Karen Shields' Hugs

Updated for 2020!

Thanks for visiting my “Hugs” page. (Yes… it’s about shawls… read on!)

In 2020, since being asked to isolate because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, I have been knitting while watching the news. Then I realized that my web-pages were way out of date. Where has the time gone? Okay I know that is a rhetorical question and here is my rambling answer. Since 2012 to date I have been busy driving school bus to support my yarn habit. I knit socks and mittens for the students on my buses. I even drove bus for the 2015 Para-Panam Games in Toronto. I was involved with the Ontario Handweavers and Spinners executive until my term limit. In 2017 our family moved out of the city to “cottage country” to get a slower pace of life and become part of the artisan community of Bancroft, Ontario.

Why do I call my shawls “Hugs”? Well, whenever anyone tried on one of my creations, they would sigh, like when you get a great hug. I decided that was a great name to differentiate my shawls “Hugs” from anyone else out there creating similar items. I think everyone deserves a Hug now and then, especially, since we are all in isolation a virtual hug is better than not getting a hug.

When I moved to Bancroft, I started to inventory my Hugs from the letter A (alphabetically). So far, I have been through the alphabet two and a half times in! My hugs have unique names. I use part of the name from the yarn and follow the alphabet in creating a specific name for each of my “Hugs” (for example, “Healthy Fingers”, I created this original design, which was knit during the Covid-19 pandemic). I like referring to my creative works by name, as opposed to using inventory numbers like 20200315”, which was the date I finished knitting.

There are many different styles of triangular weaving. I have so far mastered continuous thread and cut thread. I have five (5) triangular looms from 190 - 34 centimeters (84" to 15") on the hypotenuses. Variation happens with fibre, size of loom, yarn count from single thread to ? (I have woven up to 5 yarns at a time.) Most times I seem to use double threads or yarns. (Could that be a twin thing?)

The knitted designs are my own creations as I am just learning to read knitting patterns. I have figured out to knit triangular and different shaped hugs. I like variety in my life!

The crossed out names, on the inventory list below, have been sold. As you can see I have been busy creating! To find out what the other "Hugs" look like you will have to come up to Bancroft and check out the store!(I’ll add the store name, when we are out of isolation and you can go shopping.) Stay safe and create!

2018 list of Shawls woven or knit in Bancroft, Ontario

Ending in Recycling
Fanatical TML Fan
Going to the pool
Healthy Fingers (Knit)
Insisting on Beige and Black ((Knit)
Just Black Lace (Knit)
Knitting the Northern Lights

So... here are some of my creations from the above list. I hope you like my work!

2018:

2019:

2020:

 

To go back to my crafts home page, click here.