I finally got a chance to use my own handspun in a project for the first time. It definitely taught me a lot about what I need to do to improve my spinning techniques, mainly, focus on not underplying, which was the case for the Oatmeal yarn. Luckily my more recently spun yarns have been better, so now I need to knit with them to see how I’m doing.

Over Christmas I was lucky enough to get a signed copy of Whimsical Little Knits 2 from Ysolda Teague. I had been drooling over the patterns in this book, so when she offered signed copies for sale on her website over the holidays, I snatched one up. I plan to eventually make every pattern in this wee book, but here’s my first finished project:

Damson by Ysolda Teague

US size 7 needles
Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool in Natural,
half a skein for garter stitch portion
Oatmeal Handspun yarn, 332 yards
Modifications include: going up a needle size,
adding an extra edging repeat

Because of my color choices, this shawl came out to have a very vintage look to it. To show it off to it’s best potential, I just kept it simple and closed it with an Owl pin in the front when I wore it this past Sunday to church. Wearing pinned shawls over solid color shirts, jeans and little flat shoes has become my new favorite attire. The other night my parents asked me how many shawls I was going to make and my reply was, “until I have one in every color to go with every outfit.”