Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark
Needle: US5
Yarn: Knitpicks Shadow Hot Rod
It's finished! Yes, here it is my Swallowtail Shawl designed by Evelyn Clark and knitted by me!
This was my first ever laceweight project. I've made a few lace items in heavier weight yarns before, but never braved laceweight......until now. It's strange that it's taken me so long. I've always been attracted to the finer yarns and have several in my stash, but I've never actually embarked upon a project with one. It has been suggested that I was rather brave, foolhardy even, to attempt such an intricate design straight off the bat. I mean, nupps people! Nupps of all things.........fancy beginning with those!
I think you'll agree that it was worth it though. I feel like I knocked this one out of the ballpark.
I cannot begin to describe to you the total shock and awe I felt when I washed the finished 'lacy-mess' and dressed it (this is what they used to call blocking.) I really had no idea that I'd created something quite so beautiful until I laid it out on the blocking boards and started to pin.
It was an incredible moment.
The high I got was better than a chocolate induced sugar rush!
Naturally I invited the entire family to come and appreciate my handiwork, which they dutifully did. Each one seemed as shocked as I was and wouldn't have believed that I'd made the shawl by my own fair hand if they hadn't seen me doing so.
I'm on cloud 9.
My wonderful knitting Guild was equally as impressed when I shared the project with my fellow knitters at our monthly meeting on Tuesday. I don't enjoy putting myself out there, but after plenty of encouragement, I dared to share and was rewarded with enthusiastic applause.
Thank you all. You made my day.
Ofcourse I am now eager for a repeat of the sugar rush high and have cast on for yet another lace project. I have never really experienced such a sense of achievement at the end of a project as I did with this one and I'm keen to do it all over again. I'm giving my fingers a break from the laceweight though and have gone for a luxury sport weight yarn this time.
Have you loved a project so much that you didn't want it to end? Which one has been your favourite? Do you get a greater kick from colourwork, cables or lace or does it just depend on what mood you're in? Do share, I'd love to know.
For more Friday FO's, check out Tami's Amis and Fiber Arts Friday.
Jane, it's absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rudee. I'm totally thrilled!
ReplyDeleteIt's glorious! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteFabulous! Nupps and all. It is so amazing how lace emerges from the cocoon of stitches. It even looks like a butterfly.
ReplyDeleteI get that rush from cables as well as lace. But cables maybe a bit more.
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI just get a rush out of knitting!! :)
Wow, it's breathtaking. You should be thrilled with it! Blocking is amazing, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYes, the wonders of blocking. :) That turned out incredibly lovely!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love how blocking just magically transforms lace from clump to awesome. Lace is my favorite kind of knitting -- my Traveling Woman shawlette was the first project I was sad about finishing, that's what got me started in the lace addiction.
ReplyDeleteBetter than chocolate? Oh, my! It's beautiful, and I salute you for both the laceweight, and for the nupps. Well done!
ReplyDeleteYour swallowtail shawl is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYou most definitely knocked this one out of the park :-D
ReplyDeleteWow! It's just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing your first laceweight project. :-)
Awesome, Fabulous, Stunning..... what an achievement! I'm clap, clap, clapping for you. After this, I'm sure you will be sharing more with your knitting guild.
ReplyDeleteHappy Fiber Arts Friday.
I think you were still on a chocolate high at guild ~ you were giddy :)
ReplyDeleteyou should be proud ~ this was a Grand Slam Homer! can't wait to see what you finish next
and thanks for sharing the word 'dressing' ~ I like that so much better than 'blocking'
Melissa
So do I Melissa. It's such an elegant term - "dressing." Goes well with lace.
ReplyDeleteJane, it's beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou're rightly proud.
Are you going to wear it yourself, or is it a gift for someone? I'd be tempted to hang it on the wall to show off.
Cables give me that "high", especially really intricate ones. Though I must admit to haveing got a high from the finished socks, posting (i hope) tomorrow on them.
Simple pleasures, way better than drugs!
It is truly beautiful. I'm drawn to lace-weight yarn too, but what scares me about lace is the chance is what to do about mistakes. You can't just unravel!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you used those new "blocking block" from Knit Picks. Do you like them. I always have wanted a blocking board, but they're so expensive.
I've been using the Knitpicks blocks for the past couple of years and they're great. What I like about them is that they can be broken down into a small box for storage. I also don't have to get out a huge board if I'm just blocking a small piece.
ReplyDeleteVery awesomely gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteYou knitted an amazing shawl. I love it! You should be on Cloud 9! Yes, I have a pattern/project that I enjoy so much I've knitted it a few times. It's the KellyJ at Your Local Yarn Shop Key to Warmth Cowl. I'm knitting another one right now. I love the pattern because it is perfect to mix my handspun with mill spun.
ReplyDeleteHappy Fiber Arts Friday!
Just beautiful! And it puts a smile on my face just reading about the thrill of blocking it and watching it turn from lace-mess into gorgeous-shawl. I hope your next lace project is just as rewarding!
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely gorgeous - well done you! I never finished the only lace project I started, so I know what it takes to finish one!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful!! I am still unlucky with lace although I'll continue to try it every now and again. Your shawl is gorgeous; glad you shared it!!
ReplyDeleteLovely! Congratulations! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a stunning shawl. I am both amazed and a bit envious. Nupps? Really impressive! As my grandmother would say, Wear it in good health.
ReplyDeleteMy recent Summerflies Shawl was probably my proudest project. But, it doesn't compare with your Swallowtail!