i stayed up late friday night and finished knitting the stole. it’s always liberating to get a big project off the needles. and with yarn to spare
ok, not so much. because i was knitting a hybrid size (tall width, petite length), i cut it a little close with the yarn i had (i had some backup yarn but didn’t break into it). but hey, enough is enough, right?
i was anxious to see the join; i wasn’t quite sure what it would look like, but i love it
it looks like a beautiful exploding flower.
and the unblocked leaf pattern has a richly ruched look along the length i think.
into the bath it went for a soak, and then onto the blocking wires for a good stretch.
the pattern flattens out quite a bit of course, but still maintains some of its lovely raised texture along the decrease lines (i imagine it will be even more pronounced once it’s released from the wires).
even so, the subtle color variations in the yarn highlight the intense distortions in the fabric and that, i think, lends it the illusion that the deep texture of the unblocked fabric remains
this is a great pattern for tonally variegated yarns; the play of the color changes really enhances the motif. i can see it equally well in a solid yarn that has a bit of sheen . . .
let’s take a look at that voluptuously scalloped edge
mmm.
actually, this piece has edges galore; there are the little insertions with their own tiny scallops and winding gryphon shapes
and the side edge—a row of little bending leaves
the join, which looks a little crooked in this photo (darnit) but which i think will look lovely at the center back with its pretty star shape.
i have to confess that i got so caught up in taking pictures of the details that i forgot to get a money shot. oh well, no worries—there’ll be another opportunity sooner than you think.
because while mine was taking a bath, vanessa’s petite stole arrived in the mail.
hers was knit from a beautiful green combination the color of the summer tree canopy, complete with little blue highlights peeking through. just in case you miss the cool lakeside feeling of august just about now.
sigh.
this one will get it’s final blocking tomorrow between classes.
i would have done it today, but we were off to the fair at the crack of dawn. my sunday spinning class and i headed to the wool gathering in yellow springs for a full day of gawking and shopping amongst piles of fiber and yarn.
i was a very bad blogger and took practically no photos, not even of the two amazing handbuilt spinning wheels i saw. but we visited catherine and tonia, and a few other friends, and shopped the offerings for project fiber for class (we’ll be working with color next), and whatever else we just couldn’t live without.
i was very restrained—i bought a couple pair of beeswax candles, and made just one fiber purchase
this lovely, soft-as-baby’s-breath icelandic lamb from quiet thyme farm (sorry, the link i am trying to access for them isn’t working). just two ounces. i’m adding it to my collection of small amounts of icelandics that i hope to spin for a striped hap shawl at some point.
we ate lunch in the dairy restaurant at the site and it was nuts—being a gorgeously warm fall day, everyone was there to eat ice cream, buy a pumpkins, and look at wool.
and of course, no field trip would be complete without a weird, completely-out-of-context siting. when i sat down i was faced with a little standing menu that explained the ice cream flavors for the month and right at the top of the september list
there was the other anne. heh—hi anne, wish you were here.
i’ve absolutely no idea what flavor wooly wonka is, and i think i don’t want to even imagine what it could be . . .
ok, time to go off and knit on my sweater. YES, my sweater. it’s on the needles. just barely, so no photos but i’m planning on getting a bunch done tonight and maybe there will be some tomorrow. plus, the sock i started in the car. see ya.
47 thoughts on “blocking; don’t leave home without it”
Oh, Anne, it’s gorgeous! I popped on thinking that I was going to get the post before this (blogger is slow), and look at the surprise I got instead! Blocking shots! Love it, love it, love it; the way the little motifs mirror the great big motif so perfectly is exactly right. I can’t wait to get back to work on mine… I’m glad you had fun at the fair, too — the roving looks like it’s going to be great fun to spin.
wow! your stole- lovely moth wings 🙂
The pattern just flows. It reminds me of whirling dervishes. A natural-colored Icelandic shawl, spun by you, will be a treasure.
Gorgeous! The stitch pattern looks quite a bit different once stretched (of course, that was expected), and it’s great to see it beautiful and interesting in a new way.
Your stole shimmers, even though I know it’s not supposed to be shimmering on the wires, it still is.
And, isn’t Young’s Dairy Farm store/ice cream absolutely the Best? Can’t beat those Jersey girls for producing wonderful milk. And the Jersey cow face is so wonderful. And I’m not even a cow person!
Ooh..pretty! I hope that the pattern is as easy as Punch is!
Oh my! Your work just constantly amazes me! Just lovely.
Oh wowwwwww. I knew it was going to be breathtaking, and then the aqua one…oh man I’m in trouble! I think the tonal colorways really do it justice.
Those stoles are going to be amazing. I would love to see some beads in the cast-on through the scalloped bits to weigh them down a little– I’m thinking that would accentuate the non-straightness of those edges when worn.
Oh, and PS… I will be eagerly yet patiently awaiting the faroese version!
I can only echo the other comments—gorgeous, gorgeous stoles! Glad to hear you all had a good day at the fair, but too bad no one checked out that Wooly Wonka gelato…as a courtesy to Other Anne, of course…
Your prolificness as a designer absolutely astounds me, as does the beauty of your designs and photographs. I’m not sure exactly when this happened, but I recently realized one of my Dream Knitting Goals is to knit one of your shawls. A complicated one.
I am madly in love with that center star thing. For reals.
Just had to say, “winding gryphon” would be a great name for a shawl — maybe not this one but maybe so.
Well, now, this is just another one I have to have. How beautiful is that? WOW
So beautiful.
Wow! It is gorgeous. I wasn’t sure while you were knitting it, I couldn’t imagine it blocked. Now I don’t know how I could have doubted it would be beautiful.
Oh my!! As I scrolled to the comment box, I saw where Madeline said the scarf looked like whirling dervishes. That’s exactly what I was going to say! I’m serious; I was going to say that. Who else would think of that about a scarf! I need to email Madeline. Who is she? Blog? HA! That’s so funny. Oh, and about that scarf–gorgeous!
Oh, the stole is so pretty! And I’m looking forward to sweater pictures, I loved the swatches.
ohhh… was that lunch at Young’s Jersey Dairy? I used to live in HUber Heights and teach in Yellow Springs, and I sure doo miss the ice cream… pumpkin, mmm!
Wow to both stoles and all of that undulating texture and color. Amazing how they interact.
Wow Anne, that’s just beautiful! You’ve really outdone yourself this time. Gorgeous!
I have been waiting for this one! Simply fabulous as usual! It’s kinda sad that you are making stuff up as you go and I still can’t keep up with you! LOL I have some laceweight silk that I will be swatching with as soon as this pattern comes out!
Oh heavens…that shawl is just beautiful. I have a weakness for leaf-like patterns anyway and that one is a stunner.
What the….? I can’t even imagine that flavor myself. Apparently my marketing campaign has gone… what?… global?, regional?, something else entirely?
Wish I had been there too. Maybe they have archived flavors somewhere….
The shawl sure is pretty. That’s one of my favorite color groups, as you know! And I’m quite partial to the flower-shape of the join too!
Oh my…the stole is stunning blocked out! I love the way the swirls are so fluid….just beautiful!!
Too funny about the gelato name…LOL. Now who would want to eat Wooly Wonka?
I don’t know what the rest of that says..but all I saw was “chocolate chunk”..and that’s all I NEED to know. Man, that sounds delicious!! Your stoles are beautiful! How do you knit so fast?
Its so lovely, I really can’t believe how much you get done.
Another amazingly beautiful feat! I will have my work cut out for me, for sure!
Just amazingly beautiful! I want it.
But I’ve scrolled and scrolled and I can’t find where you say what yarn was used! On either yours or the small version. I know you always say, but I cannot find where.
Another beautiful stole Anne. The swirls remind me of when you dip a paint brush in paint and then flatten it on the canvas and twirl. Gorgeous!
Oh Anne, I think this may be the most beautiful shawl yet! Can’t wait to get back to class!!
Wow!!
Voluptuous indeed.
I am such a goner over leaf patterns.
What a great way to start off my afternoon internet browsing! Fantastic pictures 🙂
You’ve got a knock out there!
wonderful!
Do you need wires to block out all stoles & scarves, or are pins alone ok? Once again, I am in way over my head 🙂
It is stunning!
Someone above me in the comments mentioned the possibility of a beaded edging and I suddenly had a vision of this stole with braided beaded fringes like Judy’s Crest o’ the Wave Shawl (Smatterings). The fringe would echo and reinforce the swirling motion of the pattern and would undulate along the curve of the hem. It would be so sensual!
Amazing stole 🙂
What an incredible piece of art. Your work is so very beautiful.
Wow Anne you have out done yourself for sure and for you that is alot to say.I can hardly wait for the release of this pattern.It reminds me of the swirling waters in the smokie mountains , you can see so much depth the rocks on the bottom , the trees reflected from above , and theres the creekbank channeling its flow.WOW.
Shelda
ANNE – love the stole – especially am facinated wth the texture – it seems to be what I am seeking out when I look at patterns these days – did you mention what the yarn is , I can’t remember ? KIM’S ? – have to know for them both , can’t wait for you to announce it
yours in knitting — pat PS.–wish I could attend your spinning classes – keep working at it on my own – not as fun as with company !
I am awestruck!!!
Breathtaking for sure! Can’t wait to see it modeled!
Your new stole is so, well, Victorian. Lots of detail, very refined. And the color…a rich, royal purple! Why do I keep thinking about Judy Dench in Mrs. Brown? The Queen would have loved it and so do I!
i love how well the swirls in the main stitch patterns show up in the blocking shots.
and another gorgeous stole! although, i have to admit, i’m awaiting to see the faroese version. there’s no telling yet which i’ll like better, but i’m very curious to see the way the leaves work with shaping. (i think it’s the architect in me…) i tried looking back the other day (and will admit to not putting in great effort) – but i can’t remember the fiber content of the yarn you used. the colors work to show off the swirls, but i’m totally agreeing that a yarn with sheen would really bring them out.
on the other note, i’ve been to young’s dairy! three times, actually. my dad’s one cousin married into the family, so when we went down for a family reunion one year we had to stop. and then a year or so ago we took a family vacation at buck creek state park nearby, and stopped by once for dinner and once for ice cream.
Oh man they are both so pretty! I can’t possibly decide between those two colors. Shoot. How many shawls/stoles does a gal need anyway? I need the sort of life where one needs a different one every Friday night for years on end or something. Also the sort of life where someone else does all the work in and out of the house so that I can spend all day knitting these shawls and stoles and whatnot. I can’t wrap my mind around how you manage to do so much!
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