Inspired by Ladybugs? In the Mood for Towels?

When Malynda Allen designed the charming Flights of Fancy Shawl and Wings for the Spring 2026 issue of Handwoven, she also thought up ideas for how to Make It Your Own.

Let’s take a closer look at those!

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Click any image in the gallery to open it in full-screen mode.

Changes to Consider

Reverse the light and dark colors to make a light-colored insect with darker edges around the wings.

Change colors to weave a different bug. Imitate a monarch butterfly by using yellow, orange, and red as the main colors; make ladybug wings by using red, black, and white as the main colors; or find color inspiration in other bugs (bumblebees or dragonflies, anyone?).

Play with the WIF, arranging the colors differently in your version.

Change the width. Use fewer threading repeats to make a narrower scarf, or more threading repeats for a wider shawl.

Change the finish. Instead of twisting fringe, finish your shawl with hems.

Make something completely different.

• Woven in 10/2 cotton, this draft would make beautiful towels. Simply add a hem and weave them to your desired length.

• Add threading repeats to make a wonderful baby blanket or lap throw.

Combine these ideas. Change the colors to those of your favorite butterfly, change the fiber and add threading repeats to make a baby blanket, and finish it all off with hems instead of fringe. Congratulations—you’ve made this project your own!

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Click for a free download of the Flights of Fancy Shawl and Wings project PDF and WIF.

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View the Spring 2026 issue of* Handwoven *for more projects, along with Make It Your Own suggestions.

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If you’ve made any Handwoven projects your own, please tag your posts #handwovenmagazine so we can all enjoy your work!