I had always intended to give this shawl as a gift, but I was so so close to keeping this for myself when I saw how it turned out. The gradual fade of the accent colours with the beige neutral looked amazing, and the brioche made for the softest, squishiest shawl I had ever made.

• 3/10 skein of Scheepjes Metropolis – a fingering weight (1) yarn (colour A: Dubai)
• 6/10 skein of Scheepjes Metropolis – a fingering weight (1) yarn (colour B: Naples)
• 9/10 skein of Scheepjes Metropolis – a fingering weight (1) yarn (colour C: Milan)
• 1 and 1/2 skeins of SweetGeorgia Yarns Bulletproof Sock – a fingering weight (1) yarn (colour D: Tumbled Stone)
• Size 4 (3.50mm) knitting needles (I used Knitter’s Pride 80cm circulars)

Pattern by Andrea at Drea Renee Knits

It might seem like I say this every week, but this shawl might actually be one of my new favourites. For a first brioche project, I couldn’t be more over the moon about the detailing and the reversibility of the shawl. Technically, this next picture is of the “right” side. I think it’s perfect for more subtle understated days.

For days where you’re feeling a bit bolder, you can flip the shawl! The bright colours are fun, and one of my babysitting kids told me firmly that this was the better side, even if it is the “wrong” side of the knitting project.

Now that you’ve seen both, which side would you choose? Honestly, I agree with my babysitting child. I love the “pop” of the stripes, and I think it makes the shawl stand out more. I’m also newly in love with Scheepjes Metropolis after this project, so I might be a bit biased, but they have so many gorgeous colourways at an affordable price point. You just might start to see it pop up more and more in my projects.

I probably should have blocked this shawl before gifting it, but I decided that brioche is so fluffy and has so much natural give that it didn’t matter too much. I did find that the shawl curled a little bit at the base, but when it was worn, you didn’t even notice. The wingspan of the shawl was also a bit longer than I expected, but that just means that there’s more for wrapping around yourself.

Like I said at the beginning, I really wanted to keep this one for myself. The only thing holding me back is the number of fun patterns that are still out there! Why should I limit myself to one amazing pattern when there are hundreds or thousands of others just waiting for me to discover them and give them a try?

Until next time, happy crafting!