Rattan Shawl
You must have seen this shawl on ravelry, right? Isn’t it the best? As soon as I saw sneak peeks of the Rattan Shawl on Libby’s instagram, I knew I had to make it. It did not disappoint. This has got to be one of the most fun knits I’ve made and one of the best shawl designs I’ve seen.
I think it would look so awesome in a jute- colored yarn with little tweedy nubs here and there.
I have come to love all sorts of shawls, but the yoga pants/ t-shirt wearing mom in me doesn’t find many opportunities to wear them (Not to mention that I live in a warm climate.) Yet, I can see this one being a winter staple. Maybe it’s the architectural look, with all of the lines criss-crossing, or maybe the “rattan” appearance that seems very earthy to me. I’m not sure why, but it is a very feminine shawl that can still appeal to my very practical, tomboyish side.
In short, I loved it. I suppose the fact that I cast off Rattan and cast on Settler Shawl in the same night is proof of my enjoyment.
Details: I used size 3 needles and one skein of Madelinetosh Merino Light in the Mockingjay colorway. The pattern was straightforward and easy to understand and Mockingjay is the best grey ever.
Libby gives a yarnover tip for the edges that I first learned from Veera Välimäki at Madtosh Crafts. I really liked having the opportunity to finally employ that technique. It allows the inside edge to stretch enough for proper blocking.
Since I started working on my Rattan shawl, Libby has released another shawl pattern: the Southern Shawl. Her Truly Myrtle KAL will be going on for the rest of July, so I feel certain I will complete Settler before the end. I think I’d love all of her other shawl patterns. There’s Darling Dotty, which makes me think of a spring, country picnic. Then there’s Mindful, which looks like the kind of knit that makes you feel like an accomplished knitter. Southern doesn’t seem like it would be quite as intense, yet it has some neat, quirky details- an asymmetrical shape and an added border. But her Reminisce hat will probably be the next one I knit because I have some extra dk yarn around here.
