My son (aka “the black hole of need”) came into my room last night to ask me for lunch money and I hissed at him. I was on row 190 of my mystery stole, and like a horse smelling the barn at feeding time, I was undistractable.
Never has a bind off seemed so long. I felt like I lived a whole alternative life while binding off this stole. Cool bind-off, though. Will definitely use it again.
Finally! The Last stitch was bound off and soon the ends were woven in. I soaked the rascal in Eucalan for 15 minutes or so, wrapped him snuggly in a towel, and dragged out my “blocking towel” – a huge beach towel that I like to block on because it is printed with large squares that make blocking easier – as well as blocking wires, pins, yard sticks, etc.
The ugly, though useful, blocking towelFor those of you who like all the details, here is how my stole measured up in the end:
Length: 70.5”
Width: 22.5”
Section #1 length: 40.5”
Wing length: 30”
Wing curve length: 41”
Depth of wing (at midpoint): 26”
Other details:Yarn: Malabrigo “Velvet Grapes” lace weight – a dream to knit. I used 2 skeins, and have approximately 150 yards (15 grams) left. So I used about 790 yards for this stole.
Finished Weight:
Total weight: 114 grams (about 4 ounces)
Yarn weight: 85 grams (3 ounces)
Bead weight: 29 grams (1 ounce)
*I made all of today’s photos clickable for those who want close-up views.
And looking at my MS3 now, I’m pretty tickled. The merino is so soft, and I love the variegations that run throughout. The weight of the beads helps it stay on. I used 2 different kinds of beads, and that combined with the variegated yarn makes the stole feel a little gypsy-ish. Maybe a little more Carmen than Swan Lake, but that’s fine, too. There are definitely mistakes here, but they aren’t bothering me.
Right now I’m sitting in bed wearing the thing. With the air conditioning on. Feeling a wee bit princess-ish, in my luxury stole – even though I haven’t yet changed out of my pajamas or brushed my hair or teeth. Life is good.
Thanks, Melanie! (Times 100, at least. What a good, generous heart she has.)
And for those of you feeling sorry for the kid whose mother hissed at him: Don't. The kid is 16, and is more effective than the IRS at getting money out of the 'rents. Plus he has a job, and has more money in his checking account than I do in mine. (Of course, HE doesn't have a spinning/knitting jones.) And yet I still feel guilty . . . where is that wallet ?
beading close-up, straight section
Beading close-up, wing
Fetching rear view
14 comments:
Hi, I've popped in from the MS3 group... your "Swan" is so beautiful! I particularly like the way you draped it, or should I say "wrapped it". I love how the 'v' pattern looks across the back, with "wing join" in front! It makes the pattern change (which to me seemed a bit abrupt) look like a more cohesive piece of the stole... *very* clever, my dear.
Maria (Boston)
Stunning! Great work!
Hee hee, I paraded around my bedroom in mine for a while, too. With mad hair, unbrushed teeth, and wearing one of my husband's t-shirts. ;)
Your stole turned out fantastic!! Beautiful color!
wow! I love that colour! When I found out there was a wing I though about red [like a cardinal] but this is my first really big lace project so I'll stick to the white, easy to see.
But you have inspired me!
WOW! Love the colour choice, it is a really really beautiful stole. It has given me the push I needed to finish mine. Well done!
Magnificent! Love the color. Now I need some Malabrigo laceweight. I'm drooling.
That is just absolutely gorgeous! The color is beautiful. So lovely. I'm still plugging along on mine, getting much closer to the wing.
Oh my gosh, You did an awesome job. I absolutely love it!!
Most definitely gorgeous! I love the yarn.
Very, very nice!
I hiss at my kids all the time . . . including saying to my 13 year old "DO NOT talk to me while I'm counting." It is similar to when we get on the phone, they immediately NEED to bother us with something inane!
I really do love the colors.
Absolutely beautiful. Love the subtle color variegation.
Your shawl is gorgeous, you did a beautiful knit . Would you might to contact me by email?. I had some questions about the laceweight yarn....and didn't you know all knitters with children are also hissers ! smile.
Your shawl is lovely, I'v finally decided to knit the symmetrical version. Your yarn is gorgeous, What is it?
Kati in Aurora, CO
Beautiful! I just got a chance to touch some Malabrigo lace weight yesterday, some came in at the LYS - yummy yummy yummy. I'm going to make another, with two wings and I think I want to use Malabrigo, it's SO soft, softer than the Misti Alpaca Lace, which is saying something. I also like that it has a little more body, I think that I would have kept the wing using a slightly denser yarn, my join was just too holey and the two parts didn't look good to me, but yours is a different creature all together, it's a stunner.
Congratulations!
I want to drink that color!!
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