While Away Your Weekend with Wool

Thanksgiving is upon us here in the United States, and the holiday weekend is a perfect time to settle in and relax with some needlework or knitting—especially if your workbasket contains some wool. This fantastic fiber has crafted the most beautiful tapestries, embroideries, handknits, and handwovens for centuries. Wool takes dye easily and is well known for its longevity. For more information about wool and some must-make projects, Long Thread Media has a fantastic new eBook for you. Here are three choices I think you will enjoy.

Natural colors, a flattering fit, and go-with-anything lace make this Weldon’s Shetland Shawl a must-knit. Design by Carolyn Wyborny and handknit version by Devin Helmen.

Find a New Knit

Fall is a great time of year to learn some simple lace patterns while planning for the cooler weather ahead. From Spin Off magazine comes Weldon’s Shetland Shawl to Knit. Designed by Carolyn Wyborny with this handspun version by Devin Helmen, this timeless wrap is based on knitting patterns that have endured since the 1800s. This piece is soothing to knit and lovely to wear. Read the project introduction for details about the handspun yarn—another facet of this design that appeals to yarn lovers like me!

These knitted sheep, designed by Nancy Bush and reknitted by Anne Merrow, are nattily dressed and ready to delight!

Play With Some Whimsy

If you prefer some whimsy, few things are cuter than sheep—especially if they’re crafted with love from your favorite wool. Nancy Bush’s irresistible sheep from PieceWork will have you reaching for your knitting needles time after time. Make one for everybody on your year-round gift list, and be sure to knit one for yourself as well! This project is a great stash buster: since gauge isn’t critical, you can experiment with different yarn weights to create your own personalized flock. Honestly, I don’t know how anybody could make just one!

Get Stitching

Is your idea of bliss a warm beverage, some good music, and a design in a hoop waiting to be stitched? Deanna Hall West’s Jacobean Crewelwork Project Bag, which graced the cover of PieceWork’s Winter 2022 issue, is both lovely and interesting to make. The different stitches will keep you engaged, and the soft blue tones are calming to embroider. The wool thread (the traditional fiber used for crewel) is a pleasure to stitch with.

Make Deanna Hall West’s classic Jacobean floral project bag to store your favorite knitting, crocheting, tatting, or needlework tools, or to protect bundles of your favorite wool embroidery threads.

With 14 projects to choose from, I know I’ll have a hard time deciding which project to start first. But I’m looking forward to retreating to a quiet area in my house with my needlework and knitting bag and taking a little time to myself to make something wonderful from wool. I hope you can find the time soon to try one of these lovely designs, too!

~ Pat

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Pat Olski is the editor of PieceWork magazine.