Saturday, November 28, 2009

Monster shawl

This morning's conversation...

Me:      I'm going to take some photos of my shawl.
Bill:      I can take them -- you go to the very end of the garden, and I'll stand at the back door and see if I can fit it all in.



Pattern: Lightweight Mountain Peaks Shawl
Yarn: 2.4 skeins (1,050 yds) Misti Alpaca 2-Ply Lace (colour: 0790)
Needle: 3.25mm Addi Lace

I feel a real sense of accomplishment with this project. The pattern was a challenge, with two elements I'd never done before: lace patterning on both RS and WS rows, and a knitted-on side-to-side border. I think it's my most difficult project to date. As I was blocking it I was a little scared by the size, but the second I draped it around my shoulders, I was in love.

The reason for its hugeness (compared with the photo of the original shawl in the Mimknits pattern) is that I used laceweight yarn with a cobweb-weight pattern. (So typical of me: I meant to buy the laceweight Mountain Peaks pattern but made a mistake, and I was too cheap to just suck up that $6.50, so I just went ahead with the pattern I'd bought.)

Because I used a heavier yarn and, thus, a bigger needle, I ran out of yarn at the halfway point of the border. I turned to Ravelry for help, and it didn't let me down; Raveler luGirl very generously dug into her own stash and sent me a skein of yarn from the same dye lot so I could finish. (Oh, how I love knitters.)


I still love all those small shawls I listed in my last post, but I want to marry this giant shawl. I also want to keep knitting challenging lace. It's very satisfying.

44 comments:

Chris said...

Wow is that gorgeous! What an impressive shawl! I love the colour.

Anonymous said...

May I be the first to congratulate you on this magnificent shawl. Well done!

Zibu said...

This shawl is simply stunning! And I love how huge it is - much prefer it to the original photo you linked. Partly because I'm feeling a little cold right now and the small shawl makes me feel colder just to look at it!

Congrats on finishing this beauty!

melissa said...

oh wow. this is gorgeous.

shannon said...

it is just breath taking!!

knithound brooklyn said...

This is stunning! Congratulations on this knitting achievement!

Montreal Mama said...

It may be huge but it's GORGEOUS!

How are you doing hun! Long time no see! Maybe we can catch up sometime soon?

Yarndude said...

It's beautiful, and very impressive!

rachel said...

That is a HUGE amount of knitting! way to go.

Robin said...

Beautiful!! I love the colour and the size. What a lot of work you put into your gorgeous shawl. Where do you think you will wear it?

Melinda said...

No wonder you're in love with it!:)

jane said...

That is an absolute masterpiece! Your version is just stunning, I think using the laceweight in the cobwebweight pattern has worked beautifully.
I feel quite inspired to tackle some really challenging lace now :)

Susan said...

It's stunning! Lovely shawl!

Anonymous said...

You are a lace fiend! It's lovely.

Anonymous said...

It's absolutely gorgeous. You can be pride of yourself!!!

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Airy, intricate, everything lace should be :)

Bethany said...

Wow! It's absolutely gorgeous. Now my fingers are itching for lacework...

yoel said...

Beautiful! It's a huge accomplishment to make a "true" (patterned on WS and RS) lace shawl!

Knitting Linguist said...

Gorgeous! I love the way that turned out, and the size is perfect. And yes, isn't challenging last a total blast? Methinks it's time to cast on...

Rachael Herron said...

want want want want want.
That is insanely gorgeous. xo

Gaile said...

incredibly beautiful shawl!! What an accomplishment!

Teri said...

Beautiful!!!

Mari said...

Your shawl looks amazing! Nice colour, too.

Jenileo said...

That is so beautiful! How much pride do you have wearing it? I bet you can't stop smiling. :)

Anonymous said...

you must be so proud! it's breathtaking

Tine said...

quelle patience mais l'ouvrage est d'une fine dentelle extraordinaire

Seanna Lea said...

Gorgeous. I have done a simple knitted on border, but still haven't tackled lace patterned on both sides. Would you say that even with the patterning it was within the realm of TV knitting?

Knittripps said...

Your shawl is amazingly beautiful. It must be great to wrap something so beautiful completely around you! You should be very proud.

shannyb70 said...

Hooray to you for taking on some new challenges with technique! This looks so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

emilyelizabeth said...

Your shawl is beautiful! It's such a lovely color :)

Darsana said...

Beautiful shawl! I'm amused that your last post got the rest of us focused on small shawls and then you bust out this big baby!

La Cabeza Grande said...

Gorgeous gossamer wings! What a beautiful, complementary colour for you, as well.

Lisa said...

Just beautiful : )

Cambria said...

wow! Now I know what to do so I, too, can have a giant shawl, lol. It's just beautiful and I'm so glad that a wonderful knitter found what you needed so that you could finish it. I also love knitters :)

nina said...

oh that's achingly gorgeous.

Tracy said...

That is spectacular. Have you ever tried to make lace? I would imagine that your pattern would allow you to do that on a smaller scale... really wonderful meticulous work. I'm jealous. Wear it well and enjoy it.

SockPixie said...

Really beautiful.

Jen (pieKnits) said...

Wow. That truly is an amazing accomplishment! Gorgeousness!

Barbara Karlsson said...

Hi!
I have an award for you on my blog!
Barbara

Romi said...

Stunning!

millie said...

Where are you Brainy? - miss all your wonderful blog posts.

Anonymous said...

We miss you!!

Anonymous said...

Love the shawl but when are you coming back?

Anonymous said...

Hey, we miss you! Please come back.