This is an Estonian pattern from The Haapsalu Shawl using laceweight alpaca yarn from Valley Yarn. It’s a prayer shawl (in progress). Am I being selfish, making a shawl that inspires me? Should I make warmer, sturdier shawl that the recipient will get more use out of?
Are you making it for you, or someone else? If you're making it for you - make it the way you'll feel inspired. If you're making it for others, then warmer/sturdier for their long term use. It sounds like a wonderful positive project. Thanks for sharing with us all.
Beautiful work. Do what makes up happy.
It’s beautiful! If it makes you happy, keep it up. You can also knit warmer items when resting your eyes from lacework. Why, yes, that is the voice of experience!!
Making something beautiful is never a mistake
Its beautiful!!
Wow, that’s impressive! Anyone would be lucky to receive it.
Just give it to yourself. Problem solved.
Beauty and artistic expression are also of value. Just gorgeous 🙏🏼
#showmeyourknits #knitsky It’s remarkable that women from some of the most isolated communities (Shetland Islands, Fair Isles, Estonia, Orenburg) have created knitting patterns and techniques that are such treasures. They’re a special kind of art that is enduring and accessible to all.
It’s amazing!
Keep the shawl that inspires you and make another warmer, sturdier one for the intended recipient. No selfishness required.
Follow your star, it won,t be wrong...
No, I just love it. Beautiful, thoughtful project!
No. It will be warmed by knowing you created it especially for them. Beautiful work!
Go with what inspires you and you’ll never go wrong.
No make what inspires you. When I receive gifts made that are delicate I make sure to be extra careful with them ❤️
Those lacy shawls are always warmer than they look like they ought to be, and sometimes a little warmth is better than one that is too warm. Plus, the pattern looks like little doves to me. Keep going.
A shawl for spring or summer when a breeze springs up or the sun goes down 👍🤗
You are so right! Thanks
I opened the comments to say just this! Lace is warmer than one would think, and alpaca is excellent for retaining heat but letting moisture out.
Very beautiful! And you are very skilful to knit it.
It's beautiful, keep going!
Gorgeous! I would be beyond grateful if such an extraordinary shawl was gifted me. And, I would use it, with joy, every chance I could. Lovely work. Well done.
In some areas of the country this weight shawl would get more use than a heavier weight. It is beautiful.
This is beautiful and will be treasured.
Beautiful -- a work of art
I'd be thrilled with this shawl....beautiful, absolutely beautiful!
Creating beauty is an end in itself.
No this is gorgeous and the recipient will be delighted to have it. ❤️
This is perfect.
People need beauty in their life, and this is beautiful. Your recipient might enjoy sturdy warmth in a comfortable yarn, or they might be starving for one delicate treasure that is warms their heart for a lifetime. Choose with your heart for the recipient.
This is beautiful
They can put a bright solid color heavier shawl underneath to keep warm and bring out the pattern of yours
I just worry that the recipient won't know how to care for it, or the care for it will make it a burden that gets put safely away in a drawer. Perhaps keep this one for yourself and make an easier-care one for the prayer shawl?
i’ve given hand knitted lace shawls as christening gifts, and had a shocking number of them come back badly damaged. people have no concept of the time and effort involved; it’s just stuff to them.
I know what you mean. Still, I tell myself that each time I knit what should be an heirloom item, I’m the one who is most enriched. Watching its beauty grow under my fingers is a remarkable experience, and is in no way diminished by a crass response of the recipient. 😉
and it hasn’t stopped me giving them away, either. it’s just that i’ve adjusted my expectations of the recipients. i always offer washing and stretching, but some of them have come back in shocking condition.
you’re so right; every stitch is a prayer.
Does the recipient pray? Might it encourage them to?
Nice job!
Of course you should make a warmer, sturdier more "useful" shawl-next. But beauty has it's very own kind of "warmth" and that lovely light spider web of a shawl you are making is beautiful and "use" can be the act of looking at or just holding something so special. Either way-lucky "recipient".👍😻
No It is so beautiful and a lost art for those reasons alone you should keep doing it
A beautiful piece is never wrong!
Maybe just make a second warmer one to gift with this one?!
Beautiful!!!
Beautiful pattern! ...& not at all selfish. Maybe you could do 2 projects, tho — a lace shawl, + a warmer version 🌞
Beautiful.
“ And since it is beautiful, it is truly useful.” ― Antoine de SaintExupéry, The Little Prince
Yes !!! And as a minister I would LOVE to have one ☮️❤️🌹
It’s beautiful
I made an afghan in wool using this pattern, and the wool made the design ‘pop’ even more.
It is lovely! And the joy we get from crafting intricate items is somewhat unrelated to how much use they get!
Wow, that’s gorgeous. This is an excellent project. Maybe make another one that’s warmer later.
Forgot to add the hashtags #knitsky #showmeyourknits
That is beautiful!
This is beautiful, you do excellent work! Don’t feel bad about making something that k spires you then keeping it. ❤️
You should create from inspiration. Without meaning it’s a trinket that will be forgotten.
Beautiful! I'm sure whomever is gifted this shawl will appreciate it!!
We need more beauty in this sad world. Lovely work!
The recipient will be very grateful to feel God's presence like the brush of angel's wings, or a feathery soft kiss on the brow.
Keep that one for yourself, it’s beautiful!!!
Amazing work! Create for yourself!
No you should continue, it’s so amazingly gracious and the corners looks like a little angel in each. Very beautiful. Estonians have always been masters in handcrafts, I hope you continue with that 🍀
It is a piece of art and lovely just as it is.
It's beautiful. Make whatever makes you happy. There are 4 seasons.
It makes me happy to hear from so many good-hearted knitters like you 😆
I love to knit. I taught my mom. 🎉🎉🎉
You'd be surprised how all those tiny air spaces add up to keeping you snuggly warm! Plus it will be light and easy to carry, and go well with all sorts of clothes from denim dungarees to smart evening wear.. And, of course, you get the satisfaction from creating great beauty.
This is lovely. Stay the course. 💕
That is exquisite. I would love to have it as a prayer shawl. Many years ago I knit something similar.
My cousin spun and knitted a small throw over rug for me. Same pattern and it's surprisingly warm. I use it everyday and call it Micky after the alpaca who produced the wool. It's extremely precious to me.
There is time to do both and for now; one cannot usually go wrong following their intuition.
Make the beautiful thing. There is never a be-all piece of art. If making a warmer shawl is interesting to you, make that your next project.
No. A part of crocheting and knitting is the pleasure you get from creating. Create what you want.
I love celebrating the creativity of other cultures. Aren’t knitters the world over amazing!
They are amazing. The web brings all their creativity to my home.
Usefulness has many aspects. This one is inspiring you. It may lightly warm someone who does not need a heavy shawl, but wants the sense of security a shawl brings. The utimate owner may have not had anything so lovely in the life before and smile each time they see it. All these are useful.
You are doing a kind thing. Tell your inner critic to shhh now. It’s beautiful work.
You clearly have a beautiful soul 😉
Aww. You too.
When I was deployed, my mother sent me lacy underwear and potpourri wrapped in lace doilies. I read the classics during that war. We need to allow for some focus on beauty for beauty's sake and our highest potentials when the barbaric demands our attention lest we, too, delvole into barbarity.
I couldn’t agree more! I recently learned a fun factoid. The lace doilies that graced chairs were sometimes called antimacassars. They prevented the macassar oil that men used to style their hair from staining the backs of the chairs. Amazing that such exquisite works had such a banal origin.
