<Living Crafts Blog

Perfect for Spring!

We can feel that Spring buzz in the air….the time for fresh colours and flowers and pretty things! While most of us may still be yearning for the return of our flowers in the garden, this scarf can brighten the transition from Winter to Spring!

A great project and tutorial by Amy  at Watch Me Daddy

We have a winner for the Wedding Shawl Giveaway!

Priscilla

Submitted on 2011/08/15 at 4:16 pm

This shawl is beautiful!! Thank you for the lovely giveaway.

Even if you did not win the giveaway, you can still enjoy these lovely fibers at a special price.

Kattikloo is offering 20% discount to Living Crafts readers, until September 1st. Visit the Kattikloo shop and use the Living Crafts reader appreciation code:  LCSUMMER2011

We love to hear from our readers; your comments, ideas, questions, and especially stories about your finished Living Crafts projects.

I received an email from Marcia Kimpton recently, sharing her family’s wonderful story of making the Wedding Shawl from our Spring 2011 issue.

Jean and Dave: Wedding day photo by Lynn Poulin @ Lyndahkicks Photography

“When I saw the article in Living Crafts, I was inspired to create this for my son and (to-be) daughter-in-law’s wedding.  I contacted her family and her sister, who had never knit before, took on the task of doing one half.  A dear friend who is an expert knitter started the “bride’s” side  and sent it on the needles to the bride’s sister on the west coast.  She  had some help from a friend, but she knit this side almost entirely, tutoring herself with yarn store and internet help.

Hillary, the sister of the bride, knitting on the west coast

Maine relatives and friends of the groom worked on the other half.  I started the knitting and had many helpers here, several who had not knit before, including a brother, a dad and a stepdad.  I taught them to purl, and they each did some purl rows .

stepfather of the groom, Tim, purling on the east coast

There were nine of us who worked on the “groom’s” side.  For me, the pattern took intense concentration (for the first 10 inches at least) and I kept coming up with the wrong number of stitches, but corrected it in the next row, and it is a very forgiving pattern.

Before I left Maine for the wedding, I had “our” half and the center piece  ready to put together.   I sewed the pieces together on the train out to Seattle.

Catherine and Andy: Wedding day photo by Tim Matsui @ TuaLua Photography

This project brought us together so wonderfully as a combined family- for all of us, not just the bride and groom.  I got to know the bride’s sister a bit from our early correspondence about the shawl, and ended up staying at her peaceful apartment while we were there for the wedding.  During this time  I worked on the wedding shawl with my son’s stepmother and her daughters, and it was a wonderful bonding process for us.  I was so very happy that they wanted to participate with me!

Catherine and Andy- Wedding day photo by Tim Matsui @TuaLua Photography

Thank you so much for this inspiration!”

Marcia Kimpton

The wedding shawl is already a heartwarming project for me, and to hear Marcia’s story just makes it all the more special.

This pattern makes a great all season wrap for everyday wear, as well as special occasions! Light and warm over a summer dress; as an extra layer over a fall sweater; with enough drape and softness to be worn wrapped as a scarf into the winter. Try making the pattern with fewer repeats to make a gorgeous Fall scarf.  Think ahead to holiday gift giving! Last Fall we made scarves using this pattern for each of the women in our family as secret handmade gifts. Everyone was knitting on scarves, but no-one knew they were also going to receive one! Such fun…and so connecting to share stitches with each other, across the country.

Giveaway

To celebrate these shared craft projects, Living Crafts and Kattikloo Fibre Studio are sharing in a giveaway! A fabulous package including three 100gram (3.5 ounce) skeins of Kattikloo Baby Alpaca yarn as used for the Living Crafts wedding shawl, a copy of Living Crafts Spring 2011 issue that features the wedding shawl story, plus a one year subscription to Living Crafts magazine (Total value $100.00) . Yarn color will be the winner’s choice. Please leave us a comment by midnight pacific time on Monday, August 15th.  Winner will be announced on Tuesday, August 16th.

Giveaway

We have a winner!

Priscilla
Submitted on 2011/08/15 at 4:16 pm
This shawl is beautiful!! Thank you for the lovely giveaway.

Kattikloo is offering 20% discount to Living Crafts readers, until September 1st. Visit the Kattikloo shop and use the Living Crafts reader appreciation code: LCSUMMER2011

Fiona Duthie is a regular contributor to Living Crafts.

In her studio on Salt Spring Island, BC, she creates in a bountiful beauty of color, wool, and texture, inspired by the natural world. Fiona designs fine feltwork, felting and knitting patterns, gives workshops in natural craft, and runs her hand dyed, artisan fibre company, Kattikloo. You can read more about her fibers, projects and creative living at www.kattikloo.com and on Facebook.

This exquisite shawl by Knit/Lab is called Teardrop and has 110 tiny clear beads in it. The pattern includes a rectangular chart as well.

I found this beautiful shawl on WeeFolkArt, with the article leading you to a free pattern.

Nice shawl pattern from Berroco, posted on WEBS Yarn Store blog. Click here to download free pattern. Skill level is Easy.