Cloth Napkins

To Many Napkins? How about a shawl? 
 
Well, I have really been on a roll, and now I have so many cloth napkins, we can’t manage to use them all!! I have enough to give some away to my daughter and a couple of friends, and still have probably ten yards of fabric to make up. But, I need a break from the napkin world for a short while. I have a new project to share that is fun, easy, not too expensive, and also a green project !  Does anyone out there knit? If you don’t, don’t rush away because I can put you in touch with a super easy tutorial that will allow you to teach yourself on-line. Just click here. 

The project is a simple and old-fashioned shawl. It looks great with a skirt or slacks and is equally at home with a pair of jeans. I have even been known to wear one of mine with my robe on the back porch on a crisp fall evening. Actually, they are really wonderful for just about any occasion. The triangle shawl I am going to show you, can be made out of most types of yarn, although there are several types that seem to be more suited. Lion Brand yarn, which is sold at both Walmart Stores and Joanne Fabrics, has a yarn called “Homespun” which makes up beautifully, and you only need three skeins.The cost is approximately $5.50 for one skein. I have made six out of this in different colors for gifts, and they all looked pretty. I also have made four out of a beautiful mohair yarn from our local knitting store. It’s an Italian mohair and is rather expensive, running about $11.00 a skein, and the bad part here is that you need six to seven skeins depending on how you knit and also whether or not you attach fringe. I like the look of the fringe but my daughter shied away from it.  I am sure there are other yarns out there that would work as well, and it will just take a creative eye to spot them.
 
One size will fit most anyone, and the finished length is approx. 35″ and the width is approx. 64″. First you will need to purchase some yarn in the color of your choice, and size 13 circular knitting needle. It can be accomplished on straight needles, but it is so bulky toward the end that a circular one works the best.

Shawl
 
Cast on three stiches
Row 1 Knit
Row 2 Knit,yarn over, K to end
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 35″ from
     the beginning, ending with 142 stitches.
Bind off loosley.
 
Finishing
 
Cut lengths of yarn into 14′ peices for the fringe. Holding two strands of yarn together, fold in half and attach
in the open spaces along the two edges of the shawl.
 
Happy knitting and don’t forget to turn down your thermostat as you wrap up in your new shawl. Think Green!!

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