Year of the shawl? « Knitology

Feeds:: Posts; Comments

Year of the shawl?

September 20, 2009 by nettie

I decided to save my sanity and leave off the pointed edge of my Aestlight shawl. That birds eye lace nearly did me in. I had misread the instructions so badly that I kept ending up with, like, 52 million stitches on the needle. When I got my head on straight and worked out what I should be doing…I started to run out of Koigu (AND started to run out of my back up yarn that was inconveniently attached to the project below).

So, a pointless Aestlight it would be ;0)

Pattern: Aestlight, Gudrun Johnston

Yarn: Koigu, unknown color way 2 skeins

Needles: Size 6

Love: A LOT!!

It is so light and airy and marvy and gorgy :0)

Then, this shawl…

I am so proud of this, I feel that it’s somehow wrong. This shawl really, really, rilly challenged me. Knitting lace does not come naturally to me, and I struggled with my stitch counts throughout the entire experience.

I ran out of motivation several times.

I ran out steam after tinking back rows.

I ran out of patience when tinking didn’t solve the problem.

I ran out of yarn and almost called the whole thing off.

But, she is finished now. Bound off on the subway. Like the true subway knit that she was. I don’t know if it was the lovely kidsilk night, or the vastly different needle sizes at each end or the rhythmic motion of my hands will working, but I had the attention of everyone standing and sitting near me on the train that evening.

Maybe they were feeling the love coming off of me. The JOY at being done with this crazy making knit and the anticipation of blocking it to full size. She is a big-un!

Pattern: Ishbel, Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Zwerger Garn Opal and Kidsilk Night edging

Needles: Size 7 (and a larger size for the kidsilk night and bind off)

Love: There aren’t enough words.

Just look at it!! I made it!! Lol

Posted in knitting | 14 Comments

14 Responses

on September 20, 2009 at 9:09 am | Reply Jess

This looks gorgeous! Very nicely done.
on September 20, 2009 at 12:53 pm | Reply knitaholictoo

Avsolurely stunning! Ans i feel your struggle (and joy). I’ve given up many times on lace, I may pick it up again someday. Thanks for sharing!
on September 20, 2009 at 4:26 pm | Reply kv

it’s beautiful….watch out, sounds like you are going to get hooked on lace!
on September 20, 2009 at 9:06 pm | Reply jillian

Wow – those are both so beautiful! You should be proud. I think that’s the best Ishbel I’ve seen, the drape in sheen in KSH, plus the large size, is really gorgeous.
on September 21, 2009 at 2:42 am | Reply Salihan

Spectacular! You’ve done an absolutely amazing job!
on September 24, 2009 at 2:07 am | Reply del

Oh, how gorgeous! You should be proud! Just think, you can wrap yourself in this deliciousness all fall and winter. GREAT job!
- on September 26, 2009 at 8:40 am | Reply nettie
  
  Hey gurl!!! Lol It’s been quite a while for both of us, eh? If you notice, I also breezed past the explanations and got straight to the FO’s.
  
  If I would have replied to this email before starting (and finishing) The Kite Runner, I would have included all manner of petty whining. But, the book was just the slap in the face I needed to get off my woe-is-me horse and back to reality.
  
  That was a tough read. I’ve just finished it and I’m wondering how I’m going to go to sleep with it on my mind…
  
  But, anyway. How how have you been? Learning new skills like crochet I can tell from your blog posts ;0)
  
  I’ve only learned new ways to procrastinate since we last ’spoke’ and those are really uninteresting to say the least. I am enjoying work, though one of my coworkers is working my last nerve…
  
  What’s good with you?
on September 28, 2009 at 5:52 pm | Reply Oiyi

They are both beautiful! Of course, you should be proud. I am glad that you didn’t give up. So, which one are you wearing to Rhinebeck?

I kept reading on Ravelry that a lot of people had problems with the stitch count with Ishbel. You were not alone. But when I did it, I really didn’t have any problems. Maybe it’s because I made sure I used stitch markers and I was paranoid about making a mistake. I am not really into lace knitting, but these small projects has made me realize how beautiful they can be.
on October 3, 2009 at 10:09 pm | Reply Tasha

I love it! I still haven’t tried lace knitting (a little chicken). But both of your shawls are gorgeous. And as always, you inspire me to not be so chicken and start knitting some lace!
- on October 11, 2009 at 6:58 pm | Reply nettie
  
  Thanks so much!! I have been trying so many projects, both knitting and sewing, that I would never have tried a while ago. Just jump in!! Worse case, rip and reknit into something you KNOW you can make ;0)
on October 7, 2009 at 3:34 am | Reply mauri

that is gorgeous!
I just stumbled on your site while looking at a blogger (philigry) that is working on your felicity hat.

This is a beautiful shawl. It makes me kind of wish I had time on a subway!
on October 8, 2009 at 11:13 am | Reply rima aranha

Both your shawls turned out so great! I love the colors…

Rima
http://www.yarnydays.com
on October 8, 2009 at 9:39 pm | Reply wendy

ohhhhh, that is so pretty. the detail and the kidsilk edging, so beautiful!
on October 13, 2009 at 10:46 am | Reply Anna W

Perseverance and patience pays off… it’s a beautiful shawl!