we have a color

Posted on Posted in designing, lace/shawls, projects, yarn and dyeing

the catalogs get craftier every year don’t they? i mean, how cool are these dolls?
better not to look; i don’t need a doll.

thanks for all the great feedback on my new project—it is humming along and inches are being added.the yarn is amazingly soft and lovely to work with; i’m in heaven.
and we have a name on the colorway now; tina emailed to say that the name of the color is Thraven. the yarns will go on sale november 5th at the blue moon fiber arts site.

though i do not have a good idea yet of exactly how many yards will be needed for this shawl, the skeins of laci are HUGE, so one will be plenty.

again, i need to clarify that this colorway is difficult to photograph, so even though i can show tons of pictures in all different light to communicate that, probably not any one picture will totally translate the rich, deep beauty of the yarn. this was confirmed when i brought the swatches to class the other day and everyone was amazed at what it looks like in person. definitely richer and more vibrant.

the pattern of course will not be ready for a little while, but i’m working on it.
actually, i have quite a bit done on that; i have my charts in good shape now, i believe. i’ve been working from them and correcting as i go. the next stage is to start putting all that on paper and adding the row instructions (that’s the hard part) to make it a full pattern. then it is off to the test knitters so it can be scrutinized, worked with fresh eyes, picked apart, and corrected some more.

this is my first foray into using a faroese shape. by consulting myrna stahman’s wonderful resource, Shawls and Scarves, i came up with a strategy for starting at the neck and working through the shoulder shaping which is the defining feature of this type of shawl. i like getting the complicated worked out first, since it sometimes requires ripping back and that’s so much easier to stomach when its small.

the neckband and start of the piece went off without a hitch. i worked all the way through my plan for the shoulder area and had started the main body stitch when i decided that i would like to see a little more of the large feather motif at the shoulder drop.

i waffled a bit and then took it off the needles to take a look at it on my dress form. keeping in mind that the piece was not blocked yet, i got a little concerned that the shoulder was going to be too long—it was already over the edge of the shoulder a bit and i knew it would grow (BTW, my dress form is a couple of sizes larger than i am, so i am not sizing this piece according to my own teensy yoke) . since i had to basically guess at the number of increases to put i that area, i was prepared to change it if needed.

here’s a front view for those who might not be familiar with the fit of a faroese shawl

the addition of a back panel and the shaping in these shawls creates a sweater-like fit at the shoulders which keeps them in place a little better. the shaping stops at the top of the arm and the sides have the usual right-triangle shaping from there, which causes the fabric to fall from the shoulder in a straighter line. the effect is more cape-like than a triangle shawl.

on close examination, i could see some extra fullness around the yoke confirming that there might be too many increases. one of the things i don’t like about some of the faroese shawls i see is their overly voluminous folds—to me this can translate as a bit heavy or dowdy. i am looking for a slimmer, more modern shape (though still plenty wide to go around and drape nicely). i always admired the slim, shoulder to ankle S-shape in clothing from the turn of the century, and i’m hoping that this piece has that same body-skimming effect. not tight or constricting of course, but not balloon-like either.

so i decided that since i had to rip back, i would make two changes—a shorter shoulder with less increases, and the addition of another pattern repeat of the larger feathers.
everything is back on track now and i’m past that point.

i don’t know when i’ll have another off-the-needles shot, but i know i will want to keep an eye on this whole shaping thing so maybe in a few days when i change to my larger needle.

meanwhile, as i work i have been thinking about a name for this piece. i am considering all sorts of angles—celtic names from jo, scientific names from lauren (blogless i think), and of course, our friend debbie in maine has been hard at work, researching and finding lots of fertile material in legends from native american culture.

so many choices! good thing we will have two versions to name.

i’m also contemplating yarn as i work. with my cluaranach off the needles and ready to be blocked (i’ll show it to you over the weekend), my late-night knitting can be devoted to new projects.

tomorrow we’ll have a run-down on some new yarns that have been sent my way for testing and designing, and projects i’m projecting for them. sigh . . of course i want to do all of them right now.

maybe i should start a knitting colony on that third floor when it’s done . . .

36 thoughts on “we have a color

  1. Anne- OOOOH- I do hope you have the pattern ready soon (not to pressure you- oh no) but when I get my greedy paws on that divine yarn- I’ll need a pattern to do it justice.

    So, can anyone sort of join the colony?

  2. Gorgeous! Any guidance on how many yards of laceweight to buy for the Faroese version and and straight version? Thanks.

  3. Knitting colony!! Oh wait, I live in Oregon.

    It seems to me that you have been getting steadily busier. I wonder how you get it all done. Some nights when I am working late, I notice that you will put up a blog post and I smile knowing that you are working into the early hours of the morning (you are a couple hours ahead of me).

    Aren’t you teaching a workshop out here on the west coast next year?

  4. A knitting colony? Really? Is there an application process? 😉 I am loving the way this pattern is turning out…I wonder if I should order the yarn from Blue Moon on Sunday so I can pet it while I wait? Hmmm…

  5. Amazing! simply Amazing! I have been looking for blue or black yarn and a shawl in this color family… So you know i am waiting with bated breath:)

  6. Oh Anne, how can you continue to torture us like this!?! Another amazing pattern and here I sit with only 24 hour days! That neck edging, my dear, is perfection!

  7. Really I just can’t wait! Even though it’s good that you’re not ready for me this weekend b/c we are prepping our house to sell it & all sorts of stuff needs to be done, but I would much rather knit lace!

  8. The shawl is looking great. I agree with your opinion on the shape, slimmer line but still big enough to go around the body sounds perfect. A knitting colony, grat plan! Count me in!

  9. Yippee! I get to buy more yarn! Another pattern! Another package to look forward to! Sigh. . .I’m exhausted!!!! You are so talented, oh, great mentor. I love how you take us through each stage of design. Many people might think you just pop out one design after another, like babies! HA! NO! Hours of contemplation, research, swatching, designing. . . a huge undertaking, but it has to be so satisfying. I love the yarn. I just looked at the yardage–over 1,000 yard! Woohoo! Get on with it!

  10. HEY ANNE- LET ME KNOW IF YOU DECIEDE ON A KNITTING COLONY ON YOUR UPPER FLOOR- WHAT MORE COULD i ASK FOR, FELLOW KNITTERS , CREATIVITY ,LOTS OF YARN – DOES YOUR UPPER FLOOR HAVE LOTS OF LIGHT ? – A MUST FOR KNITTING ,AND CREATING – LOTS OF EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS

    PAT J

  11. hm…i’m not familiar with the faroese shawl. if there’s shoulder shaping to keep it on the shoulders – does that mean that the shawl design is complicated by the fact that different people have different sized shoulders? or is the shawl constructed in such a fashion that a general size will work for most people?

  12. I wonder if there are any native american names for ravens that you might consider to name the shawl.
    It’s looking very lovely btw – nice blend of yarn and pattern.

  13. How big is that third floor going to be? Maybe you should plan it a bit bigger, because there is obviously a lot of interest for your knitting colony! I’d sign up in a heartbeat! But seriously, I had been thinking about cohousing projects, and that gives me some great ideas…

  14. You have more patience than anyone I know. I don’t think I can keep rip back so many time to start over. I would have given up after the third time. I can’t wait to see the completed project!!!

  15. Every time that you said rip I cringed. It is looking so pretty. It is going to be yet another beautiful piece of art.

  16. Such a lovely shawl forming in front of our eyes! Hmm. Since Oregon is such a part of this and Blue Moon is in Oregon, maybe a Tillamook Salish word for Raven would be appropriate, especially since Raven is a part of their myths surrounding the formation of the world instead of being trickster like in many of the other tales, and we’re watching this shawl in it’s formation process.

  17. Why not name it after the ravens of Odin? Hugin and Munin from the mythologi of the vikings. I quote from my book on the subject (translated from Danish)
    “The ravens were often used as a symbol for the god (Odin). It was told that the god owned two ravens that he send out wide and far in the world, so that they could bring him tidings. Their names were Hugin and Munin, which means Thought and Memory. They maybe symbolises the sending of his spirit to other worlds. The sighting of a raven was considered a good sign for the followers of Odin, and there are tales of banners with ravens on, that had magic powers and gave luck and victory during battle” (from Nordic Mythology by H.R.Ellis Davidson)

    My favorit bird has for a long time been the raven. Not the least because of Hugin andn Munin, which I heard about in the tales that my father read to me. But also because I’ve seen them in Greenland where they are beautiful and playful and so at home!

    I think, that your shawl will be the first experience for me with you beautiful patterns and with blue moons yarn! (that is to say, I won’t be able to resist!!!)

  18. .. hmm I just had an extra thought! The reason that the shawl is, is that you Thought it up and used Memory (yours and others) in form of stitch patterns. It is also because of the Memory of the yarn, that will remember the shapes it is given in the shawl…

    … ok, I’m lobbying here, I know 😉

  19. Ok, last comment on this post… promise
    It is a faroese shawl (in construction anyway) thus I think a name from the Nordic mythology migth be more fitting than one from the American…
    (by the way, many traditional faroese shawls are also worked from the lowest edge, with many many many stitches, and then up towards the neck)

    … I lived on Faroe Islands when I was a child.

  20. Hi!!! Can’t tell you how excited about your new shawl pattern. Can’t wait to get it. As a good Scottish lass, maiden name Livingston, kin to Dr. of same name and the keeper of Stirling Castle, I feel a need to start it soon. It is soooooo lovely. What yarn would you suggest if I can’t get your exact yarn? Is there a good Laci you would reccommend? Love STR yarns. I also appreciate your small lesson on designing. I would love to design some shawls and stoles but I feel my knitting sucks big time. Whenever I try to knit a pattern of my own, I am so disappointed I nearly stop knitting for good. But yours are wicked good. Love them.
    Ann Carpenter in Dallas, Texas

  21. OK, this may be off topic, but I wanted to say that I received my Cluaranach kit yesterday, and Wow! I admit that when I first saw the yarn, I was a bit disappointed. I’m not used to working with a single ply yarn, and it seemed a little odd to me. I wasn’t certain I’d like it. Then I knit my swatch. I’m in love!!!! The yarn knits up beautifully, it’s so soft and snuggly, I practically dreamed about it. So now I’ll know: just trust Anne’s judgment!

  22. Always an enjoyable read, how your process goes. I appreciate the fact it’s alot!! of work! I’ve enjoyed reading thru your patterns I’ve bought – this one promises to be a very good read. Off to set my alarm for the 5th 🙂
    ps-looking forward to more of your collaborations!

  23. No, please, take your time. My queue is too long already! Oh, and if the new STR club yarn is any indication, the Raven yarns will be beauties.

  24. Okay–Here comes another question from a new LACE knitter–Did you put a lifeline in before you took it off the needles? If not, how in the world did you get it back on? I’d have had to rip the whole thing out and start over!

  25. (sigh)
    I think I remember that you’re allergic to cats…so I can’t come to the knitting colony, as I can’t move anywhere without The Meezer…

    But I’m sooooo gonna get some of that Thraven and I’m sooooo going to stalk your site till that pattern is available…

    Oh. Wait! I ALREADY stalk your site, don’t I?
    lololol
    (((Hugs)))

  26. The shawl is looking lovely so far. Can’t wait to see the finished product. 🙂

    Judging from the pictures of the yarn near your needles, I’m guessing this is a true laceweight. Is it? I ask because I’ve heard that BMFA’s silk thread is just that–thread, and they list both the Laci and the Silk thread as laceweight. So what do you think? Thanks!

  27. This shawl is going to be so fabulous! Not sure which version I’m going to want to knit most.

    For names, you could consider “quork” which is about the best English word I’ve seen to simulate the sound a raven makes. Or consider pulling something from Alaskan Native culture where the raven is both a trickster and the bringer of light (he steals the sun, moon and stars from the chief and puts them in the sky for all). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_%28mythology%29

    Oh, and because I’m not smart enough to stay away from cool looking catalogs — what catalog is that anyway?

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