A Garden of Shawls by Karen Whooley
A Garden of Shawls by Karen Whooley is the book we shared on Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird today, and crochet loveliness abounds!
Karen says: I learned to crochet at the age of 7. My Nonna (Italian for “grandmother”) taught me to crochet one summer when my younger sister and I were visiting with her. Nonna didn’t teach me from patterns. Since she only could speak Italian, any pattern I brought her we used a magnifying glass and figured out the pattern from the photos. I didn’t learn how to read a pattern until I taught myself in my teenage years from Leisure Arts booklets! Because I learned to crochet from photos and word-of-mouth, I have always been a designer. Even when I could read a pattern, I always changed up the item, from construction to how it was edged, and even the stitch pattern. Just about everything I made was inspired by the patterns, not from the pattern directly.
And that is how I got started designing! Back in 1998, I met one of my favorite designers online in an internet forum. She saw the work that I would display on my personal website that was just basically a photo album, and convinced me to submit some original designs! 
The very first ones were purchased and off my design career went! After all these years, I still love designing! Over the years I have been lucky to work with some of the best yarn and publishing companies out there. You will see my work all over. But my heart has always been in self-publishing! I have self-published several books over the years and more will be coming!
Karen’s new book, A Garden of Shawls includes 12 beautiful lace shawls that evoke that feeling of being in a beautiful garden. Made with either fingering or lace weight yarns each shawl will inspire you to create your own slice of heaven.
The projects are worked using lace weight to fingering weight yarns – all from indie hand dyers – and are suitable for every crocheter who is comfortable with basic crochet stitches. Each pattern includes charts, a special stitches section, as well as written text to help the crafter work easily and comfortably through the pattern. The book also contains hints and information on how to adjust the shawls to work with heavier yarns and to customize a design to your personal taste.
Follow Karen Whooley through her website: www.KarenWhooley.com. There is also her Ravelry Designer page. She can be found in other social media locations as well, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can hear Karen’s previous visit to the Yarn Thing podcast in 2014.
If you missed getting to watch this LIVE check Marly’s Facebook page for the behind-the-scenes video from her Birds of a Feather Studio or listen to archived audio episode: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2017/04/18/garden-of-shawls-by-karen-whooley
Totally neat how you learned from your grandma karen and the Italian lace
I can’t wait to check Karen’s patterns out! Italian Lace! Bella!
I love soooo many things Italian. I’d love to learn the art of Italian lace work. Thank you for an interesting podcast 🙂
I’ve been dying to get this book. Karen’s patterns are gorgeous! Italian lace
If all the patterns in Garden of Shawls were inspired by italian lace then I would love to make them all.
Thanks for the opporrunity. Wonderful podcast as always.
This is a beautiful book. The designs really highlight the beauty of Italian Lace.
Love the look of Italian lace!!
This sounds like such a great book! i just love Italian lace!
Italian Lace how inspiring! I have just started crocheting and I would love to do one of your patterns. Thanks for sharing with us. Great podcast.
Italian Lace…I would love a shawl pattern called Italian Ice, one of my favorite summer time treats! I see a lemony yellow and lots of open work. Thanks for a wonderful interview ladies.
I would love to learn more about Italian Lace!
Would love to see this book full of Italian lace! Just started recently getting into shawls-this would be perfect! 🙂
Italian lace would be fun to learn. Now I’m anxious to look at pictures of it.
My Italian grandma taught me to crochet as well and I will definitely check out the Italian Lace!
Loved this book!!! i would looooooove to have it! I have Karen,s bag class from Craftsy and it s excellent!
I’m totally with you on crocheting in lighter weight yarn. Excited to hear about Italian lace originating in PacNW!
Thanks, Marly, for spreading the needle craft word.
I have never worked with anything like Italian lace. I would live to make the beautiful shawls!!
The Italian lace looks so beautiful! i want to make one if the shawls!
I love her Italian lace inspired shawls. Crochet lace is one of my favourite things to make.
I enjoyed hearing why you love Italian Lace, the story of how you got in the industry and that your publishing company is named for a song your grandpa sang to you.
I love the podcast and have been a long time listener. I would love to see how Italian lace is done and would love to make some of the lacy shawls! I love listening to the show. Kudos to Marly and Tammy!!!
I would love to make one of Karen’s shawl using Italian Lace for my blue eyed daughter!
Great podcast! I think the shawls are lovely. Hooray for Italian Lace!
I would love to try my hand at Italian lace. Fun to listen to the process of making the book. Grandma love!
It was so nice to hear Karen on the show. I took a class from her several years ago, and have been ogling her book since it came out. I didn’t know her inspiration was Italian lace. Gorgeous.
Beautiful shawls. I’d love to learn more about Italian Lace and other crochet techniques.
I have been trying to learn a variety of lace techniques. My grandmother grew up making Irish Lace Crochet. Italian Lace would just be a wonderful addition to my skill set.
Can’t wait to do Italian lace shawl.
The thought of Italian lace sounds devine. I haven’t delved into many lace projects, but I love the idea of elegant shawls that won’t be too difficult for a beginner
The shawls in this book look so pretty. They remind me of Italian lace. I love to crochet, so these patterns seem right up my alley.
lovely Italian lace shawls.
I have loved and appreciated Karen Whooley’s patterns for a long, long, time and would love to see her Italian Lace inspired Garden of Shawls on my bookshelf. It is so beautiful that Karen honours her grandparents with her crochet. Crochet is a great way to feel connected to one’s ancestors. I come from a line of Dutch knitters and crochet and it feels good to be able to continue on the tradition.
Congratulations, Karen, on your publishing company and its first beautiful book.
Marly, I totally agree with your back announcement that Karen is so encouraging to others etc. When I was first learning to make socks, I sent her a question and was so thrilled that “the designer herself”responded to my query. Thanks Ladies for a nice podcast today.
I love the heritage of using her grandmother’s Italian lace patterns!
Italian lace shawls are so delicate and pretty. I’d love to knit one.
Your book sounds great and Italian Lace is beautiful!!
My Italian nana also taught me to crochet, and Italian lace doilies were throughout her home <3 Good memories. The best!
Great interview with Karen. Opened me up to a new designer and new ideas. Can’t wait to try some of her Italian Lace patterns and buy her book.
Karen’s patterns look beautiful! I can’t wait to try my hand at Italian Lace!
I’d never heard of Italian lace before this podcast. Can’t wait to check out this beautiful book!