this was just one of those schu-we-e-et weekends that had everything—i got lots done, we had good meals and good company to go with, we worked hard and took “naps”, and rode bikes . . . man, i hate when it ends but it makes getting back to the work week seem a little easier.
ok, i got a great start on my new shawl this weekend—i’m very happy so far. friday night i charted up the shoulder section and the next section and spent time on saturday finalizing the tiny edging along the neck and sides (it was bugging me, so i toyed with about 10 different variations of things i made up).
on sunday i worked on the yoke, making small corrections to the charts as i went. the yoke is the most important and challenging part of the shawl design; it has to fit nicely and not be too big, or the whole shawl will be droopy and frumpy.
here’s a shot of the shoulder line, sitting squarely on the shoulder of my dress form. after it’s blocked it will stretch a bit, and the neck may relax some, but the shoulder should still sit squarely along that line, so that the back panel hangs straight and the fullness at the hem falls into beautiful folds.
here’s a glimpse of the back shoulder area, where the patterned side panel meets the back panel worked in a different, more vertical, pattern. madeline (blogless) made the astute observation the other day that the fern lace, which is the body stitch of the side panels, looked upside-down,
and she’s right; since i’m working top-down that motif is upside-down when viewed as a shawl. but it’s interesting . . . for me another, more floral motif emerges from this orientation, which i like very much within the concept of this piece.
if you look closely
you’ll see that the top end of the back panel also has some shaping toward the neck, to ensure that it lays nicely over any curvature in that area. shaping, shaping, shaping—that’s what makes for a nice fit. and since there is really only one opportunity for body contact in such a garment—the yoke—the shoulder area gets lots of attention in the form of shaping and calculating just the right number of stitches.
since this is a one-size garment intended to fit many different people, there has to be a little compromise in the exactness of the fit, but if you were creating one just for yourself, you could make it as close-fitting as you wanted (and a savvy knitter could adjust the pattern shaping of the back panel fairly easily for a custom fit).
let’s look at the frontal view
as the shawl grows this view will fill in and become much prettier, with larger expanses of patterned lace angling across the body, or falling along the arms.
satisfied with a decent beginning on the shawl, i took breaks late at night to knit swatches and start a new project (since my last SIP is nearing completion and should get finished in class today).
remember the swatch i showed the other day from stephanie’s yarn that i said i was making a scarf out of? heh. that yarn did not want to be that scarf i decided—it wants to be a sock.
i think the way that the gentle color changes wash across the fabric are much better suited to this other stitch pattern i had picked for my next sock. more on that later this week as i make progress on it.
i did not abandon that scarf idea though . . i picked a much more suitable yarn that really enhances the stitch pattern lots better. in fact i swatched a bunch of stitches over the weekend and this morning for future scarf projects, and have these three soaking now
see the briar rose grace on the far right? THAT’s the yarn that will be that scarf . . . it’s so tudor; i just love them together. and chris wrote me today that she does have grace in stock . . . please email her if you want some and can’t find it on her site.
i’ll get these swatches blocked and review them with you tomorrow.
and then there was spinning—sunday isn’t sunday any more without our spinning class. yesterday we talked about long draw and gave that a whirl. it’s not a technique that comes instantly to each spinner’s fingers (not many of them are), but as we work each week, i notice that techniques i’ve talked about before are starting to be used comfortably by participants, so i’m sure that, in time, this one will too.
i finished up my first 3-ounce packet of the merino alpaca i’ve been laboring over sporadically since the beginning of july
and i have another one to spin onto a separate bobbin. i’m being very patient and giving myself permission to take my time; it’s either that or no spinning at all, and we can’t have that.
once i finished that first bobbin though, i wanted to demonstrate some long draw spinning with another fiber (i’m spinning the silky top worsted, so that wouldn’t do). so i got out the batts i carded two weeks ago
and started a bobbin with the lincoln/corriedale/nylon mix. very interesting . . . the lincoln fiber is a little longer than i’d remembered and the blend has a lot of lanolin in it so it wasn’t the perfect choice for long draw. i ended up demonstrating with some of linda’s and anne marie’s more medium-length fiber instead.
then when the work period was underway, i continued with my own fiber in a sort of hybrid technique that allowed for spinning a little more smoothly while still enjoying some longer drafting (i doubt it’s any kind of official technique, but i suspect i’m not the only one who uses it, at least sometimes).
this will be sock yarn for david’s favorite kind of socks, so i’d like something fairly smooth (the better to knit on small needles my dear) and firmly spun, for better wear. i’m hoping that more of the golden moorit fiber i carded in will show up in the final yarn (all that blending work just has to be worth it . . .).
and now it’s monday. i have class this afternoon and a date to finish a sock, i need to block some swatches, and i want to get back to work on the shawl. if we’re lucky, we’ll also get out for a ride (it looks like it might storm, though). see you next time.
27 thoughts on “i love me a good weekend”
And to think that anyone would accuse you of just copying st patterns out of a book and selling them as shawl patterns! There is so much that goes into a design – especially a well written design. As a technical editor, I especially love hearing all those details you share. I can hardly wait to see that gold shawl when it’s finished. Wow!
How long have you been spinning? I remember reading earlier in your blog that you used to spin all your own sock yarn before all the commercial lovelies came into being. Did you have regular access to a teacher or did you have to learn from books? I’d love an ongoing class like yours, but I have yet to find one in my neck of the woods, so I learn in fits and starts, and by reading.
Oooh, it’s good to be home so I can see what you’re working on again!
Your shawl will be lovely! It almost looks more sweater like at this point. Wouldn’t that be nice too? A lacey sweater knit from the top down?
It sounds like you had a great weekend. I love weekends like that! Your shawl is turning out soooo nice! I love it! Very impressive!
So pretty! The shawl is looking great and it is one of my favourite colours so even extra special to look at. I love the swatches I can’t stop looking at the glorious colour with the lace. As if that wasn’t enough spinning too! Thank you, I can go to work a happy woman. It is lovely to get a colour and lace fix so early especially when there isn’t much lace happening around here. Thank you!
I recently learned drop spindle and I have been having fun. This past weekend I picked up an amazing drop spindle that just felt good in my hands. Suddenly I can spin and draft at the same time!
I also had a chance to play with a few wheels. Ohhh the love! I fell head over heels for a Lendrum Double Treadle Wheel. My friend forced me to be reasonable and wait to make the purchase (Afterall I have to consult with Husbandman and he does have some say in where our mortgage money goes).
I want to start spinning with a wheel so badly. For now I am contented with my drop spindle and this morning Husbandman set up a savings account specifically to set aside money for my wheel. I am hoping to have saved enough by Christmas.
I may be coming late to knitting and spinning, but I am no less passionate about this art. The joy it has brought me is endless. The gifted artists who willingly share their talent.
So many forms of good!
The shawl looks wonderful. Can’t wait to see it finished . I love the colour too. And the 3 swatches — what lovely texture.
Oh, talk about some drool-worthy photos! The yoke of the shawl is so gorgeous, and I love hearing about all of the elements and calculations that go into making it. I’m also loving that sock yarn, and the colors of the Briar Rose. So much yarn, so little time…
Great knitting and spinning as always. Had myself a wee chuckle with photo #2- the gold shawl modeling. Thought that was a weird color shirt you were wearing (or were you nekkid ?) and scrolled down to the next photo thinking “I really don’t remember Anne having a tattoo of the #10 on her neck”. I grabbed my glasses to see that it was a mannequin after all- lol! The shawl shaping looks super btw.
As always, informative, colorful, cheerful, posts! Often, too!
ROFLMAO. I picked this entry up, as usual, in Bloglines. I was scrolling down the pics and saw photos 2 and 3 and thought they were your neck and shoulders. I thought, “Wow. Interesting tattoo.”
Hahahahahahaa.
And now I just scrolled up and saw that Manise thought the same thing!
I NEED the new shawl yesterday! It is sooo lovely!
too bad I can’t knit your shawls as fast as you get them designed, LOL!
and does this shawl have a name yet?
LOVE the Grace with that motif, and I am salivating over what’s to come with the shawl. It is already beautiful.
Oh, Anne, this is going to be another one of your very special shawls. The fit over the shoulders is impeccable. I do like the fern lace upside-down. You’re right, a very pretty and unique floral pattern emerges.
Love the shawl so far! and I’m with L I like the grace with that motif too.
and you say you actually had time for a nap as well??? you’re amazing.
love the new golden shawl. Your work to get it flowing over the neck and shoulders is impressive.
I just love learning all about the importance of shaping and getting a good fit at the yoke of that very gorgeous shawl! It is going to be a stunner.
the shawl looks like it is going to be very, very beautiful! I just love all your progress pictures! They are so inspirering.
It’s really interesting to see your design process along the way. And I absolutely love the Grace yarn in the scarf swatch. I’m glad you said Chris has some Grace left because I didn’t see it when I looked.
And I scored a ton of Grace at Midwest Folk & Fiber this weekend… 😀
I really like the start to that shawl! Impressive.
Now this is what I call attention to detail! 🙂 One of my issues with “flat” triangular shawls is arranging them gracefully at the neck… they always bunch up somewhere. But this new shawl of yours looks as neatly fitted as a top-down raglan sweater! Not an easy thing to do with lace. I appreciate the effort you’re putting into it. 🙂
Oh wow…that shawl is going to be gorgeous!!! I was gonna make the straight one…but this one looks promising… beyond promising, it looks amazing!
It’s always a pleasure to see your spinning make an appearance on here! It is beautiful and inspiring.
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