more than half . . . less than one

Posted on annePosted in designing, lace/shawls, projects

let’s open with a shot of the fabric’s wrong side . . . mmm, now that’s sexy.

as promised, i took the shawl off the needles first thing this morning to do a little photo shoot. normally i like to be surprised at the end of a project, so i refrain from this type of preliminary look. but i’ve been a bit concerned about the shawl length on this one, and since it’s my first faroese, i decided i needed to take a real good look, measure it, and then obsess over it after getting some useful data.

the size of a faroese shawl is generally determined by the neck-to-hem length at the center back. i decided to go for a larger-sized shawl of 29 inches (i know you like big shawls). 29 is way shorter than my triangle shawls, but with this style, you get a lot more width in ratio to the length.
using my blocked swatches as a guide, i determined how much knitting i would do to achieve that length blocked. it’s all very mathematical and logical.

the tricky part is trusting the process, especially once i get knitting. the knitted motifs are about
30 percent smaller than the blocked ones. yikes.

see how squished and crumpled they are here? they will spread like mad once they are wet, according to my swatches. but right now, they scare me. right now, at 16 inches i tend toward second thoughts about the length. they make me want to add on. but no, i will NOT give in.

after all this is not a faroese shroud—i don’t want anyone drowning in wool here.
it’s supposed to be pretty.

and truly, i think it will be. i have, according to my calculations, six to seven inches more of knitting to add to the length (hello weekend!). that will bring it to hip level. once it’s blocked it will be approximately 25-30 percent longer than that, or at least the depth of that black tape line on the form.

i think it will be ok. i’m going with trust here; trust has served me well so far in most things . . .

couldn’t you just kiss the back of the neck? and here’s a view of the front

as far as the knitting, i am really enjoying it. the rows get long very quickly with this style of shawl, due to the extra increases at the shoulder which provide the shaping.
but the stitches i picked are pretty entertaining without being a drag. all the WS rows are “rest” rows . . that is, there are no YOs or decs on the wrong side, just knits and purls.

i like the choices i made for contrast in the scale of the patterns . . that works really well for me and makes the feverish swatching of so many combinations well worth the effort.

the next section, the last of the shawl body sequence, will be much more open and airy. i like the solid-feeling of the upper sections, but now i am wanting to see something that looks a lot lighter-weight. and after that. the fabulous edging will go on.

ok, ready for the money shot??

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have a good weekend . . i’m off to knit and cook.

93 thoughts on “more than half . . . less than one”

  1. Wow, it’s so beautiful! I wasn’t sure I wanted to knit this one at first, but now…Can’t wait! Really looks like it has wings in the bottom shot

  2. Ok, you had me concerned about the length. You had me worried about what it would look like. Then the shot with you holding a ‘wing’ and the light shining through the lace. My heart missed a beat. Truly I got that flutter in the tummy. You must be thrilled. If it is this stunning now, imagine how great it is going to be when it is finished?! Wish my yarn would dry. Overcast and humid adds up to slow drying.

  3. Oh, it’s almost in flight! It is ready to soar! The yarn really shows the multi’s in the shots. I can’t wait until it’s all finished. You are one fast knitter!

  4. Oh, my goodness. It’s gorgeous. Just like wings. I absolutely love it. I’m sitting on my hands, even, so I won’t pet the screen. Anyone wearing it is going to feel like they can fly. And the colors of the yarn came through beautifully! I ended up getting the colorway Shadow, but now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t have gone with Haida after all – I was so afraid it would pool, and pooling just wouldn’t be feathery, but it’s not pooling at all. I’m going to go look at that last picture again. Yup, still perfect.

  5. That is gorgeous. And it’s going to fit like a dream with that Faroese shaping. I can see that twirling will be mandatory in this shawl.

  6. So beautiful! I know I have at least 3 of your patterns that I have bought and wanted to make right away, but haven’t actually started…I think I might actually get this on the needles as soon as it comes out though. Great Job!!

  8. It’s gorgeous! I think I may have found the “one” I’ve been looking and drooling but nothing really sang to me, this one is a singing!!

  9. Stunning. Just stunning.

    More! More!! (please:)

    (unrelated question: what’s that painting over your shoulder in the second picture? I like the brush work…)

  10. Words fail. I should be used to this with your designs by now, but once again you have amazed me! This one is definitely going in my queue for “knitting for me” after Christmas!

  12. Wow, Anne – that is just gorgeous! I have never considered a Faroese styled shawl, but this most certainly begs – “knit me”.

    What is the yarn ?? – that is stunning as well!

  15. Looks pretty Ravenistic to me. Are you going to have those feathers on the edge that we saw in your swatches? I want feathers on mine!

  20. I really love the shape. Very subtle, looks like it will stay on, and the feathery texture is very cool. It’s also really fun to watch the process as this design grows! Thanks.

  22. mmm, that is…i have to have one!…the shaping, the combination of motifs, and of course the subtlety of the color variations…so gorgeous!…hmm…how can i get my lace wip’s finished by the time this pattern’s out?…

  25. ANNE -THE SHAWL IS LOVELY , GRACEFUL , AND ELEGANT – NOT SURPRISED THOUGH – HAVE SEEN ENOUGH OF YOUR DESIGNS TO KNOW IT WOULD BE – BE PROUD

    PAT J

  26. Gah! I think my eyes just popped out of my head with that money shot!! Pardon me while I go find them…I need to ogle these pictures for a while and fantasize about my own future ravenesque shroud…erm, I mean shawl. 😉

  27. The bottom shot is beautiful–as the others have said, it looks just like wings. It’s another Anne Hanson tour de force, to be sure!

  34. Anne, You have to be absolutely delighted! all I could think of when I got to the picture right before the money shot was “she did it, that is so completely Raven”. I love the shape of this shawl to pieces!! And I’m not even into triangular shaped shawls (I think it’s the shoulder shaping that does it for me!) I may have to make this one in the future, I’ll put her in the back of my brain somewhere. The neck is just fabulous.

  36. Y’know, Anne, a year ago I was sure I’d knitted all the lace I wanted to knit. I was on to other fibery things. Then I discovered your blog and your designs. I’m enjoying those I have now (two shawls are still in progress), and I’m trying very hard to wait patiently for this new one. Thanks for bringing me back to lace — it’s been a blast!

  38. Wow Anne, that’s such a money shot, I feel like there should be some content rating up top. “Warning: X-rated Knitting Ahead. Must be over 18 and have a strong heart.” It’s just stunning.

  42. Anne. I’m so in love with the Faroese style, with Myrna’s top-down construction, and this creation of yours is just beyond marvelous.

    I’m off to order yarn (may have a long wait, I’m sure. But there’s no way that shawl is going to sit on my “to do” list long.

    A standing ovation, dear. It’s stunning!
    (oh…and sexy as hell!)
    (((hugs)))

  43. Oh Anne, it is like you designed it just for me. That sounds all stalker-y, but you know what I mean. I have been watching your blog like a hawk, I mean raven, for these shots. Gorgeous!

  44. Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! I hope your shop can stand the rush once you put the pattern up 🙂 I hope my yarn arrives by the time you are finished with the pattern! This will be a “drop everything else to knit me some wings” event.

  45. Oh! I am REALLY liking this one Anne. The curve of the stitches on the shoulders, the way it looks like wings laid on the ground and the light shining through the lace. I think you’ve outdone yourself this time.

  46. Gorgeous! This shawl will be absolutely stunning!
    First thing I thought as I saw the first picture? Sexy enough that it gives goosebumps even to the shawl itself!

  48. Echoing everything that was posted before me: Bravo, you’ve done it again. Another knitspot pattern to add to my collection!

  49. Gosh, if your talking about sexy knitting this sure is ! Please don’t put it in front of an open window anymore if you have finished the edging !
    It will just fly out of it 🙂

    Love the neck !

  53. You just keep inventing beautiful things far faster than I can knit them. How can I possibly hope to keep up,

  55. Wow, Anne, it’s gorgeous. And you’re getting awfully popular 🙂
    After the bee shawl I’m ready for a shawl with rest rows!

  58. Oh Dear. This is definitely going to ruin the line up of projects…and the yarn diet. How do you do it? Gorgeous, breath takingly so. Drool inducing. Thank you thank you 🙂

  60. Fantastic! I think I have to make my first Blue Moon order soon… that yarn is yummy, but it wont be easy to decide which colourway.

    I started the Bee Fields shawl the other day, love it 🙂 Am I the only one making it blue? Honey is so not my colour. The sky above the bee fields, or something…

  61. Wow! This shawl is really gorgeous! And it’s not blocked yet, it’ll be really breathtakingly gorgeous then. Yes, this is a shawl that will play havoc w. the knitters’ project line up – I think it will have to have equal time w. the Honeybee Stole 🙂 Really wonderful work A!

  62. I’m not sure I can wait for this pattern without exploding.

    But if I explode, I won’t be around to knit!!

    It’s a dilemma.

    (= SO beautiful!)

  65. I liked the Bee Fields. Bees are charming and Lord knows I love gold.

    However, this goes far and beyond charming. This is stunning. I absolutely love birds and the wing motif is absolutely gorgeous, without a doubt. I was hesitant before, but I’m sold now. I cannot wait for this.

  66. Sigh… It’s almost too much… too beautiful to be true!!! I’m all in (heart and soul) will go to Blue Moon homepage and order yarn NOW!!!

  68. That is absolutely gorgeous! i think out of all the shawls I’ve looked at and the many many patters I’ve gotten this one is going to end up my favorite of the triangle and Faroese kind. At least until the next one you come up with. My favorite stole/wrap is still Cluaranach which I get to start today having finally gotten my replacement ball winder. But I have to have favorites in types now thanks to you.

    I love reading your process so thank you for including that in your recent posts. I’m afraid I fell a bit behind but it did mean I got to read lots of educational and fun stuff all at once. I’m so totally making this at the earliest opportunity. So I better get cracking on finishing up the stuff I’ve already got going hadn’t I?

  70. Anne, if it weren’t for you and Debbie I wouldn’t even be making socks let alone lace, but you make me want to try it soon. Thraven is beautiful!

  73. This is bad. Really bad. I already bought yarn for this drop dead gorgeous faroesse shawl. (Ok, so it’s not dark like a raven…Laci from BMFA stash sale….can I fudge….wings of a grey hawk…) Why on earth did I buy that lace book..I just needed to find your knitspot!

  76. I may seriously burst in anticipation. Burst and explode in little pieces. All over my apartment. And then who will feed my dog?

    (not that you should feel pressure or anything)

  80. This is jaw-droppingly, heart-stoppingly GORGEOUS. I can’t wait to see the grand finale…or to knit this myself!

  82. Oh my goodness, that is breathtaking. I can’t wait to knit this!
    This is a bit off the cuff, maybe, but in that last shot it reminds me of an egyptian winged sun disk, which is often found above entrances to temples and tombs and, I believe, symbolizes ascension and transfiguration.

  84. It’s looking lovely so far! But how eeky scary, trying to figure out how long it will be after it blocks. That kind of thing makes me want to fall off the wagon and start biting my nails again. Eeek! Eeek!

    Could you kind of fake-block it, just to be sure? I mean sprtiz it out on the scrap yarn, to see how it behaves. I don’t know it anyone else has suggested that, or if you are tired of answering that question. 🙂 Anyway, good luck.

  86. I have never seen a faroese style shawl I was remotely interested in knitting until now. I adore this pattern, and watching it unfold has really been amazing. I already have the yarn. Not that I’m rushing you or anything.

    So, is it ready yet? 🙂

  87. Dear Anne,
    This is SOOOOOOOO lovely I can hardly wait to try it. Of course mine won’t look a tenth as good as yours does but it is still a lovely pattern. You are a really talented lace designer. I envy your talent. Congratulations on your success as a designer.
    Ann Carpenter of Dallas, Texas

  89. Anne- It’s exactly everything I could wish for- and the yarn is winging it’s way here as we speak.

    This is my Christmas gift to myself- you’re so clever!

  93. I don’t know what to say that hasn’t already said many times over! How can all your fans keep up? I’ve already got 3 of your patterns in my queue and now this beautiful interpretation of ravens’ wings! Keep up the amazing artistry you pssess!

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