yesterday i spent several hours blocking knits, but took photos too late to add to the already long post i wrote. so we get to see them today, with the added bonus of a few shots after unpinning.
first up is tudor grace, next in the little nothings series.
knit up in beautiful briar rose grace, a soft, luxurious bamboo/merino blend, this scarf is easy on the skin, yet has great stitch definition in the openwork vertical stitch pattern.
the motif is an easy 6-row repeat with a twist in the middle which is not hard at all to work on size US 4 needles; unlike some other bamboo blends, this yarn is virtually un-splittable.
the herbal green, gold, rose, and deep lavender washes of color have inner light that makes them play across the finished fabric like sunshine through stained glass
i overknit a bit on this one (i had to be sure!), so mine is a little longer than the pattern will say, but the skeins of grace have so many yards, you may be tempted to do the same.
we just finished taking some nice photos of it outside, so i’ll be posting the pattern for this scarf later tonight when i return from classes.
ok, now i know what you want to see . . . next up are some shots of lacewing blocking
above is a little peek of the corner that has a taste of almost everything—two edgings, the insect band, and the eggplant flower stitch. let’s review the details before we get to the money shot
the yarn, dyed by the brilliant catherine, was amazing to knit with . . . kitten-soft and full of beautiful color that shifts with extreme subtleness (the best place to see the color changes was in the airplane over the weekend).
it was worth working through several iterations of insects before deciding on just the right one—we all zipped through this section of the pattern just to see them complete and in flight
i didn’t talk very much about the edging while i was knitting it but it has long been marked off in my stitch dictionary as a favorite, must-use-someday motif. i love the number of holes in it—so light and airy, yet substantial enough to hold down the hem very nicely
creating an insect band that would flare just so around the perimeter of the shawl body was a concern, but it all worked out great . . . it neither cups, nor flounces—it’s just right.
i’ve been asked a few times how i block the shaped neck and shoulder area of this type of shawl, and here you have it. i just pin out the shapes that the fabric wants to make naturally. allowing some of the fullness to compress a bit just below the shoulder.
ok, now for the big one . . . ready?
hahaha! i know—it looks gigantic. but it’s not, i promise. it’s exactly the same size as irtfa’a in length with a little more circumference about the hem.
ok, now here’s a treat for waiting a day to see the blocking shots. this afternoon i dragged the dress form to the front window on the upstairs landing and took a few “modeling” photos (we’ll do some real ones, too)
i wanted to see if it fit, for one thing
score! it fits very well.
the folds drape lots better in back after blocking too—and will look even better on someone who actually has a butt (poor dress form, has no butt . . . i mean, it has none)
the front edges are plenty long enough to drape over the shoulder if you like to do that
and, of course, the real reason for blocking . . .
to let the sun shine in.
63 thoughts on “a decent day’s work”
oh.
My.
God.
Those are the prettiest bugs I’ve ever seen.
stunning!
I am in awe.
The shawl is really exceptional! I was going to say stunning, but that word was already used. 🙂 For some reason, I keep thinking of this as a shawl to be worn with a wedding dress.
What Carrie said. And paperdiva. And Beth.
And Tudor Grace is no slouch either.
Beautiful stuff!
K.
Both are gorgeous pieces! Lacewing is truly impressive, and Tudor Grace is lovely. I loved how the stitch pattern you used in Tudor Grace looked while you were knitting it, and it really doesn’t disappoint once blocked: I didn’t think it could get much more lovely than it already was, but yeah, it does!
Oh wow..the picture where the shawl is wearing the shawl pin would make a GREAT desktop wallpaper! I love this shawl. I’ve got so many of your shawls queued already, but what’s one more? 😀 They’re like dorito’s..you can’t have just one. 😀
You amaze me over and over again !
And just like Teresa said, you can never have enough…….
Gorgeous…on both counts!
Love your photographs, and the great ideas for wearing/draping a triangular shawl.
Both are simply beautiful. You’ve done it again Anne.
OH, OH, ANNE – LACE WING IS SO BEAUTIFUL- I AM UNDONE! – I THINK TUDOR GRACE IS MY FAVOURITE LITTLE ONE – THAT YARN SURE SINGS
AS ALWAYS IN AWE —PAT J
Oh, I love the colors in Tudor Grace, especially how it looks green at first but has splashes of different colors here and there. And Lacewing just looks amazing. I may have to learn to knit lace someday.
I am having serious pattern envy. Can’t decide what to do next! I’m going to stick to scarves for a bit, to get birthdays and Christmas/Hannukah gifts going, and I want to do Elm Row and Tudor Grace and Brambles and another Rivolo, and I can’t wait to see the finished manzanela stole… Too difficult to decide what’s next! The lace wing is gorgeous, but I’m overwhelmed with insects here in NOLA, so I’ll give that a rest til winter.
In one word, “WOW” !!!!!!!!!!!
I’m breathless. Literally. Blocked out like that, it looks like a gorgeous Roman coin. In gold. Mmm…. Must knit faster.
I have also developed an unexpected pash for Grace up there; I think I have just the skein of yarn waiting for it. After Lacewing is done.
Must knit faster.
I thought it was pretty before blocking, but wow! It’s insane!
I love that scarf, I want one, in THAT same color now lol. Will have to go hunt down yarn!
WIN!
I am so impressed.
That is a stunning shawl.
Everyone said it all before I got a chance to, so I’ll just say ditto, and I’m in love all over again!
Since nobody dibsed “breathtaking”, that’s my word. Into the queue it goes.
very pretty! – both of them. i love the yarn for the little nothing – may have to look into that…err…no…really shouldn’t do that…i especially like the eggplant flower motif on the shawl.
Stunning! What else is there to say. Perfect colour too. I’m speechless.
Sigh. Simply gorgeous. Absolutely perfect.
Thank you for the daily inspiration.
Oh my goodness! I have never,ever, seen such a glamarous, gorgeous, fantastic (I am running out of adjectives)… shawl. It’s amazing & I know I will have to knit it one day before I die. You are a knitting goddess!
Absolutely stunning! I am awe-struck. That is a work of art.
And I love the “little nothing” scarf, too. And think I could actually do that one.
What a satisfying day you have had. Bravisimo!
Everything is just gorgeous! And, those Briar Rose colors are fantastic….
Serious, wow!
Spectacular! I knew the shawl would be, in a way, but Tudor Grace is really blowing me away. I have way too much yarn so I had sternly said to myself no, no Tudor Grace even though it is beautiful. But it is going to be very hard to forswear. I may cave.
So beautiful. The scarf is just lovely, but the shawl is simply breathtaking. I’m going to show this one to my mom as a potential Christmas gift pattern! By the way, all of the photography in your last post was amazing, the flight especially looked very exciting.
Lacewing is, in a word, simply stunning. Your blocking is a thing of beauty, too! This little nothing is your best yet. Well done!
Ooooh, Tudor Grace is beautiful! I can’t wait!
The dress form at the window looks as if she is waiting for some loved one to come home. Or perhaps she is admiring her garden!
I’m just learning to knit lace, with lightweight mohair yarn and a very simple repeat. Now I’m motivated to improve my skills so I can try lacewing!
i already commented on tudor grace (which is gorgeous), so i will just gush over the shawl. incredible! so stunning. and yes, the best part is when the sun is shining in…
Anne, the shawl is brilliant!
Oh wow! It looks like it is going to take flight in that full shot. Just beautiful!
Bummer that I have four shawls OTN (two are yours :-), I just have to finish at least one before starting a new one. Must go knit now.
oh my. Anne. you take my breath away. that shot of it blocking… it looks like angel wings.
Oh, gosh, that shawl is just stunning!
gorgeous! ’nuff said. except: i want one, too.
Just when I think I have a favorite, you make me change my mind. Stop that, mkay?
I am anxiously waiting for … September. 😉
Gasp,,, AIR,,, air,,,, it is AMAZING! 🙂 and Tudor Grace blocking shots are so very beautiful too!
First came the Moth. Then the Bee. And now the Lacewings! Who knew there was so much knitterly inspiration to be found in the insect kingdom? 🙂
I really like it. Especially the great big bold band of lacewings–it truly is breathtaking. 🙂
Wow! Stunning!
i have no words.
well, maybe i do. this is the most intensely gorgeous shawl you’ve done yet. i didn’t think it was possible to outdo Bee Fields or Cluaranach but you’ve done it. tears actually came to my eyes and i gasped out loud when i saw the money shot of Lacewings.
stunning. absolutely freaking gorgeous stunning.
Absolutely gorgeous! My jaw dropped and hit my keyboard when I saw the picture of the entire shawl. I’m in love.
gee-awd, that’s gorgeous! :O
wow, now that is something… great colour too.
Gorgeous, both of them! I particularly love the shawl. Fabulous design and color.
Lace wing in the sun, wow! I felt like she was speaking. I am not often moved to such an extent by an object but this shawl…WOW! I am am breathless and moved.
Gracias.
For the first time with one of your designs, as you were knitting this, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like. Now it’s blocked, wow!
It’s just so beautiful, I just can’t get over how stunning the shaping is. Another triumph!
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