A luscious new yarn has arrived at Florilegium from Malabrigo in Uruguay. The first box contained the delicate, airy, lace-weight SILKPACA in 10 hand-dyed colors. It is the SOFTEST, cloud of a yarn. Imagine our glee when we discovered that we had size 8 seed beads that coordinated perfectly with each one! (I haven’t told you, yet, what crows we are – flocking to any sparkly thing!)
Even though we received just one dye-lot of each color, each skein definitely has its own personality – which may be why it appealed to our friend Sandie. Talk about a spectacular personality!! She’s one-of-a-kind: funny, feisty, colorful, generous, brave and warm-hearted. (Not to mention brilliant and beautiful!) She found this yarn and immediately embarked upon a mission to knit a shawl, a gentle hug, for each of her many friends. Here is a photo of the beauty she knit for me:
I’m new to your blog and have to say I love the offerings at your store. I’m traveling west soon and may have to plan a stop to visit. In the meantime is there a pattern for Sandies Shawl? Most if my knitting is with lace weight yarn and abundant beadwork. I just love this pattern and would like to purchase it if its available somewhere.
Hi Jil,
The original pattern is the Stacking Shells Shawl from Iris Schreier’s book One+One: Scarves, Shawls and Shrugs. Our friend Sandie changed the pattern quite a bit, and she is working on a written version which I can send you, when it’s ready.
We would love to see you if you come this way! Thanks for writing.
I would love to have her version of the pattern when she has it completed. Will also check to see if I have that book, as I have several of hers on the knitting book shelf. I love knitting with Malabrigo ‘anything’, bit haven’t tried the silkpaca yet. May have to be one of many reasons for a visit to your store.
I am one of the adored, someone lucky enough to call Sandie family! This beautiful woman made a lovely mauve shawl for me after my last visit to Kansas City. I will wear it often (hopefully get a picture with it!) and every time it is wrapped cozily around my shoulders, I will wish that it were her arms were around me. Distance, sadly, stops that from happening as often as we would like. The detail in this piece is delicate and unique…and I will treasure it forever! If her pals at the shop are successful in getting her to write down the pattern, I know that the lucky ladies who receive these Sandie Shawls will be as thrilled as I am! Do stop by the shop, and enjoy the lovely ladies, a cup of tea, and some special time. Wish I could be there!
We wish you could be here, too! I’m beginning to see a special convocation of the “Sandie Sisterhood” in our future. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. ( Oh, and we’ll share Sandie’s changes if she publishes them.)
Hello, I am interested to have this pattern when it will be ready. It is very beautiful. Thank you.
We will send you a copy of Sandie’s pattern. It is also a cockleshell, but quite different and also very beautiful! If you like the one in my post, that pattern is in Iris Schreier’s book (listed in another comment below). Sandie modified it by working only 12 repeats. It can be made with just one skein of Silkpaca!!