc...
So. After a light block, it came out really pretty, but I would love to see it more opened up.
I was surprised by how comfortable a triangle sits, and would love a wider one, with longer wings. Therefor, I'm already onto V.2, with the correct cluster, and a slight modification to try and get the wings longer! This green one is now off to Maak 'n Verskil who also runs a project with Prayer Shawls for cancer patients. I though this would be quite fitting, as I completed the shawl during Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the pink ties in with that, while the green would refer to my mom, a Klein Karoo girl, whom we lost to breast cancer 16 years ago.
All the while I'm thinking what I would name this shawl - it should be my Dolly shawl then.
All the while I'm thinking what I would name this shawl - it should be my Dolly shawl then.
For her :-)
6 comments:
All of the personal connections in this shawl, from your local landscape to the significant people and times in your life, make this shawl extra special. I am sure the love entwined in the Dolly shawl's stitches will benefit its recipient greatly.
May your modifications in v.2 be everything you are looking for.
I love the colours! The old pink lining makes the green even more special.
Well done, I think it's really beautiful!
Have a nice weekend, Sigrid
I love all the story about your beautiful shawl …..
xxxxxxx Ale
The shawl looks great - and what a wonderful personal touch/story :)
Take care
Anne
Crochet Between Worlds
Thanks all - this really is a lovely pattern to work and I enjoyed the process - as well as the second one which I have already finished!
Looooooooooooooooooooove it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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