Panache Shawl...Making Progress

I'm somewhere around row 97 of my Panache shawl. I think I have close to 370 stitches on my needles. It sure feels like it. Knitting the lace pattern across one single row is slow going, especially for a slow knitter like me. Still...it's a beautiful shawl and a joy to be knitting such a creation.

Notice how it drapes beautifully in the front?



Like how the side profile is looking.



I'm spending about 2 hours a day on this shawl. Knitting during my lunch break at work and then knitting at home in the evening. Nothing else is getting done (except maybe getting groceries and fixing a quick dinner). Fellow knitters...I think you know the feeling.

Happy Knitting!

Panache Shawl Started

I've started another shawl called Panache. I'm knitting the lace stitches and watching a cool pattern evolve. I'm using LB Cotton-Ease in Berry. A happy color to go with a happy pattern. I'm loving it!





It looks like this will take awhile to knit. There is no chart involved, just line by line instructions. I'm hoping I can get this done in two weeks with a couple of hours of weekend knitting.

Be Still My Shawls

I'm still in a shawl mood. I have a funny feeling that I will be knitting shawls well into June/July. I'm still working on my 400 yards of Cotton-Ease Heaven Shawl. I've decided to knit a 4-1/2 lace repeat pattern. I hope to get it done by the end of this month. I have to. That's my two-month mark/anniversary of working on this baby. Way too long.

So, here's what a 4 lace pattern repeat looks like. I think I left off on row #8. A few more rows, I can start the finishing the edge. I will more than likely nix the lace border pattern from the instructions. That's what I did for my first version. I had a problem lining up the border with my shawl (only because I added an extra lace pattern repeat).



As you can see, it's a beautiful lace pattern knitted in a solid color.




I took my mother to Needles in the Haymarket yarn shop and found another gorgeous shawl to work on. It's called Panache. I saw the finished product in purple and it was just gorgeous! Most of you know, when I say something is gorgeous...well, it just is. The ladies at the yarn shop told me this is an easy shawl to knit. I have to take their word. Can I use the word "gorgeous" again?

So, here I am doing some research on Ravelry for Panache. It looks very intricate, delicate, and feminine. The instructions do look easy. I've added it to the top of my queue. I have no idea what yarn I'll be using...it will most likely be worsted weight. A half circle version of this shawl should take roughly 700 yards of yarn. The 3/4 version would take roughly 900 yards.


I will leave you with a picture of Panache from Ulla's site. Isn't it gorgeous?



BTW...Ravelry has the free English version of this pattern.

Happy Knitting!

Just Some Pics....

Enjoy!

Blocking My 330 Yards of Taiyo Heaven

I finally got around to blocking my shawl. The yarn I used is Noro Taiyo (cotton/silk/wool blend). I added an extra lace repeat pattern. As the shawl is drying, it measures 57"x31". I'm using Knit Picks blocking wires and T-Pins. Great tools to have. I installed the wires on 3 sides of the shawl including the straight edge.



I love how the shawl ended with a black edge.










I'm looking forward to wearing this in the next day or two.

Taking a Break

For the past few weeks, I've been spending a lot of time getting to know my new Nikon D5000 DSLR camera. I found a fantastic deal on a refurbished body. A deal I couldn't pass up. Instead of knitting, I've been re-learning how to take great pictures. Each camera and each model has different qualities. I've finally figured out how to use the 11-focus points on the new camera. My old favorite D40 had only 3-focus points I had to worry about. With this new camera, I'm learning more about aperture, ISO, AF-S, AF-C, etc. So far, I love the results I am getting. Here's the proof....

I did manage to block the heck out of my Colonnade shawl after the light blocking didn't work so well. I soaked it in J&J Baby Shampoo. Gave it a good rinse and rolled it in a towel several times to remove the excess moisture. I noticed the shawl softened quite a bit and has a beautiful drape. Here's a picture of the shawl, taken with my new camera.



I've received a lot of complements on this shawl. It has a light feel to it, but does keep me warm in my chilly office at work.




For the next few weeks, my knitting time will be sparse. More pictures will be taken. More time will be spent at work. I still have to block my Noro Taiyo shawl. I still have two more shawls that are WIPs.

I'll be back soon. Happy Knitting my fellow friends!

Colonnade...Lightly Blocking

I ran into a roadblock with my 250 yards of Taiyo Heaven shawl. The body is finished, but the border is not matching if I follow the instructions. Of course, I've knitted a 3-1/2 pattern repeat versus the 2-1/2 pattern (instructions). So, I will play with this shawl over the weekend and report back a solution to this knitting madness.

If I can't knit, then I can block something. I've pinned my Colonnade Shawl to my blocking mat covered with towels. I sprayed a light mist of water over the shawl and I'm letting it dry into shape.



Hopefully, the rippled edges will even out when dry. I can't wait to wrap this shawl around me. I will be back to post a modeled picture.

Knitting Right Along

That's what I've been doing for the last few weeks. The two shawls are taking a bit longer to knit. Of course, if I hadn't started the 2nd one...I would have finished the first one. What can I say?

Here's my 2nd version in Noro Taiyo yarn:



Here's the 1st version in Noro Silk Garden:



I prefer knitting with the Taiyo yarn since it's a cotton-silk-wool blend. Much softer on the hands. It looks like I will be finishing this version first. I'm avoiding the itch of starting up a third version in a solid color, plus two more. Looks like my plan to begin my Christmas knitting is off to a great start.

Knitting Bliss

As you can see, I've had to limit my time on my computer in order to spend more time knitting. I've finished my Colonnade shawl. It's waiting to be blocked. In the meantime, I've started two more projects.

First up, is my 220 Yards of Heaven Shawlette. I'm using Noro Silk Garden and I have to mention...I love this yarn! The colors are stunning! It's a nice surprise to see something like this develop:



Next, I've started a sleeveless shell in plum color. I'm using one of my favorite yarns, Lion Brand Cotton-Ease. This is my second attempt. I made one last year when I was starting to knit garments. It came out okay. Now that I have a year's worth of knitting experience under my belt, this should knit up faster and look a bit more finished. I am knitting this version in the round (no side seams). This version has a moss stitch border at bottom edge of the shell.



Looks like I'm anticipating and preparing for warmer weather. I am! It's been in the 60s here and I definitely have Spring Fever!

Knitting a Shawl

After taking a short break from knitting (like 4 days) and clearing my head of all the projects I wanted to knit, I've started on the Colonnade Shawl. I had visions of using the Classic Elite Waterlily yarn in rose and blue, but the blue yarn is on backorder. Which means that it may not arrive. I've checked my LYS and no one has this yarn in stock. What a shame. This yarn is a winner and I've read many reviews that it knits up beautifully and washes well.

I've found another yarn to use. It's Plymouth Royal Llama Silk. What a beautiful yarn. The colors are rich and it's soft in my hands. Thankfully, I have one of the colors in my stash...the wine/purple color that I will be using for the contrast color or the open lace pattern. Yesterday, I was visiting my LYS in Haymarket and came across a bright raspberry color which I'm using for the main color.

My gauge is slightly off and so my version of the shawl will be slightly smaller in width. This is fine as I'm a petite person and would prefer not to be lost in a huge shawl. This yarn is worsted weight and I can already tell that the shawl will drape nicely. I've read a few reviews of this yarn and I understand it blooms nicely after the first hand wash and actually gets softer. Nice!

As you can see, I couldn't wait to cast on:




The main Raspberry color used for knitting the base of the shawl


This wine/purple yarn was actually a shrug in the works last year. I ended up frogging the shrug and re-winding the yarn, thinking it could be used for something much nicer. I was right.

The contrast Wine/Purple color will be used for knitting the open lace pattern


Here's a link to the pattern: Colonnade Shawl

Here's some pictures of different ways to wear this shawl:

Colonnade by Stephen West for Knitty.com (photo by Jilian Chapman)


Colonnade by Stephen West for Knitty.com (photo by Jilian Chapman)


So far, this is becoming a quick knit. Of course, I many more rows (increases) to go and I haven't begun the lace pattern. I plan on knitting a few more rows in the main color and possible in the lace pattern. This will be a decision I will make on the fly.

More Snow and in a Knitting Accessory Mood

What a weekend! We had a huge snow storm that dumped close to 2 feet of snow on us. Yes, it was very pretty to watch. Here's what it looked like early Saturday morning from our front door:



Here's what our front walkway looked like by Sunday:



We are expecting another 6-12 inches of snow starting tomorrow. I have to say I'm building up some arm and leg muscles with all the shoveling we've have accomplished so far.

The Knitting Front:

For some reason, the accessory bug has hit me. I've had in my Ravelry queue a really pretty shawl called Colonnade by Stephen West. It starts out with Stockinette stitch and ends with a beautiful simple lace pattern. I plan on using Elite Yarns Waterlily in two colors. I'm toying with the idea of using wedgwood blue and rose. I haven't decided which color will be used for St st and which color will be used for the lace pattern. It will depend on which color looks better near my face. I thought this would be a great seasonal transition accessory to wear from Winter into Spring. Yes, I'm already thinking about warmer weather. ;)