One of my favourite clothing articles is the shawl. I have a number of them: some knitted and made of homespun wool, and others are woven and made of cotton, and, yes, even of acrylic.
Most likely when you think 'shawl' you are reminded of the pioneer women with their triangular shawls. Who can forget when Laura asked for horses for Christmas in the book On The Banks of Plum Creek. On Christmas morning "...Ma helped them button up the shoes and she pinned their shawls under their chins. They ran out into the cold". (from the chapter A Merry Christmas)
And, indeed, the first shawls I made were triangular, just as Garth Williams illustrated them for the Little House books. I have several versions of this kind of shawl laying strategically around the house, just in case I get a bit chilled. A favourite one is based on a Danish fisherwoman's shawl. It is also triangular, but the points are extra long so you can tie them behind your back and keep them out of the way, leaving your hands free to do other things.
But shawls today are more than just coverings. They are also fashion statements and can be worn just as well with jeans, officewear, or formal attire.
These shawls are great to cuddle up with on a cool day, a cold winter evening, or to accent your outfit for almost any occasion. Machine washable and very user friendly! Feel free to contact me if you would like to acquire one for yourself or as a gift.
When do you wear your shawl?
Hello, I've just found your blog. I love the last picture on this post, with the warm looking shawls piled up like that. Those colours are beautiful. Thanks for explaining weaving (the tea towels). I've always wondered how weaving worked. - Linnet
ReplyDeleteHi Linnet! It is getting to be that time of year when shawls of any sort are coming in handy. Thanks for leaving a comment! A reminder to me that it has been a long time since I've done a post! - Joan
DeleteI can't say I have ever worn a shawl, but I very often do wear scarves. How do you keep shawl ends from getting in the way?
DeleteHi Linnet! Shawl ends do sometimes get in the way, and you have to choose when is a good time to wear your shawl. I like to fling one end of the shawl over my shoulder and secure it with a shawl pin. There are many different styles of shawl pins on the market today. Check out the internet for different ideas, or you can look in your local yarn shop. There are also some youtube videos that give suggestions for wearing a shawl. Hope this helps!--Joan
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried weaving scarves? http://www.etsy.com/transaction/88807953 Maybe minus the silk part... How long does it take to weave a shawl? Have you ever tried selling on Etsy? I still really love the colours of the shawl pictures, trying to think of a way to set up our new place to include these warm colours somehow. If you'd like to email me instead, my address is on my profile. Thanks for your replies! - Linnet Schouten (van Dijk)
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