I normally do not post fiber projects on my blog, but I just finished a major project (for me) that I am thrilled about and wanted to share. It is a Shetland hap shawl. I became fascinated by hap shawls when I first saw photos of them being “dressed” in old photos from the Shetland Museum online. Then I saw a hap shawl on its frame in person at the Crofthouse Museum on the Shetland Islands and was hooked. Then I participated in the Explore 4 retreat taught by Deb Robson focusing on Shetland wools from the Shetland Islands and Britain as well as from the Midwest and Pacific Northwest of the USA.
After I spun samples of 12 of these fleeces, I thought it would be nice to make a small hap shawl to sample these yarns. But then life got in the way, and it went to the back burner. Then there was a knit along announced on Ravelry by KnitBritish to make a hap shawl. This was the perfect motivation for me so I dropped my other projects and cast on April 10th using the pattern 2 Ply Gray Shawl by Sharon Miller.
I knit whenever I could, often while watching Mariners games on TV and with the help of our cat Doogie.
I also knit on the train,
in a hotel room in Portland,
and riding to BSG in Eugene.
This last weekend I was desperately trying to get done before the deadline so went to our family’s cabin (built by my great-grandfather) and got it done.
And here it is!
And I used a variety of Shetland wools in their natural colors. All but a portion of the center and the edging was handspun as well. Quite a project.
Lovely work Donna! This is an inspiration to me; so much so that I just purchased the pattern through Ravelry (I will put it in my queue and plan that it will be an autumn project; hoping that I will have finished some others that are on the needles now…and done the spinning). I have the perfect fleece for it…just need to get busy 😉
Thanks Lois! Glad to be an inspiration 🙂
beautiful!!
Thanks Janice!
Oh, my goodness, that is beautiful! We have a poncho project going at Spindrifters – I think it might take me forever! 🙂 T.
Thanks Tina! Having a knit along with prizes helps motivate, I can safely say. Good luck with the poncho.
I am included on the KnitBrithish podcast at 51 minutes at http://www.knitbritish.net/ep-34/#more-7033. Check it out!
Congratulations on your beautiful shawl! I daresay you’ll find Shetland wool addictive….
Thank you! I already do. I have been raising Shetland sheep for 17 years.
That’s IMPRESSIVE! I wish you would share your fiber projects more often….
Thanks Michelle! I do always share them on Ravelry.
nice work! Love the variety and placement of the colors.
Thanks Denise!
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Fantastic!!!
Thanks Crazy Sheep Lady!!!
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