Knitting

The Wedding Shawl

Nineteen days from now, I’ll be getting married (on July 16th… exactly four days between my birthday and my fiance’s birthday) and as of yesterday, I have the wedding shawl for it. After months of different dye trials and sample knitting in yarns from gossamer cashmere to camel, I settled on what I love best… less than half a skein of Merino Silk Lace dyed half and half in Orchid and Raspberry, knit into the ever classic Swallowtail Shawl, adorned only with small 4 mm fuschia Swarovski crystals.

I’ve never beaded any piece of knitting and decided a little late to add the crystals. So after the little leaves part of the pattern, I cut the yarn and then strung 270 crystal beads onto the working yarn using an extremely tiny needle. I think I would much prefer the whole crochet hook method of adding beads, but I didn’t have much choice with these crystal beads — the holes are so tiny! In any case, I have maybe 20 beads left unused. I do love the really subtle sparkle the beads lend to the shawl. The crystals are fuschia ABx2 colour, so they almost blend in with the shawl rather than popping out, saying “look at me! look at me!”. Tasteful bling.

You might be able to just barely seeโ€ฆ each point of the shawl edge is also highlighted with a single crystal bead. I picked the shawl up off the blocking board this morning and absolutely love the crispness of the lace. I’ve knit the Swallowtail before, actually in Raspberry, for my Olympic knitting project last year and ended up passing it onto Urban Yarns for them to use as a store sample. I loved it so much, I decided to knit it again here. This time with slightly larger needles: 3.75 mm. I do love how open the lacework becomes with some blocking.

It’s been a long process, trying to get to what seems like such a simple conclusion. Our wedding colours are raspberry/fuschia and burnt orange/mandarin and so I tried dyeing these colours in everything from 100% silk lace yarn to cashmere/silk gossamer yarn. I knit a big wad of samples for what I thought was going to be an Aeolian shawl. I started, re-started, bought new needles, changed needles againโ€ฆ and finally I am done.

I knit this shawl on the road to Whistler, all through the Stanley Cup playoffs, and even on our tiny mini-trip to Vegas that was a wedding gift from one of our groomsmen. I’ve made a few other crafty things for our wedding and hope to share those with you soon too. I might not get a chance to write again until after the wedding and honeymoon, but hopefully if you are going to Sock Summit, come say hello to me! I’ll be taking class with Amy Singer and Sandi Rosner, and then I’ll be spending the rest of the time with my yarn at the Dublin Bay booth!

P.S. In order to make all this wedding/honeymoon/Sock Summit stuff happen, I’m going to be out of the studio from July 13 to August 2… just in case you were looking to come visit the studio. Order placed during that time will ship in August. See you in a few!

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About Felicia Lo

founder + creative director of SweetGeorgia // designer + dreamer // wife + mama // dyer, knitter, spinner, weaver, youtuber + author // been writing this blog about colour and craft since 2004 // see what I am making @lomeetsloom and @sweetgeorgia.

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33 thoughts on “The Wedding Shawl

  1. michael says:

    Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. I’m really taken with the subtle crystals – I bet they will catch the sun perfectly, too. I’m moving to Vancouver (from Victoria) in a few days, I cannot wait for the opportunity to see your yarns (and hopefully studio) in person!

  2. Collette says:

    Congratulations!ย  I know your wedding will be as lovely as your shawl!

  3. Maryse says:

    Your shawl is beautiful and I’m in love with the color!ย  Have a wonderful wedding!

  4. It looks gorgeous and the addition of the beads will add even more glamour to an already beautiful piece.
    Congratulations on our upcoming wedding!

  5. Iknitalone says:

    Your shawl is stunning. Best wishes to you both!

  6. Kathryn_alexander says:

    Congratulations on your upcoming wedding and the lovely lovely shawl,ย  you will walk in beauty in one of your own delicate creationsย  –ย  just as the Hopi sing it.

  7. Dona * says:

    Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! And your shawl is gorgeous!

  8. Anonymous says:

    Congratulations on your upcoming wedding and your shawl is stunning!!!

  9. monica says:

    Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

  10. Daisylocke2012 says:

    Congratulations, Felicia! I’m so happy for you!

    The shawl is lovely and you will be a sumptious bride! I can’t wait to see pix!

  11. Marianne says:

    I can’t wait to see these yarns in person! See you at Sock Summit! Marianne

  12. Carolyn says:

    Wonderful beautiful shawl – what a wonderful heirloom to pass on to a daughter or granddaughter…just beautiful and so nice to read your process in coming to the final piece!ย  Wishing you a wonderful sunny wedding day!

  13. Pam says:

    Congratulations Felicia! ย I’m so happy for you. ย It’s so right that your wedding will be full of gorgeous color. ย (From your old spinning student….)

  14. Pam says:

    Forgot to add – your shawl is stunning!!!!!

  15. Anonymous says:

    It’s a gorgeous shawl; what else from aย hardworking creator of gorgeous yarn? Best wishes for you both.

  16. Archyknitter says:

    Many many congratulations! Your choice of wedding colour theme sounds so lovely and sumptuous! I will be at SS so will hopefully see you there.

  17. June Oshiro says:

    Wedding! Oh!!! Congratulations! Will you post photos? I know you will be the most beautiful bride… Best wishes to you both, many happy forevers.

  18. suzanne says:

    congratulations Felicia! ahhh this color of this shawl is stunning… can’t wait to see pics of the wedding.ย 

  19. Lucette says:

    The shawl is lovely.ย  Have a wonderful wedding!

  20. Jane Richmond says:

    Congratulations on your upcoming wedding Felicia. My sister is getting married that very same day :) Your shawl is absolutely gorgeous.

  21. Beautiful! Have a wonderful July full of birthdays & love.

  22. jenn says:

    congrats on the wedding!
    your shawl is so beautiful and the beads are just lovely :-)
    happy honeymoon and birthday too!

  23. YarnAddictAnni says:

    Wow, it’s gorgeous. Absolutely love the colour .gorgeous beads too.ย 
    Congratulations on your wedding. Have a fantastic day!

  24. Sivia says:

    I love the thought of you surrounded in your beautiful fibre, handknitted with love. May your wedding and honeymoon be filled with happiness. Congratulations!!

  25. Louisa Chadwick says:

    Huge congrats, Felicia! You will look perfectly lovely with such a gorgeous shawl around you on your wedding day. All the best to you both!

    (We just celebrated our 40th anniversary.)

    1. admin says:

      Thank you so much Louisa! And congratulations to you on your 40th anniversary! That is truly a milestone! I welcome any advice you have :)

    2. SweetGeorgia says:

      Thank you so much Louisa! And congratulations to you on your 40th anniversary! That is truly a milestone! I welcome any advice you have :)

  26. Mary says:

    What wonderful news!ย  Congratulations and have a wonderful wedding day!ย  It’s funny how even though I travel to Vancouver from Victoria all the time, I’ve never had time to visit your studio (though I will one day!), but I’ll definitely drop by and say HI! at the Dublin Bay booth at Sock Summit!ย  What an exciting month for you!

  27. Daphne Adair says:

    Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I hope this wonderful weather holds for you.

  28. Enjay Krauss says:

    Congratulations! You’re getting married on my birthday, which also happens to be our weddingย anniversary too, we’re celebrating our first this year. ย Lovely shawl :)

  29. Norma says:

    Beautiful shawl!ย  And congrrats on the upcomig nuptials!ย 

  30. Sylvia Vandekerkhove says:

    Exquisite! Can’t wait to see it with your dress… And congratulations!

  31. Congratulations on your wedding! ย I’m obviously out of touch, I hadn’t heard. The shawl is beautiful, and I hope it’s a wonderful day.

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