One of the more popular areas for knitting these days does seem to be shawls and baby shawls in particular- we have lots of vintage knitting patterns for shawls which can be used for all sorts of thins, including baby christenings, weddings, winter warmers and pretty home decor as throws or table cloths.
In this post we are concentrating on intricate lace shawls- these are from over 100 years ago and are very delicate and pretty, along shetland lace design lines...
These shawls are knitted in fine yarns- around a 2 ply- and so are a labour of love as they take a while to make an it does seem at first as if its not growing very fast! Double Knitting shawls of course are quicker, but they do not feel as delicate, and sometimes the lace effect does not look as effective as the yarn can hide some of the more delicate work.
The next 2 are slightly more recent, from around the late 1940s and are very beautiful made up
If you are making shawls to sell- they are very popular gifts for people to give at baby showers etc- then we do recommend that you make them with a yarn such as cashmere or merino or silk and blends of these luscious fibres. Why? Well for one thing it feels much more luxurious to the touch, and secondly, shawls take a long time to knit, and customers will pay a premium for a beautiful luxurious fibre yarn, but may be unwilling to pay a good price for your time if its an acrylic yarn.
Keep an eye out for other posts featuring shawls, both knitted and crocheted.....
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