J’s Shawl

Hello Wonderful Readers! I’m going to start off this WIP Madness journey of ours talking about my longest-standing WIP.

This one, I titled “J’s Shawl.” This was meant to be a gift for my brother-in-law’s new wife when they were first wed. I cast it on back in 2017, and didn’t end up finishing even the first part of the shawl by the time the wedding happened. I’m sorry to say that this one has been sitting around without having much work done on it since about 2018. I keep meaning to work on it, really I do.  But usually, when I’m in the mood to try to clear up some needles, I go up to my UFO bin, take one look at the light fingering yarn held double part of this shawl, zip up the bag it’s in, and toss the bag back in the cubbies I have upstairs in my craft room. I’m not entirely sure WHY, if I’m being honest.

The pattern I was using for this shawl was the “2016 Mother’s Day MKAL Shawl” by J.L. Fleckenstein. It is a pattern that I’ve made before, and I quite enjoyed it. Although, the first time, I WAS using the yarn that the designer called for in the pattern (it had cashmere. Need I say more? lol). Do you think this should have much bearing on what’s holding me up? It might, if I’m being honest. I’ve had issues in the past knitting with certain yarn types. But I REALLY do love the feel and the color of the “Socks That Rock,” lightweight yarn in the “Snowflake” colorway that I’ve been using.

I’ve also been debating if the reason I’m delaying working on the Shawl is the 47 inch, US 7 Knitters Pride Cubics needles I have the project on. Again, it COULD possibly be that. They aren’t the right shape for my fingers, I’m thinking. But at the time, they were the only needles I had available to use. This is, if I remember correctly. This could be completely wrong, but why knows, right??? LOL. It HAS been a few years…

I really DO love the bag I’ve been using to house this project. It’s making me want to finish up the project so I can get it back to use with another project. This is the “Knitter & Knitting Cat bag” by Twist Fiber Studio. It’s Super Cute. It’s been so long since I bought the bag, that I couldn’t tell you if they have the fabric anymore, but what they currently have in their shop is making me long for another bag. You can find the shop here.

I have been using a mix of blue beads as well. I’m not sure you can see it in this picture, but they are so cute! I was going for a dark to light sort of motif. I had a bit of an issue getting some of the beads placed as about half of the beads don’t seem to be as drilled as they should be for the yarn I’m using. This could also be part of why I had to put it aside. Beading is not REALLY my favorite thing to do. Especially when it’s being this fidley…

The last issue I have with getting this one done has to do with the length of time it’s been a UFO. Even if the intended recipient still wanted it (which I’m thinking she forgot that I EVER promised this shawl to her, as it HAS been a few years…), I’m pretty sure it is too far outside the “late-wedding-gift” parameters allowed my Miss Manners… Maybe if I stop thinking of it as a wedding shawl, and start thinking of it as a general gift for her… That might work… Hmm… Might go grab this one now and try to figure out where I left off. We’ll see, right?

Until Next Time, Happy Crafting!

-Silver-