Follow-up Friday – “Les Tourettes Shawl”

In the long list of wips that needed to be completed these past months (more here), this shawl played a significant part. The funny thing is, my “Les Tourettes Shawl” has been finished since May or June, and been worn many an occasion. With much pleasure, I might add!
While working on it, I only showed a few progress pictures on my Instagram and Facebook, which resulted in lots of lovely people asking for the pattern. Now thàt only existed in my head, so I promised to write it down, and make a tutorial (including how to join the squares).
Somehow I knew it would be wise to make a pact with myself to not show the “Les Tourettes Shawl” here, or via other social media, before the pattern writing malarkey was done.
In Dutch we have a saying:  “een stok achter de deur hebben”, and this pact was the perfect “stok achter de deur” for me.
Haha …… I just found out there’s no translation for that saying in English! It means as much as, that I did not allow myself the pleasure of showing (off) my shawl, unless I had finished both pattern and tutorial, fearing otherwise I would never get it done…….
Despite the pact, it took embarrassingly long before I could cross this wip off my list, but it’s finally done (yay!), and – just so this post won’t be too lengthy – I’ll share “Abby” and her pattern/tutorial here on the blog tomorrow!

So, what was the origin of this shawl? It started with me buying a colorful top, that I really fell in love with the minute I saw it. However, the first time I wore it, it left me with a cold neck and so I decided to crochet a shawl that would deal with that.
Trying to pick out one or two colors from my cotton stash, I realized I had all colors that were in the top ……
Not too sure whether color blocking‘s still fashionable, but I went with “all the colors” ;).
This project accompanied me when I traveled to Bétaille/Les Tourettes (hence the name) for my yoga retreat in France and I finished it rather quickly after that, really loving wearing it.
The 100% cotton proved to be the perfect choice, the top being a summery garment – I think a shawl with a more woolly look would not have been as enjoyable to wear, nor as pretty to look at …..
I’m all geared up to share granny “Abby” with you tomorrow, showing you not only how to crochet (and join) her, but also how versatile this sweet old lady can be!

Love,
Marianne xx