Healing Crochet: Fortune’s Shawlette

Fortune's Shawlette

Pattern: Fortune’s Shawlette from Moogly Blog
Yarn: Hawthorne Fingering Kettle Dye Yarn in Slate
Hook: 5.00mm (US H/8)

Hi, guys. Remember me? I want to talk about this shawl and soothing crochet in general.

Stitch patterns like the one in Fortune’s Shawlette create an environment for your mind to relax. After the first few repetitions, you don’t really have to think about it anymore; your hands know what to do. That’s what makes a good comfort shawl pattern–a stitch pattern you don’t have to think about, so you can pray for/about healing. Each stitch is free to transform from an “over, through, over, through” in your mind to a “thank you, God” or any other thought/prayer you need to put out there. I don’t think this was necessarily meant to be a prayer shawl, but it certainly was a great pattern to use as one.

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Crochet is such a pwoerful tool to use to bring comfort and healing to yourself and others.

First Project of 2013

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01.365: dream in color

Technically, this could be the last project of 2012, but I won’t be finished with it for at least another week. I took a break to work on a doily blanket order, because heeeeyyy– I still have a shop!

Anyway, I cast on December 29. I was browsing Ravelry and remembered this yarn I won in a giveaway from the WEBS yarn store blog…in 2011. Over a year ago! It’s pretty luxe for my taste, so it remained zipped away in a bag, only to be taken out and admired every once in a while. I don’t think I could ever knit cashmere socks, so when I decided I should knit a shawl, this yarn came to mind immediately. It’s Smooshy with Cashmere by Dream in Color (here). It’s supremely soft and the colors are nothing short of perfect.

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I’m using the tried and true Swallowtail Shawl pattern from Evelyn Clark (on Ravelry), which is now available for free! I first knit this pattern when it came out in Interweave Knits (Fall ’06). I started it in March of ’07, then it hibernated through the Spring, and I finished it at the end of summer. I am a crocheter first, so this is the most intricate knitting I’ve ever ventured. I hope to change that, this year! I want to write more crochet patterns, of course, but I also want to knit more complicated designs. I guess this could be considered a crafty resolution! Get intricate. Work my crafty brain out! And also blog more. I miss craft blogging.

Did you set any crafty resolutions?? I want to know!

Pretty, green, woolly lace

65.365: sneak peek

I finished the shawlette, yesterday! The picot bind-off took for-friggin-ever, but holy moly I love the end result. That happens with lace, though. I procrastinate on projects and whether I should start one because they look so difficult and I don’t want to burn out after investing hours into it. Then, I complete it and I set it out to block and I.am.speechless. It’s just so soft and beautiful.

holden waves

I was just going to share the first photo, but these waves are so lovely, I had to share this one, too. The pattern is wonderfully simple and I completed it in just a little over 1 week.

Pattern: Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in ‘Lettuce’
Needle: US 6 (4mm) 29″ circular

when I’m too lazy to knit…

I do something else. I can’t NOT do anything with my hands. I’ll try to make anything you show me the directions to. I’m not all that creative, I just kinda have to make things. Show me how to do something and I will do it.

365.239: woven fabric & yarn


I knew the basics of weaving, but I didn’t want to make huge pieces of cloth, nor did I really have the tools for traditional weaving (like a loom). So, when I found some directions for making a woven scrap journal, I started right away! You should make one, too! I already have a second one started. I am doing all the fun stuff right now and will add some paper to them later, maybe this weekend.

My current WIPs include an adult-sized sweater and a baby blanket. The large amount of stitches make them monotonous to work on. SO monotonous that I bought some lace yarn (mad props to Ravelry for the trade/sell option on the stash page) to make another Swallowtail Shawl. I need something a little more challenging! Plus, I remember being really happy after I knit my first. Remember that one? TWO YEARS AGO?! *sigh* Nathan was a baby, not a menacing pre-kindergartener with a Mickey Mouse tattoo, sporting terrifying baby guns.