This shawl was a very quick knit. I finished the bud lace on Friday, the Lily of the Valley Edging 1 & 2 on Saturday, and the edging Sunday Morning. I blocked it on Monday and by Tuesday I was wearing my beautiful new shawl.
No wait...that's not me in the picture is it.
Nope that's Pork Chop modeling HER new shawl. But it's a perfect fit.
Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave Knits (Fall 2006)
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Lace, one skein
Needles: Size 4 Addi Turbos
Modifications: None, but I wish I'd made some. As I was knitting I kept thinking this shawl looks small, maybe I should add a few more pattern repeats. But knitter's denial kept me knitting as directed. After I cast off I realized I still had half a skein left and the shawl was roughly the size as my cat.
Now we all know blocking can cure a multitude of evils, but I just didn't think it could stretch this shawl into a grown-up shawl. At this point I could have frogged and started over, adding pattern repeats this time. But Turtle Girl has begged me to spare my knits for September and not frog anymore. Her heart just can't watch all that knit fabric reduced to mere hanks. As we've discussed before a hank is yarn's lowest form of being. Hank yarn is sad yarn. She couldn't watch me destroy the hopes and dreams of any more yarn. I also didn't think I could endure another round of P5tog with my blunt Addis. I've never wished for different needles when knitting with Addis. But I found myself dreaming of those pointy new KnitPicks needles. So in the absence of better needles I deferred to Turtle Girl's wishes and blocked this beautiful shawl, stretching it within an inch of it's life.
It is now the perfect little girl shawl. And she is so happy, how could I break her heart by telling her it was a knitting mistake.
A beautiful knitting mistake.
Review: Things we have learned
1. There is a reason this was modeled on a hanger, not a person.
2. That pretty model in Interweave Knits is a midget.
3. Addi's are too freakin' blunt for complex lace work
4. Misti Alpaca Lace is a soft dream and I must hoard all I can find.
5. Pork Chop is happy to be knit for (unlike that ungrateful Bird). Must knit more for my elder children
6. Listen to the knits. If they say they'll be small, they'll be small. Trust your creepy new yarn whispering.
12 comments:
It's beautiful, Mamma. She just looks thrilled to have it too. Isn't it nice to have grateful recipients of your work?
(It's the perfect color for her too, btw. Just lovely!)
I love the shawl it looks so gorgeous on her.
Shi
It's gorgeous! It makes me AND porkchop happy! She's so cute in her little shawl! Look at the smile on that face! Aren't you glad you didn't rip? So cute.
It was obviously meant for her all along!! Gorgeous - both of them.
It sure is gorgeous on her. Such an elegant young lady.
She looks fabulous in that shawl. I bet that's going to be something she remembers forever, that you made this beautiful thing for her.
I thought it looked small in the IK picture, too. Those models must be tiny, like television actresses.
Way to go on the decision not to frog it! It's perfect. :)
Well I think it's fab. i loved the look of it in IK. Your little lady looks lovely wearing it.
That is just gorgeous!!! It looks so cute on her! Glad you didn't frog!
I love that colour! It looks lovely on your little one too.
That Misti Alpaca is yummy hey? *swoon*
Oh, it's the perfect size for her! She looks so happy wearing it. Good decision not to frog it, the color is gorgeous on her.
Beautiful job! Even the mistakes have a purpose, and your dd looks so very happy. I've heard wonderful things about that yarn, and have been planning to get my hands on some, too! :0)
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