When is a shawl not a shawl?

When it's a wrap, no a little girl's poncho, maybe a poncho with armholes, no not that either. Maybe a cowl... oh, I don't know!

It had all started out promisingly enough.  I had an idea for a new pattern.  Yippee.  (I've been having lots of ideas lately, all very exciting.)  Even better, this idea that I'd had, I could make from stash yarn.  Double yippee!  The idea was for a lovely colourful shawl or wrap that I could snuggle under in the Autumn months and that would be bright, colourful and cheerful and remind me of the beautiful summer garden scenes that we are fast leaving behind.

So far, so good.  I started making flowers and deciding how they should all join nicely together, a sort of trellis come leafy background that would show the flowers off nicely.

I toodled along on this little project quite merrily, despite it not moving along any too quickly, when it started to become apparent that I wouldn't have enough of the nice green 'background' colour to make the shawl any where near a decent sort of size.  Oh dear.

A quick perusal of the internet showed that it was going to be no simple matter to track down more supplies of this yarn.  I'd got it on sale as a discontinued line originally anyway and that was no small time ago.  Humm, what to do?  

It was whilst I was laying the thing out and bemoaning it's lack of size and my lack of ideas of what to do next when an unlikely muse popped up in the form of Little Miss.  She started playing with it and wrapping it around herself and stated quite casually how nicely it covered her up and what a good size it was.  

Out of the mouths of babes eh?  That was the answer!  I would join the shawl up into a round and cinch in the top to make a poncho for the darling child.  I was off into action again with a new plan and freshly excited to see the outcome.

I beavered away, joining flower to flower, adding a nice border to the edges and top to pull it in to sit nicely on her shoulders and called her in for a fitting.  She waited patiently for my verdict, and although it did fit her quite nicely, it came down too far and was too restrictive, she couldn't really lift her arms very well.  It needed armholes.  

I turfed the child out and set off again, unravelling this time and removing and re-edging.  It didn't take too long and fitting number two was called for.  Oh dear me, no.  Not at all right.  Back to the drawing board with the wretched thing.

I brooded for a while on what was to be done and moodily started on another project, leaving the offending article abandoned until such time as inspiration decided to strike.  As a day or two passed by it seemed to me that the only thing to do, would be to make it into a cowl.  Suitably snuggly for Autumn and of course, still nicely colourful.

So I've undone all of the armhole undoing and replaced and made good.  I've added on  a simple edging and there it sits all done.



I have to admit, I'm not a huge cowl fan, so I don't know how I feel about it yet.  It is nicely bright and colourful and I do love all those flowers nestling in the leaves.  It looks better than I thought in cowl form too.

I kind of prefer wearing it as a little poncho/caplet type thing and maybe that's a good thing, that it can be used as both.  But, it's been a difficult little bit of business and it'd be a lie to say I'm still as happy and excited about this little idea as I was at the beginning. 


I'm really not sure what to do next.  Should it still become a pattern?  I do love the potential of these bright flowers, they do make me happy to see them in photos here.  That makes me feel a little better about the business I must admit.

Maybe I should just wait until I can start it all again from the beginning with enough yarn to make the shawl I originally thought of?  I can't face that at the moment, but it might be best.  Maybe I should publish the cowl pattern in the meantime?  Maybe I should just wait and see how the mood takes me in a month or so? Or should I just write this one off and forget it ever happened?

What would you do dear reader?  It'll be nice to have your opinions, goodness knows I don't know what to think about it anymore.


S x


Comments

  1. Hi Sandra
    I just love your blog. It makes me warm and cosy inside - and those chairs! Want them they are gorgeous.
    I would say go for it with this pattern - I think it will be much sought after as its so bright and pretty.
    By the way, I am contemplating having a fabulous fall swap over at my place if you are interested. I am canvassing opinion at the moment so if you would like to join in, do let me know.
    Its open to everyone
    :-)

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  2. well, relax and seat! I think the cowl is gorgeous, even if this was not what you had in mind. you can write the pattern of the cowl. Then, find the right amount of yarn to crochet a shawl, with the same flowers, ok? I think in these way the cowl fans and the shawl fans will be both happy!! So, you'll be happy, too!!! ;oD
    xxxx Alessandra

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  3. No matter what you decide on, it is a pretty pattern. I love those flowers!

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  4. Quite honestly I am smitten with it as is! It is GORGEOUS! I say write the pattern :))) I love it as a cowl and especially as a capelet. I would definitely wear it and I have a couple of grown daughters and a sister who would also I am sure.

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  5. Whatever it is now, it is awesome. It looks so good.

    Have a nice weekend
    Lisa

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  6. Sandra, that little shawl is beautiful just as it is, a great pattern, go ahead and write it up! Thinking about your 'running out of wool' problem, the other option might have been to make the background a kind of colour-wash...choosing another 2 or 3 very pale shades which blend with the plae green, and crochet them so there are no visible straight join lines.

    either way it's a success!

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  7. It's very pretty! I hope you do write out the pattern, it would make a lovely blanket too!

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  8. Yes, I think it makes it as a cowl pattern too - I especially like the second way you show of wearing it. I also think you should go on to develop both of your other ideas; the full size shawl but also the poncho. Then everyone will be happy. Perhaps use differnt flowers for the child's version. Then you have 3 completely different patterns which you have developed yourself from nothing.

    I really like the way you have joined the shapes together with the mesh effect. I would buy the pattern just to find out how you did that. I've been wanting to for ages.

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  9. I love the capelet effect - a pattern would be great. You can always develop the idea into a shawl at a later stage when you are less fed up with it!

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  10. This is lovely - it's like a little garden!

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  11. Oooh I would make a cowl like that, it is gorgeous!

    I crocheted myself a short capelet/shawl thing last year and I also ran out of yarn, it is in the pile to become a skirt for my little girl!

    Alison
    x

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  12. How about crocheting a very deep border to make it bigger? You could pick out some of the colours from the flowers? It's a lovely pattern ♥

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  13. Oh please post the pattern. I would love to make a coverlet for a bed out of this. What a beautiful pattern no matter what you make with it :)

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  14. That is beautiful! I just wish I could get the hang of crochet. Persistence right?

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  15. Oh so pretty! It is luscious and lovely Miss Sandra * Great Job! :)

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  16. It looks so lovely either way, even if it was just hanging off something around the house it would look so pretty.

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  17. I did enjoy reading your post and I think your cowl/shawl is gorgeous. I love the pop of colour among the soft green.

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  18. I did enjoy reading your post and I think your cowl/shawl is gorgeous. I love the pop of colour among the soft green.

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  19. I love the flowers and how they are joined together.... so it would be nice to see how that is done. I was also thinking along the same lines as Lynn - using other subtle shades in the background. I do love the way the flowers "pop" !!

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  20. I think we all agree we love it! A wonderful accident

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  21. Oh please, please, share the pattern, just as it is!! Both photos show just how gorgeous it is. You are so clever, and I hope Little Miss gets a turn to wear it, just as it is.

    Arwedd xx

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  22. I think it's absolutely gorgeous Sandra - I would love to have a go at making it - and would happily buy your pattern.
    Carole x

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  23. It beautiful. Please share the pattern.
    Teresa

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  24. Hi there! First time at your lovely blog! That is soo beautiful, love all those cute flowers! :) Hope you have a wonderful weekend! xo Holly

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  25. It is so pretty, and I love cowls!! I think it should become a pattern!! Happy weekend to you! xo Heather

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  26. My thoughts for what they're worth. If you release this lovely thing as a cowl pattern someone else will probably work from your blueprint and make their 'own' shawl which others may copy. I don't mean they'll pass your design off as their own, just that they will adapt yours and shout about it, thus depriving you of some well deserved thunder to come! I'd hold on until I could get the shawl out there if I were you.

    It is very bright ... lots of colour for a grey autumn day :D

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  27. Hello Sandra - your shawl/cowl/poncho /capelet is fantastic, such gorgeous summer colours, just the thing for a dreary feb day!!! RE the pattern, I would launch it now for people to do whatever they want with it and then launch the shawl pattern later. I understand the 'copy' comment made by a previous follower but it would be easy to copy it already from the pics you've published so publishing the pattern now won't really make a difference. It really is lovely!! xxx

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  28. I think it looks beautiful as a capelet. I wish I could wear something like that but I'm too busty and it would only enhance it in a very unflattering way. But I think it looks terrific on you.

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  29. Hello Sandra, this comment is not really relevant to this particular post but, I just wanted you to know that I have been inspired by your blog to start crocheting a blanket. Your projects have looked so irresistable that I thought I'd better dust off my crochet hooks and get started on a blanket. It is a Giant Granny Square and so far I have completed 12 rounds so a few more to go!! Thank you for the inspiration!

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  30. What a gorgeous pattern, I have crochet envy! Must learn how to do this! Knitting just doesn't produce the same results. I think its looks lovely as a cowl by the way...

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