Nothing but Knit

Because I’m facing a small glut of work, this is a working weekend.  I’m not nearly as disappointed as I often am when I face back-to-back seven-day weeks, because the first project I have to complete is the knitting book.  So on Saturday, I devoted my usual work hours to that book, and blocked my Seraphim shawl during my lunch break.

We got walloped by the biggest storm of the season, which DH says is my fault. I wasn’t even tempted to go anywhere because the roads were so hazardous.  DH insists on keeping our shovels next to our front door.  We keep them there until late-May, just so he is certain that it won’t snow again until the following winter.  Well, Wednesday was about 70°, and I actually thought that we might take the shovels in a little before May (say, in the next week or two?).  The snow gods must have been reading my mind, or so DH believes, and we are now emerging from a foot of the stuff.

For that reason, I’m not modeling my shawl outdoors.  Snow is everywhere, and it is freezing Here is Seraphim draped over the staircase rail:

And here is a closeup.

The good: I really enjoyed this pattern.  I’m not a tremendously experienced shawl knitter, and this pattern gave me the chance to try out combined knitting with lace—so I now have confidence to do others with large stockinette areas that way also.  I’ve used up some stash yarn!  I have my first (on time) FO for Project Spectrum, and my first project for the Lace Shawl KAL.

The surprises:  I thought the yarn would be different than it turned out to be.  It was 15% kid mohair and 85% wool, and I expected more of a fuzziness and sheen than I got.  It is also larger than I expected (42 inches from the neck down, instead of 36 inches—and I cut a repeat).  This long shawl is more dramatic than most of my garments, and I rather like it this way.  I plan to wear it with silk slacks, which match it exactly, and I think I will look rather elegant. (I’ll take a photo sometime later on in the spring, and you can be the judge.) I had no idea it would expand so much after blocking, and I did make a swatch. I had better swatch more carefully the next time.   

So, all in all, I’m pleased with the result, and it is now time to turn to my sweaters.

DH’s sweater is officially on the needles.  Despite wanting to use a tubular cast-on, I substituted a long-tail instead.  After some ripping, I became very skilled at the tubular cast-on, but it was just too stretchy for this sweater and yarn.  The ribbed border will be about 10 inches below DH’s waist, and I think it needs some “natural” structure to keep it from expanding.  Montse Stanley suggests using the long-tail cast-on on the wrong side, which I’ve been doing for some years, and I think it produces a nice edge, even if it is not quite as elegant as the tubular cast-on.

I’m going to try TECHknitter’s advice (March 9 entry) on switching from the last rib row to the first pattern row tonight.

Also on the needles is my entrelac sweater.  The base triangles are done, but they’re not very photogenic.

So this weekend, it has been nothing but knitting—and that is great.

 

Comments

[TECHknitter]

*B*E*A*U*T*I*F*U*L*

That shawl is beautiful. Congratulations, Marjorie. Good luck with that ribbing.

[Dorothy]

Seraphim is lovely! Can't wait to see the model shots. I do, however, think it is very mean of you to dangle the idea of going to work and actually editing knitting books in front of the rest of us poor slobs. Now I have to drag myself off to work to a job that doesn't even remotely have a connection to knitting. Sigh!

[Robin]

The shawl is gorgeous! I would never guess that you aren't that experienced in that type of knitting.

[Caren Pelletier]

Seraphim looks fabulous! It's definitely on my todo list. :-)

[Lorette]

Lovely shawl! I have yarn on the way for that one, in a bright red. I can't wait to see the modeling shots!

[tasha.]

Your shawl is gorgeous! I am always impressed when I see lace work knitted up. I have only attempted one scarf, which I got bored with about halfway through. Not that this is anything new to me, nor specific to lace, but it does mean I haven't ever finished a lace project. So I admire other people's beatiful lace. :)

[anne]

oooh the shawl is pretty!