This is the Cottage Classic pattern updated with a photo tutorial of the first several rows.

I have always had a somewhat obsessive personality. Sometimes this is a good thing, other times it is disastrous. Since retiring I have only become worse; with more free time I find myself indulging my obsessions in a disgraceful manner. Such as rereading all the Lord Peter Wimsey books each year in chronological order, timed to savor the bell ringing chapter of “The Nine Tailors” exactly on New Year’s Eve. I am currently finishing “The Attenbury Emeralds”, so that will be it until next Fall - for that particular obsession.

Obsessions rule my crocheting as well. Recently I have been obsessed with Victorian and Edwardian shawls, and while rereading Mary Konior’s “Crochet Lace,” became particularly intrigued by Cottage Shawls – grey with red borders. But I did not want to use those same-old 3 double crochet shells – I must have made several million of those shells in my life! And then it occurred to me to try it with “sideways shells” (another current obsession), using an interesting method of increasing to form the desired triangular shape. And it seemed fitting to use the Plymouth Encore purchased at half price during the closing of my favorite LYS, Granny’s Yarn Shoppe in Islip, NY. I obsessively crocheted this shawl in about 2 days – could not wait to see how the red would look. And I love it!

Now I am dreaming about a Faroese Shawl using sideways shells…