This is my Ishbel.
I was never going to make one of these.
There are 12,958 of them on Ravelry.
By chance, last October, I discovered that I could buy a KnitPro wire blocking kit at a yarn shop near my parents. The charming Mei of Be Inspired Fibres announced on her Facebook page that she had a few sets. I was booked to fly to Edinburgh the following week. How serendipitous was that? Mei pointed out they might not fit in my suitcase. I measured my suitcase and she was right. But once I got to Edinburgh I decided it was the perfect excuse for going to say ‘hello’ and to check out the shop anyway. My dad came with me: he was very curious about what I wanted and whether or not they could be transported back to Germany. He declared he could wrap them up so I could hand them in as an additional piece of luggage. Perfect. Of course that meant I had free suitcase space!
Mei has wonderful yarn that I’ve not found locally in Cologne. I’d already looked at her website but the shop has more. There was some lovely Scottish Shilasdair wool but I wasn’t sure how much I’d need for a jumper (not having a particular pattern in mind) so I decided to be cautious and just buy a shawl’s worth of delectable 4 ply (fingering).
The colours of the Fyberspates Vivacious were all delightful. The yarn is 100% merino and wonderfully soft and squishy. I clutched a skein of Spiced Plum close to my heart and gazed adoringly around the rest of the shop. Mei had several shawls hanging up – one of which I really liked and guessed to be Liz Abinante’s Travelling Woman. Travelling Woman was the fifth pattern I ever added to my favourites on Ravelry. The name appealed for one thing! But I had guessed incorrectly. It was actually Ishbel designed by Ysolde Teague. Yes. That shawl. The one I was never going to knit because there are so many of them.
Mei told me about the pattern. It has clear instructions for adapting the size – both of the plain stocking stitch body and the lace border. A skein of Fyberspates Vivacious would give me a decent-sized shawl. So that was that. Decision made. Shawl knitted. I’m smitten.
soknitsome 
Blocking wires are a really good investment. Good for you in getting a set and you have an awesome dad. The shawl is lovely.
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Thank you and yes on all accounts!
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I love the jaunty angle you’re wearing it at! Lovely work. Are you based in Cologne? I’m heading there this summer, any yarn shops I should check out?
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Thank you – I usually wear the point somewhere towards one shoulder. I think it looks less traditional than straight down the back!
Yes, I’m in Cologne. Maschenkunst is a lovely yarn shop (http://www.maschenkunst.de/) there’s not much English on the website but they do speak English there. They have nice German brands as well as things like Rowan that are harder to get here. You can check out the online shop for brands: click on “Onlineshop” at the top, then far left click on “Garn, Wolle”
There’s also a Maschenkunst group on Ravelry. There are other shops that sell German things like Regia sock wool and Grundl wool which are cheaper, workhorse yarns. Let me know when you’re coming – pm me on Ravelry (soknitsome) and perhaps we can get together.
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I think one of the things I love about knitting shawls is that you can get one out of one skein of yarn. Quite amazing. Your Ishbel is beautiful!
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Thank you 🙂 Yes, you’re right, it’s magic what a skein of yarn can be transformed into!
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That is simply stunning and what an beautiful color in yarn 🙂
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Thank you. It’s the first time I’ve used semi-solid dyed yarn but it won’t be the last!
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Gorgeous, Ishbel is on my “to do” list. This will inspire me to try it still some day! 😉
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Thank you. It is a lovely shawl. I’m quite tempted to make another one 😉
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