At Last

Yarn: Jade Sapphire Lacey Lamb in Color #002
Needles: Size 2
Pattern: Ingrid's Bridal Knot from A Gathering of Lace
Dimensions: Approximately 88" across
Started February 2007, Finished August 10, 2007
Modifications: Left out the last 14 rows of the second border because I didn't really care for the hearts (and the shawl was already heading on epic proportions)
Here's the finished shawl unblocked, I was so glad to finally be done with it! Nothing like finishing at the last moment - I finished weaving in the ends at midnight on Friday.










I was somewhat concerned about where I'd be able to block out that much shawl, but luckily my parent's are in the middle of converting an old church into a house, so the sanctuary is being used for storage right now, so I just had to rearrange and I had lots of floor space








I did run out of yarn on the last border and the new yarn I got appeared to be a color match...at least until it got wet. Since I don't anticipate it getting wet all that often, I'm not concerned.










For whatever reason, I felt the need to do the Artsy Blog Shot, and I really like how it turned out.











Blocked and hanging on a bench at Natureland.













Back view of the shawl (and Siobhan)
























This is my favorite picture of the shawl. Siobhan was such a good sport to get her picture taken wearing it since it was so hot outside!






















Ingrid's Bridal Knot wasn't a hard knit at all, it just got harder to work on as time went along. While the center panel's lace didn't repeat, it was laid out logically and after a while it was almost intuitive, which made it go pretty quickly. I also appreciated the book's suggestion to carry a smooth yarn along the edges so that it was easier to pick up stitches when I started the first border. I had a little trouble getting the first border going - I was so used to working garter flat that I kept wanting to knit stockinette once it was in the round. I really didn't like the look of the hearts in the original pattern, so I was going back and forth about if I wanted to just follow the pattern or if I wanted to omit them. I ended up deciding to omit them since I was worrying about the amount of yarn I had left. The last border was a nice, easy, fairly quick knit, but the sudden realization that there were 2,176 rows of grafted on border made it seem like it was going to never end! Add to that forgetting the book when I went down for the shower and running out of yarn, I didn't think I was going to finish on time - and I almost didn't. The ends were woven in by midnight on Friday and I blocked the shawl on Saturday morning. Luckily it was quite warm out, so the shawl dried quickly and Kent could unpin it while I got everything else ready. Final finish time - about 12:30 pm on Saturday...Siobhan's wedding - 3p on Saturday.

Done!!!!!!

Ingrid's Bridal Knot is currently soaking in the sink! I finished working in the ends at midnight, now I just need to block it out!

The never ending shawl

Great, now I have The Never Ending Story song stuck in my head.

I am over halfway done with the last border and it looks like I didn't order quite enough yarn, so I had to order another ball. I figure it's just safer that way - on the off chance I don't need it, I can use it for something else.

It's somewhat sad that I'm looking forward to the nice, mindless stockinette of Kent's sweater.

Hopefully pictures soon, but I'm making myself wait until the shawl is off the needles before I take any pictures. I need to finish up soon so that I can block it at work next Tuesday.

At Last

Here's a little update on Ingrid's Bridal Knot Shawl. After a month long break, I"m back to working on it and I'm finally on the decrease section!

Close up of the center motif:

Here's 348 rows:

Picture Pages Picture Pages Time to Get Your Picture Pages

Hooray for freshlly charged batteries!!


Two hundred twenty nine rows done - with CD for scale.


The only way I can get it all into one shot is to stand above it, which casts a shadow.

I love the way this is turning out.

I had another close up I really liked, but it was a tad blurry.

I think I'm hitting the point where I'm losing a bit of steam. I've only gotten about 20 rows done in the past week. I should start taking it into work again, but in typical Shaughna fashion, I have four other projects going.

I've decided that I am insane. I'm using the Habu yarn double stranded to make myself a summer top - on size 0s. I currently have half an inch done.

I've been feeling pretty inspired lately

I found a great pattern for making your own petticoat that actually looks more like a hippie skirt. I absolutely love it and want to make a whole bunch to wear to work once it gets warm out. They are so cute and I can use up a bunch of fabric that's just sitting in the spare bedroom. Unfortunately, I don't have any tops that would look cute with that style of skirts, so I think it's time to jump into the world of designing my own patterns. I figure the worst that happens is I end up not liking it and I'm out the yarn - not the biggest deal in the world.

I have to go and get new needles. I may be taking a bit of a break from the shawl, but the obsession with tiny needles continues....time to pick up 40" circulars in sizes 0 and 1.

Ingrid's Bridal Knot Shawl update:
Almost half way through the center portion. I will have completed half of the knotwork section in a month, putting me two weeks ahead of my self-imposed schedule! Hooray for permission to slack (or continue at a really good pace and finish before June)

Sadly, no pictures this time

I really need to find what I did with the battery charger. Until then (or until I buy new batteries), I can't take pictures :(

I'm currently on row 220 of Ingrid's Bridal Knot, plus I'm working on something for a craftster swap. I have to run to Fond Du Lac to see if they have one more skein of the color I'm using, otherwise I have to buy it on ebay.

Last Sunday, Iris had a trunk show with Takako Ueki from Habu Textiles. I actually managed to be awake at normal people time and got up there to see it. I am so in love with there yarn. I have two cones of the spiral slub that will eventually become something pretty. The sample items were amazining - sadly very little that would be flattering on my frame without some serious reworking. I was chit-chatting with Phyllis and she may have me knit a sample of one of the items for the store. I've got my fingers crossed for the Angola Cotton Pullover in the hopes that it wouldn't be too hard to resize to fit my top.

Busy Busy Busy

First things first, here's the progress on Ingrid's Bridal Knot. I'm about a quarter of a way through the center part. Here's 130 rows worth of work:

And I needed to take a break from knitting, so I spun up a little skein of yarn. It's about 130 yards.
I've decided that when we do our taxes I'm getting a spinning wheel. I think this might be the one. It's so pretty!

Pretty, pretty yarn

I love the fact that my yarn came in a box. This way it can remain hidden from the cats.

Ingrid's Bridal Knot Shawl

The yarn is finally in, it's time to begin Ingrid's Bridal Knot Shawl from A Gathering of Lace (also known as the you win at knitting shawl). I've got 4 balls of Lacey Lamb waiting for me and 7 months to get it done!