My Third Crochet Flatiron Shawl and a class to teach it!

I can't believe it's already been over a month since my last post but between Xena's December birthday and the holidays, this month is becoming more and more overwhelming as time spans on.  We celebrated a lovely first X-Mas in our new home and although I haven't had a ton of time for fiber arts lately, I did manage to finish my crochet Flatiron Shawl shop sample for the class I'm teaching at the end of this month.  

This is the 3rd time I crocheted this pattern.  Although I bought the yarn myself, it's a shop sample to represent the class I'm teaching so I crocheted it with yarn that we actually sell at DWW.  

 

I used 3, 600g hanks of Emma’s Hella Hanks in the August 2023, July 2023 and March 2023 colorways.

 

For the border I used some Elemental Effects I had in my stash.  I definitely recommend using a solid for the border.

This is what the shawl looked like pre-blocked.  Alas, it must be blocked.  

 

Steam blocking is usually fine for crochet but since the size of this shawl is so large, I decided to go all the way and full on wet block and pin it.

It took less than 24 hours to dry and it was well worth the wait.

It took me just under a month to crochet it and it's so big that it's practically a shanklet.

This is just the type of garment that will quickly become an everyday piece of one's wardrobe.

 

It can be crocheted monochrome, striped or faded.

 

Personally I love high contrast neons and neutrals but there are so many different opportunities for colorplay with this pattern.

Once it's set up, the pattern is easy to memorize and a perfect mobile crochet project.

 

My super sweet coworker, Angela, helped me take photos today.  It has been such a joy to work with so many talented and positive women!

Mittens, Midwest Roadtrip and socks

 

Since my last post, I knit a cute pair of mittens for Xena.  I've been using the same Candide vintage recipe pattern for years.  

 

Last week Matt had to judge the exhibits at Chicagopex.  While he was already at the show, I stayed behind so Xena didn't have to miss school and I could accompany her to All Pro Dads, the monthly PTA sponsored family morning activity at her school.  Next month I will be the guest speaker at Mornings with Moms, which alternates back and forth every month with APD.

As soon as Xena got out of school on Friday, we drove to Huntington, WV and spent the night in this very creepy place.  

On Saturday morning, we drove to the Cincinnati Zoo.

 

Xena wore the sweater I knit her while I proudly displayed my recently knit Arcane beanie and Lackadaisical mitts I knit last year.  I posted the rest of the zoo and stamp show pix on FB.

 

Xena loved Skyline! I knew she would but it was still quite comforting to see her clean her plate.  From Cincy, we headed to Chicago to join Matt at the stamp show.  Xena thoroughly enjoyed the Youth Area this year and I had a terrific time hanging with my stamp friends.  I had a very nice dinner with one of my favorite dealers and stocked up on new inventory for my Etsy shop.

 

While in Chicago, I visited two yarn stores.  The first one was Nina.

It was HUGE; even bigger than DWW!

They had a terrific open kitchen area for dyeing.

This is the backroom, with a large table for teaching.  They sold fabric and sewing supplies as well.

 

They had an excellent selection of local yarn in a variety of bases.  I was quite amused by this Double Door colorway.  I DJ-ed there years ago for Soul Summit.

I bought all local yarns.  

The next shop I visited was Sister-Arts which is located in Boba's old neighborhood.  I even parked on a street I would've parked on when I visited him when he was still alive.  It's always bittersweet visiting Chicago without my best record friend being there anymore but we find our ways to persist.  

 

There was a Babble Stitch trunk show at Sister-Arts.

I bought a hank of their Parchment colorway in their Flora Fingering Cash blend of 80% FSW Merino/10% Cashmere/10% Nylon and also a colorpooling gift for a friend.

Jenny shrunk the Professor Meow sweater I made her.  Thankfully, I had a replacement on hand.  Now Xena has a new cat sweater!

 

During my journey, I finished the sort of self striping socks I started in Ritual Dyes Maven Wild Grape.

 

This yarn is 2 ply fingering US grown and milled 100% Rambouillet from their October subscription.

I love how the stripes fade in and out.  This is one of my favorite yarns to knit with because it is so spongy and springy.

I worked on Black Friday and yesterday was Small Business Saturday.

We debuted the Plied Yarn trunk show.

 

There are a tons of great kits available for this yarn!

Although I 100% do not need anymore yarn, perhaps I'll buy some as a gift.

Yesterday we hung our stockings over the fireplace in the lounge at work.

Ute, our German knit and crochet teacher actually knit and crocheted all of these stockings herself!  Then she got these wood die-cut personalized ornaments for all of us.

 

I picked the crochet grinch because, why wouldn't I?

Matt and Xena return from Boston tonight so I'm just trying to enjoy what little remains of my quiet alone time.  I have no shortage of WIPs and fun new projects in the works.  I also have the new responsibility of planning my own teaching crochet curriculum for DWW for the new year and I am really looking forward to it!