Sidewalk Shawl, a finish.......

Ladies I have a finish!  I am very excited to introduce you to the Sidewalk Shawl by Kimberly K.  McAlindin.   This is one of the oldest patterns I have in my Ravelry library and I finally took the plunge.  You see when you actually go through all of your yarn and make a list of what you have, you start to get some ideas about a project or two.

I remember printing off this pattern years ago and running to Joann's and trying to find the yarn that was suggested.  That was Debbie Stroller Bamboo Ewe which I believe had been discontinued by that point.  Instead I bought Vicki Howell Sheep(ish) when it was made by Caron.  It is now made under the Bernat label so I am really dating this yarn, it has been in my stash for probably 6 years or more.  Still stash yarn or not I have never given it away because I love the color.  Of course I should have been finishing my Harvest sweater but I got sidetracked once again.  

You see I was starting to whine a little bit using those double pointed needles for the sleeves.  They sort of, in a very small way, make the ring finger on my left hand hurt.  Now I am talking minor, minor pain here but still it was enough for me to want to dive into some crochet for a breather.  It obviously does not take much to make me get distracted when it comes to playing with yarn.  

The above photo is before this shawl was blocked.  This was a hot mess I tell you and I was a bit concerned that it would not block out as beautifully as I had hoped, but it did.

So here are the specifics, 4 balls of Vicki Howell Sheep(ish) discontinued yarn in the color grey(ish).  The dye lot is 08/2011 which sounds a lot like the year I bought it in.  Totaling 660 yards of yarn using a size J hook.  I think now that I am looking at it I could have gone up another hook size and it would have been a bit more lacy.  The yarn was a little rough in the making but steamed out to be softer with a nice sheen to it.  Now friends it says do not use an iron with this yarn right on the ball band, but you know me I can't block a thing without steam so I took my chances.  

As much as I love this shawl it is not for me, but for someone dear to me.  I hope she will like it and wrap it around her shoulders on chilly mornings.  I am already stalking my stash for more yarn to make another Sidewalk Shawl, the possibilities are endless.  So that is another 660 yards I can cross off my list, hooray for me!  But unfortunately I still have four more balls of this yarn so I can't completely cross it off, *insert sad face here.*

***A little side note.  Every year at Christmas I order a few items from the Women's Bean Project, and every time I do I am so pleased.  This group provides job training, classes and business skill development to impoverished or chronically unemployed women.  It helps empower these women to get on their feet again.  After this election cycle and the horrible things that have been said about women, and frankly done to women without their consent, I think this is a perfect group to give my support to.  Please check out their site, I think you will be impressed and just might want to help too.   

Have a great day.