awww, sugar, sugar

Posted on Posted in lace/shawls

it’s off the needles—finished up the shawl last night instead of working on the pattern, because i realized i couldn’t finalize things til i knew how the necked worked out.
also, i’ve picked up some kind of sore throat thing and by 7 pm, it was all over between me and the computer; i needed to huddle someplace warm (good luck with that) and knit.

i took this picture this morning while i was measuring it all over pre-blocking. then i put it on for a good soak while i did my bookkeeping and around noon i started pinning it out

the yarn has such wonderful coppery highlights and streaks of dark red that give the fabric a moiré or watered-silk effect.

i pinned out the hem scallops by hand instead of using the wires—they really needed to be able to spread and round out more than the wires would allow, due to their size. i opted for an organic, asymmetrical shaping on those (but you can mold the fabric lots of different ways in the blocking)

the shoulder shaping looks like the windows of a gothic church, heh.

i do like the way they turned out—it was worth the struggle i had, getting that shaping to work out on paper (two days of staring at the screen to make the numbers work, ugh, can you believe that?? ok, i was coming down with something, but still . . .).

the problem was that central column of faggoting—i wanted that to run right up the center of the shoulder, dammit! (btw, if you clicked that link, try this one, too—absolutely fascinating—the things you can learn from knitting . . .)

but it was throwing the section on either side off kilter, so that that they weren’t centered. and, as you can see, the patterned panel is not a symmetrical motif either which threw another monkey wrench into the mix. it was either make a chart that was 110 sts (about 20 inches) wide or think of something else. well, i did finally think of something else, but it took a while.

oh well, there’s got to be a hurdle somewhere, and this was the sole hangup for this pattern, so i can’t complain. now to see if it all works—i’ll pass the baton to the test knitters in the next day or so and let them work their magic while we wait patiently (no worries, i have plenty of other entertainment planned for the interim).

ok, ok, i know—you want the payoff shot, right?? here you go

now. time to name it. i’m really getting strong vibes from it for something like “sugar maple”—is it too weird? i still like “autumn mantle” too but that has a monastic ring to it that bothers me a little.

at any rate, i am greatly relieved and elated that it will, indeed, be winging off on monday to kim and a trip to SPA. if you’ll be there, you can visit, say hi to kim, and get a closer look at the woolen rabbit booth. i wish i could be there, too.

ok,now—i have a pattern to finish up.

108 thoughts on “awww, sugar, sugar

  1. Fabulous Fabulous finally a shawl that elimates all the things I hate about triangular shawls. I do actually have a whole separate stash for knitspot patterens and yarn.

  2. wonderful….and i hope you will finish the pattern soon. Windows of a gothic church, yes! Before reding your text which i do after looking the photos (for this i do not need any english) i thought only Engelflügel (wings of an angel)
    i am really happy to know your blog, i love your patterns. thanks anne. but sooo far away

  3. Wow, anne!!! the shawl makes me want to weep! SOOOOOO beautiful! and i agree with petra- it does look like wings… i have thought of it as autumn mantle for the whole time you have featured it- hard to think of it as anything else though i know you will find the perfect name as you always do.

    take care- hope you feel better soon- wish i was close enough to bring over soup!

  4. THANK YOU! I’ve been eagerly anticipating this post, and the shawl is lovelier than I ever hoped. Your hard work has paid off and then some. Can’t wait for the pattern.

  5. I also see wings and immediately thought of Monarch, as in the butterfly. Or maybe chrysalis. Whatever you name it, this is a beautiful shawl!

  6. Wow, the moiré effect on the tailwings is stunning. Could you call it something involving “tailwing”? I too had a butterfly, not a tree, reaction.

  7. The people who get to think up names for colors and things have to have one of the fun jobs in existence. I really DO like sugar maple, also burnished elegance, charred persimmon, maple chrysallis, I could go on forever, but you see I get weird after the first two. It’s a really beautiful shawl.

  8. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to be sufficiently patient. I will try waving my current shawl project in my eyes as a distraction…

  9. oooooh baby, this *autumn mantle* is lovely! Exceeds what I’ve come to expect from your artwork! Take care of yourself, and hug my admiration to yourself! kattO

  10. Anne, you’re amazing! It really is breathtaking! Where do you find such endless creativity? I’m impatiently awaiting this one!

  11. Your shawl looks like wings open in flight- maybe an owl’s or a hawk’s.I can’t quite put my finger on it , but it’s beautiful! Looking forward to seeing it in person at SPA.

  12. My lace needles have been empty and waiting with baited breath for this one! As someone else mentioned, the one thing about triangle shawls I do not like is that point, pointing to my arse…but this shawl….perfection!

  13. I agree with the others,”WOW” It is great! I need more knitting time to knit all of these shawls. I like the “sugar maple” name. I hope yu are feeling better and found a warm spot to sit.

  14. I agree… it really is beautiful. I see wings too (a red tailed hawk perhaps?), although I love the idea of something like red maple as well. The color really is perfect. I wish I had the ability to make lace projects like you do… I’m still on the first section of my Honeybee stole.

  15. What a beautiful shawl! When I first looked at it I thought of the pheonix, the fire bird. Or maybe Phoenicia?

    Wonderful job Anne.

  16. Wow, I love it, and I definitely agree with those who see wings of some kind. Did you know that hawks perched with fresh prey will do a move called “mantling” in which they open their wings like a cloak and let them hang down and forward to cover their prey while they get ready to eat… “Autumn Mantle” might actually work on the levels of both color and wings…

    on the other hand I really like Bonnie’s suggestions related to Firebirds and Phoenixes. Weren’t there some really good names that went by when we were helping to name Irtfa’a and Simurgh? Maybe one of them would be relevant here?

  17. This is the most beautiful shawl. Wow. Just wow. The pattern reminds me of leaves, but with the color reminds me of driving through the hills in the early morning in the fall. The light catches the red of the leaves and almost looks like fire. Great job!!

  18. “Sugar Maple” is a colorway from Cherry Tree Hill and it’s been around forever. I think it’s one of the first colorways they came up with.

    It would be a great name for the shawl, except that a lot of people would think first of the yarn. Somehow, I don’t think that’s the mental association you want your shawl to have.

  19. This is so lovely. I am not an orange fan, but this is much more complex than orange.
    It reminds me of ‘Blood Orange’, ‘Marmalade, ‘Monarch’ or Phoenix, born from the fire.

    What a pleasure at this still bleak time of year – we are having yet another snowfall just north of Toronto tonight!

    I think I will have to order this as soon as it is ready and also the yarn for they are perfect together.

  20. I like the suggestion in one of the other comments “Phoenix”. The yarn color suggests fire and flames to me.

    Or, what about “Autumn Flame” So pretty!!! Yet another wonderful pattern. I don’t know how you do it 🙂

  21. !! LOVE this pattern! I’ve been seeing the leaf motif ever since you designed the first pattern. What if you combined your two name ideas for ‘Autumn Maple’? I’m an earthy girl all the way, so the tree motif really speaks to me. 🙂 Can’t wait to get started on my own!

  22. I was also reminded of wings when I saw it. It is just beautiful as always! Love, love that shoulder shaping too. I am loving the color. That Kim is something. 🙂

  23. Gorgeous. Just gorgeous.

    And for some reason, the word “catalpa” came to mind. I googled it and the leaves do have that sort of feel…but it doesn’t turn the right color. I do think it’s fun to see what comes to people’s minds when they look at these works of art.

    Mostly waht comes to my mind is “Me want!”

  24. There is a sugar maple strain of tree called “Autumn Blaze.” That might be a good name. The shawl is so beautiful. It just looks like it is poised to take flight.

  25. Oh so lovely!! Looks so much like a moth or a butterfly. Do you have one called Lunar (like the moth)? Maybe Japanese Maple? Well it doesn’t matter what you call it, I call it gorgeous.

  26. 2 completely amazing shawls churned out in no time at all… that is just sick, wonderfully sick and beautiful.

  27. Oh love, can’t wait to start on it! I’m liking the Phoenix strain of names, esp Phoenicia. I see some sort of bird wing myself, feathers. I’m not so creative with the names thing.

  28. I see wings and swirls–Maplewing? Swirling Maple? But I too like the Phoenix/Phoenicia/Firebird train of thought…hmmm, tough call on this one.

    Cheers, Barbie O.

  29. Awww, honey, honey!

    Love, love, love this!

    As for a name : I like “Maple Honey” Or “Copper Honey” (a play on coper penny).

    I really enjoy the irregularity of the edging, very unexpected and fresh – a must do.

    I’ll have to get to my Cluaranach first in the Wellington Mohair purple overdye – I really need to send you a picture of that yarn, you’ll croak!

    I bow before your talent, as always.
    Leslie

  30. It’s very very beautiful!!! I love seeing all the pics of patterns in progress, it is very inspirering and helpful for a would-be-designer like me.
    As for the name, I have two thoughts. One is something with fractals, because it looks like something out of a math book (in the very good way). Autumn fractals, maybe?
    The other is Icarous, as it reminds me of wings and sun beams and well…
    Anyway, it’s gorgeous!!!

  31. It looks like it is about to take flight 🙂 Just beautiful!

    How about autumn wings, or butterfly wings? Or phoenix? It sort of looks like wings on fire.

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