At last I can tell you about my secret project. It's been so hard keeping quiet about this for so long, so it's quite a relief to finally be able to show it to you.
Back in April/May time, Tara at RainCity Fiber Arts asked me if I could design a piece featuring her yarn to celebrate the 6th anniversary of our local yarn store (Country Yarns in Snohomish, WA.) I was really honoured to be asked and as I'd been exploring lace shawls, we decided that a shawlette would be a great item to showcase her beautiful sock yarns.
I set to work knitting a prototype and making copious notes. Deadlines for shop samples and photos were put in place and I started to create the charts in Excel and write up the written pattern in Word.
It was at this point that I became ill. Great timing eh?!
Fortunately, I was well enough to knit, so I cast on for the shop sample in RainCity Fiber Arts Vashon Sock 4ply. It's a blend of 50% SW Merino and 50% Silk, which gives the finished piece a wonderful sheen and drape. I fell in love with the turquoise colour too!
As I knit, I worked out the final kinks in the pattern and somehow managed to finish my charts, written pattern and sample by July 1st. By this point my health was not good. I'd had some severe reactions to the supplements that I was on and the Mono was raging. I realised that the only way that I could meet the rest of my obligations on this project was to subcontract out the tech editing and pdf creation.
Fortunately for me, Tandy Imhoff of Smart Cat Studios was able to take over at this point. Most of the work was done and so, as I lay in bed to allow my body to fight the virus, Tandy turned my work into the final pdf pattern. Once it was completed with Lori Matthiesens' excellent photos, I could hardly believe that I had created this gorgeous shawlette!
On the 13th August Country Yarns had its 6th Anniversary celebration and the commemorative shawlette was unveiled. Hard copies can be purchased from the store and it's also now available in pdf format on Ravelry.
Photos: Lori Matthiesen
Photos: Lori Matthiesen
That's a beautiful knit, Jane. The turquoise is pretty but think for fall I'd feel even warmer in that orange color. Well done for fighting through all the roadblocks that life sent your way.
ReplyDeleteIt's very beautiful! Kudos to you for getting through it during your illness.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shawlette! I love Rain City Fiber Arts. Picked some up at Serial Knitters a few months ago. Hope you are on the mend and over illnesses. Wishing you good health.
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely stunning. I'm amazed at what you managed to accomplish while feeling so poorly. I hope you're feeling better now.
ReplyDeleteThis is really gorgeous! Knitters can rely on each other when the chips are down. Glad you're feeling better.
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful. Fantastic pattern!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! It is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're starting to feel much better.
Congratulations! Wonderful shawl!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shawlette.
ReplyDelete