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
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