I Can't Resist Shaggy Black Shawls

Scarf, seed stitch, mixed fibers, size 10 wood cable needle.

The surface really looks this complicated, which is most of the reason I like to make black shaggy shawls. This one has fifteen yarns and that also made it a wondrful textile to put together.

I carried around a grocery sack of yarns for awhile, but it was definitely worth it to produce this wild and drapey fabric.

The textile was created in a pet-free and smoke-free environment.  It has some wool and mohair content and will be for cooler weather.

I'm beginning to love the "card" method of keeping the rows of yarns in order.  For this fabric I wanted to balance the delicate and bulky yarns and spread them through out evenly, so the card helped me determine what would be in the next row as I went along.

It's about 75 inches long, so plenty of length to produce wrapped up shapes or sprawled out shapes.  It will go around the neck twice and has plenty of length to do interesting knots.

The triangle is deep enough so that it can be worn "babushka" style like a headscarf and it will cover the back of the head and ears on those extra-cold days or nights.

It's just shy of "wild thang" category.

The light is reflected and absorbed differently by each yarn, and the beads provide a bit of sparkle.  So this can be funky or sophisticated and be a great wrap for many different occasions.

This scarf is for sale along with  others in my etsy shop, Little Hands Studio: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/littlehandsstudio

Continuing the "Barbarian" series

Capelet, wool, acrylic, size 13 cable needle, seed stitch

It all started with a tufted pink yarn from Rowan that just screamed "SIXTIES".  I added a couple handspun chunky yarns and filled in with chunky contributions from my staff and voila!

Little Hands Studio

Bulky tufted pink funkiness

Scarf; mixed fibers, wool, acrylic; garter stitch in long rows, size US 13 wood cable needle, 32 in.

This worked up in a day and was a lot of fun.  I've been collecting really bulky handspun yarns that  range from gray to brown with a rich pink and have had a giant Rowan tufted pink yarn for a few years. I decided to throw in an Artful Yarns old acrylic and wool blend yarn called Palace because it has almost all the other colors in it.  It was time to crank out something wonderful.  It's really warm and about 70 inches long, so it will wrap a couple times with length to spare.

Bulky wools scarf with big fringe - finished!

In the studio - crochet ruffle

This is what I did with the yarn from the previous post. I think it's much more lively.

In the studio - blue blossom

Triangle shawl, nylon, silk, wool, polyester, mohair, stockinette stitch; size 11 plastic cable needle, 24 in.

I haven't done anything in all blue like this for awhile. I am finally using the Prism yarn that I watched go on sale at my local shop and then glommed. It was still expensive, however it is very much worth it because it is a custom dyed "blossom" yarn and is very soft and comfy. The hand of the shawl fabric is truly inviting and the insular properties will also be very good for a cold winter.

I'm using the blossom every other row and in between I'm using about five other blue yarns of various fibers. Just about everything is near to a worsted weight, so the shawl is weighty rather than floaty and with the size 11 needle the drape is loose and a bit stretchy.

YUM!

In the studio

Stole, seed stitch, acrylic and viscose yarn size 11 wood needles

I stalked this yarn for months, looking at the store sample in one of may favorite shops, Saratoga Needle Arts during each visit. It has a very strange feel, but works up beautifully into lacy fabric. It's by Diakeito and it's called "Diamist". I'm not sure I'd like it on smaller needles as a more dense texture. It's actually quite heavy.

This is a piece I am making for myself, and it's a stole that I will wear in the manner of Punjabi traditional costume for women, with the stole draped from the front to the back. I think it will work beatifully that way with dressy trousers as well as with skirts and dresses. I'm planning on wearing it a lot, and not reserving it for special occasions. Since I wear mostly black all the time, I think it will work well with most of my daily outfits.