Sundance Sock yarn and the Two Step and Tango Shawlette

Hi Knitters, 

Here's the Rocky Mountain DyeWorks "Sundance Sock" wound and ready to make into something pretty ( I think this color is called American Emerald).

Yarn has a way of speaking to the knitter.  This yarn was calling to be something for my loves-everything-Irish friend, Cathleen.  Cathy has gone the extra mile in friendship lately and a gratitude gift from me was overdue.  Aside from being one of the dearest people on earth, another perq of my relationship with Cathy is getting invited to the St. Patricks Day dinner which she and her husband host faithfully every other year (even though it sometimes happens in June instead of on the actual day).  Just a short walk down the street and around the corner for an evening full of Irish hospitality including Cathy's lamb stew, fresh soda bread, and homemade mint chip ice cream.  She and her husband even built their home with the look of a cosy Irish cottage.  This emerald green was calling out to be something for Cathy.

After looking at about 200 shawl patterns I decided on Wendy Johnson's "Two Step and Tango Shawlette."   My sister-in-law (KnittingMaryB on Ravelry) brought Wendy's designs to my attention a while ago and I had been keeping her patterns in thought for a future project.  Wendy is a shawl/lace master.  She is also the most prolific knitter I have ever seen! I marvel at the sheer volume of her knitting.  She churns out original and beautiful designs on a weekly basis (and holds down a full-time job as well)!  Check out her interesting blog and see what I mean.

This pattern is one of Wendy's simplest designs and would be very good for someone just beginning lace.

I really liked knitting the long lace edging first (a very simple pattern repeat), then picking up the stitches all along the edge for the body.  The rest was all stockinette and went quickly -- maybe two evenings to finish.

 
I am not completely happy with the way my short row turns look.  I don't recall my turns showing up as much in other projects.  But I still loved the finished project and began hunting through my stash to see what might work for another Tango shawl.  Another neighbor friend was celebrating her birthday the same week.

I found a skein of Schaefer's "Chris" in the color Chamomile (great color name) that was perfect for her.  It was a worsted weight and I only had the one 200 yard skein, so I made a shorter straight version without the short row shaping.  With the heavier weight and using larger needles it still came out long enough to wrap around my neck nicely.  

I like to see how the same design looks in different weights and gauges.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  This design worked well in both gauges.

It's very hard to imagine giving someone a wooly scarf when its a hundred degrees plus outside but both friends were heading north for cool mountain vacations.  It was fun to wrap the scarves and leave them on their doorsteps just in time for their trips.    

Happy knitting, Josey