What's the best yarn to use for shawl?

[stitchgirl]

For those of you who have made shawls or wraps, what is your advice on the best fiber. I want to do one for summer, so I'd prefer it to be lightweight. I was thinking about a cotton/rayon blend yarn. What do you think?

[darski]

I have a skein of TLC Cotton Plus that I think would be wonderful for a summer weight shawl. (Have no idea why I have this but I do )

 

However, the pattern might have at least as great an effect on its usefulness as the yarn.

[stitchgirl]

I totally agree Darski - the pattern probably will dictate to the weight of the piece as much as the yarn. So I guess I want to make sure I choose a pattern that is pretty open. I know there's a ton out there - just a matter of choosing. Also, I'm on 5'2", so I don't want something real long.

[Sofia]

while I do like Cotton Plus, I am currently working on a shawl in Panda Cotton. (Crystal Palace Yarns.) It feels so nice and drapes beautifully. It is a bamboo cotton nylon blend.... love it

[angelfire]

I made one recently in bamboo yarn and it is perfect summer weight

[Me&P]

Bamboo would be great. I have one of those planned. Or a 100% cotton (I recently made a Sweet Pea from Blue Sky Organic Cotton and it is amazing. I'm currently making another out of a mercerized cotton that is similar to the kind the pattern calls for.)

[Selune]

Silk is also nice, but depends on the weight. Some silk can be heavy and some light and smooth. I haven't seen bamboo yarn, but it sounds nice. Sounds pricey, too.

[stitchgirl]

Thanks ladies, I think I might just try the bamboo.

[lewlie108]

I just recently made a prayer shawl out of Caron Simply Soft. It is an acrylic yarn, but it is so soft and has an incredible sheen. I wanted something that she could snuggle with.

[Carol]

A couple of years ago, I made a summer shawl out of Paton's Grace cotton and just loved it, so now I'm in the middle of two more with Grace. I made my daughter a shawl (for nursing) out of Tahki Stacy Charles (beautiful sheen and very easy to work with, but not quite as soft as Grace).