This One's For the Girls

I challenged myself to knit shawls for each of the ladies in my family to give for their Christmas gift.  Well, I nearly succeeded.  The only shawl I failed to finish in time was the special request of our daughter, Melissa. 

She had seen this shawl at the Texas State Fair that really called her name (more like yelled).  She immediately dragged me over to the display case to see it and ask me to knit it for her. 

I was blessed to come across a webpage of the fair-ribbon-winner who graciously shared the pattern name.  It is the Sagrantino Shawl and the designer is Loredana Gianferri. It is finally finished.  I decided to add the i-cord border, which wasn't part of the pattern, so it took a bit longer. I selected three yarns with increasing amounts of Melissa's favorite color - purple for the project.  Blocking this shawl also took a bit more time as Texas has been cold lately and my craft area is a section of our garage. 

This is also the introduction of 'Manny'.  Manny was my Christmas gift from my sweet husband.  She is an adjustable dress form and I hope she will be my permanent model for knitting photographs in the future. 

While the Sagrantino Shawl was blocking, I knit this little baby sweater designed by Carole Barenys for my husband's step-nephew and wife's first baby. She was due after the New Year but arrived just before! 




Don't you just love these adorable ladybug buttons?! 

I do love knitting in fun 'girl' colors! They are so bright and full of energy.  I pray both these girls' experience lives filled with brightness, energy, joy and love -  as I've knit for them with love.