Look what I have finished! Remember how this shawl got started.

We received a sample shipment of our new Tweed version of Stroll fingering weight yarn. Some of the stash was already earmarked for photography samples. But, the office staff got to play with whatever was left. I wasn’t planning on grabbing any for myself until I saw the fun sweaters everyone was making with their yarns.

By the time I decided to root around in the box of samples, there only bits of each colorway left. I sat on the floor at the office, piled up the colors and let my knitting mind wander. I had been following Glenna C’s progress on her Pi shawl. So, a Pi Shawl felt right.

I decided that I wanted the shawl to be truly reversible because you wear Pi shawls folded over in half. I had a bit of a vision in my mind of the beach by our home in Mexico. The browns being the rocks under the water transitioning to the sand and finally the surf. The tweedy yarn knit up in a seed stitch seemed “rocky” to me. And, of course, it is easy to knit and completely reversible.

I had a hard time figuring out how to represent the water and surf. I ended up falling back on good old Old Shale. I couldn’t be happier with the result. Then came the challenge of how to cast-off the 1700+ stitches. Remember that I had a traumatic experience with my very first Pi shawl when I ran out of yarn before I was anywhere near being finished. I’ve been scarred for life!!

I decided to make up a simple crochet edging because I could make one round, two rounds or more depending on how well I estimated my last bit of yarn. I started with chains of three crochet stitches and then an attachment to a stitch of the shawl. After I finished the first round, I had plenty of yarn left over. The single round wasn’t that impressive. So, I went around one more time, this time with a chain of five stitches but I attached at the middle of the three-chain loops to alternate with the first round.

It became clear very quickly that I was on to something! Two rounds gave me the frothy finish that I wanted for the very edge of the surf.

I have to say that the finished shawl is definitely “sturdy”. But, that is why I love spending our winters in Mexico. When it gets to be December, it gets to be cold at night. Even chilly during the day. But, walking around with a coat can look a little odd. It is so much easier to make shawls a major element of my wardrobe because of this unique setting.

I think my newest shawl is going to used until it falls apart! I’ll wear it when we go out with friends for dinner and it is going to replace my old “travel” shawl that has become quite ragged. The browns and just a bit of blue makes it neutral enough to wear with just about everything.

Oh! Oh! I forgot the absolutely most important note! Stroll Fingering is machine washable and can be put in the dryer. This is something I have NEVER done with a shawl off the needles. I put the shawl in the washing machine with Kookaburra Wool Wash, did a “knitwear” cycle and then PUT IT IN THE DRYER! Amazing! Soft, drapey, warm, comforting. If you are thinking about making a travel shawl/blankie, you should definitely think about using Stroll Tweed. The colors are subtle and the nibs serve to pull the colors together if you choose to use more than one.