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Shawls!

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I love shawls, they’re so… I don’t know, lacy I guess. And pretty. And soooo not me. If a shawl were to be useful to me it would have to be made from heavy yarn (aran styling comes to mind) with none of the little holes that make it lacy and pretty. This is my lifestyle, when I’m outside and needing a shawl it’s to keep warm, not to keep the delicate spring/summer breezes off of my tender skin!

Not to say that if you wear shawls, you’re delicate, not at all, it’s just not for me, but I do love to look at them. They are pretty, especially with beads – I do like the bling factor.

Here’s one that caught my eye (I like pink, salmon and similar colors…)shawl1. It’s from Maia Spins, here: http://maiaspins.typepad.com/maiaspins/2009/05/aeolian-finished.html

So if I were going to make a shawl for myself just for decorative purposes it would be something similar. It would be long and lacy and the pink is pretty too. Also beads. Yeah, gotta have the bling!

 

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Comments

  1. I am a shawl ADDICT. I haven’t done a huge, full-sized shawl yet, but the little scarf-shawlettes like Swallowtail are perfect for me. When there’s just a little chill in the air, I throw it on to keep me warm and stylish. Plus, shawlettes get bound off just about the time I’m getting bored with the project 😉 I can’t stand 500-stitch rows.

Have you read?

The Bunny Sweater Knitting Pattern that’s Actually for Cats

I don’t often share knitting patterns for pets, mostly because I don’t think of it. I don’t have a dog, and I’ve never knit for my cats except a knit couch and a little cat bed I made on a knitting machine, both of which were pretty much ignored. 

I have shared some pet bed knitting patterns, and both hats and sweaters for dogs. 

But I don’t think I’ve shared a pattern for a cat sweater, until now. 

This one is the Bunny sweater by Sarah Zhou, so named because her cat is named Bunny, of course. 

It’s a made to measure pattern because cats come in all shapes and sizes, and you can also use any yarn you like and whatever gauge you are getting with that yarn. 

The design is knit from the bottom up, that is, from the tail side up toward the head. Pairs of decreases shape the body as you work toward the armholes, which are made by binding off a few stitches. Then the belly and the back are worked flat, then joined and worked in the round for the chest part. 

There are some design options in the pattern, from the look of the photos they include using a contrasting color for the edging, working a scalloped edging, maybe a foldover collar? But of course you can add your own embellishments, stripes, make it in team colors or for a Halloween costume. I’m sure they’re quick to knit so you can make a bunch if you have a cat who is willing to submit to such torture. 

Bunny looks like a very good and mostly tolerant girl; I don’t think either of my cats would be willing to wear a sweater. But if you make one (the pattern is available on Ravelry) and successfully get your cat to wear it I would love to hear about it!

[Photo: Sarah Zhou]