Meet my impulse knit. Ysolda Teague’s Ishbel. I used about 40 grams of a merino/silk sock weight yarn from Fiber Charmer on Etsy,
I was sick on Tuesday and Wednesday so I couldn’t go to work. I couldn’t sleep all day like I wanted because the roof was being re-pointed and the gutters painted, so there were noisy (but friendly) tradesmen everywhere.
I felt dreadful and the thought of knitting the jumper sleeve I should have worked on just made me feel worse. So I cast on and knit most of the smaller size Ishbel shawl, which is worn as a neckerchief. Overall it took about 15 hours work – which means you can start on Monday and be blocking on Sunday if you just want to do a few hours a day.
Why Ishbel? It’s not a good reason, but EVERYONE makes an Ishbel, so I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon and have a go.
My thoughts on the pattern are:
- It’s easy enough to attempt it as a first shawl
- It’s written clearly
- The result is nice but not very exciting
- It’s not something I’d knit again.
I don’t entirely understand why it’s so popular – there are almost 10,000 Ishbel projects on Ravelry.
I think that the Ishbels are breeding. Maybe because there are so many on Ravelry people think it must be the most fantastic shawl in the world, so they do what I did and try it out. This just adds more Ishbels to the herd and the cycle continues.
I didn’t think about whether popularity was a good enough reason to knit something. Given that I don’t particularly like the vine lace stitch I should have chosen something else.
For me, Ishbel isn’t something I’ll ever knit again (although there are lots of people who do). It’s a pleasant, competent design – but I want amazing designs.
I like Ysolda Teague’s patterns in general and find they usually have some special feature or detail that really grabs me. Ishbel doesn’t. I think it’s a good pattern for someone a bit apprehensive about knitting their first shawl, but not rewarding enough for a more experienced knitter.
Given Ishbel’s popularity, I might have just offended 10,000 knitters. I would like to hear from anyone who has made their own Ishbel though.
What did you think and would you knit it again?
I haven’t knitted Ishbel- though I have been thinking of it recently ; )- but I reckon so many people have because (tell me if I’m wrong) it was really the first of the high-profile shawl patterns that sparked their recent fashion… so it’s become a classic favourite.
It looks lovely- great colour!
xx
I think you might be right – I was probably the first shawl to break out of that “nanna” shawl style because it came in a smaller version to wear scarf like.
I have knit one too but I have never worn it, sort of forgot about it actually. I think it is so popular because it is a smaller one and much easier than those intricate lace ones that a lot of people know they can finish it!
I have yarn for ishbel (One Fat Slug). It’s just a matter of time 🙂