Imagine Catherine and Heathcliffe on the moors of Yorkshire. What can be more appropriate than for Cathy to be wrapped in a shawl like this?
Now I know that in the pattern book, A Yorkshire Fable, it's supposed to be a scarf, but after a bit of blocking (I wet-blocked it by the way), it had shawl like proportions. (approximately 20 inches wide by 70 inches long). Maybe I got more length and width by knitting it in stocking stitch, but I ended up using 7 skeins of donegal tweed which has slightly less meterage than the Yorkshire tweed.
It's very hard getting an artsy photo of this shawl. The green is wonderfully tweedy and kind of camouflages itself when I lay it on my plants or trellis. After some massive pruning of my magnolia, I can't easy reach the lower branches without a step ladder ( to check for bugs) before hanging anything on the tree. Let's just say, close encounters with me and creepy crawlies usually result in one of us running off shrieking in the opposite direction. I'll let you guess who's the bigger chicken.
This wasn't such a good photo, since my sneaker managed to sneak into the frame, but when you visit Chez ATU, you're likely to get warts and all. Which reminds me, I need to block this once more. Part of the shawl/scarf is still crinkly, possibly because I didn't soak the thing long enough before it got pinned. I was a little impatient and just put it under running water and didn't soak it in a basin for 20 minutes.
Now, is it blasphemous to say that made in cotton or linen, this would make a lovely table runner? I can see the Sharon Miller fanclub and the Rowan design team all cringe at horror at this suggestion... but honest, I remember my great-grandma with table runners just like this.
..and to sort out the curling edges, I picked up (freehand without counting, yes I can be a total rebel) and did 4 rows of garter stitches. Rebekah suggested that it would curl without this and after a read of Rebekah's blog, it would appear that not only is she immensely sensible, she's also got the cutest black lab.
Posted by atu at April 24, 2005 03:50 PMIt's so beautiful! it caught my eyes the moment I saw the picture of it. Lovely colour, great pattern.
Posted by: yuvi at April 29, 2005 03:43 PMAbsolutely perfect, Polly!
Posted by: Jean at April 27, 2005 07:07 AMPolly
that's a beautiful shawl. another one to add to my To-Do list.
Mona
Polly, this is just fantastic! Such a beautiful colour and wonderful stitchwork, you have tamed it wonderfully too with the edging. Clever thing, you, wear it with pride.
Posted by: Louise at April 26, 2005 01:49 PMStunning Shawl - the epitome of romance knitting! Polly you have outdone yourself as usual.
Posted by: Lydia at April 26, 2005 02:00 AMPolly, what a wonder shawl. Beautiful pattern and I love that colour. I wouldn't bother re-blocking the shawl, get a steam iron and give that section a gentle press!
Not that I'm going to be knitting any table runners any time soon, but check out some of Kinzel's lace designs. Changing the yarn, and tension and you have an entirely different result. Some doilley patterns would make drop dead circular shawls!
Dawn
Not blasphemous at all! Even dining tables deserve some decadent beauty. Your shawl is really lovely.
Posted by: Dana at April 25, 2005 08:24 PMI love the idea of making it in linen. Table runner by night, shawl by day! (Although I guess I'd have to starch it for the table.)
It's gorgeous. Absolutely worth all your troubles with it. xoxo Kay
(Will there be an ATU version? )
Posted by: Kay at April 25, 2005 06:11 PMVery beautiful shawl, and I like the idea of the table runner too. Imagine the attention it would get.
Posted by: Christina at April 25, 2005 05:30 PMAbsolutely breathtaking and I think your photos were great, I always enjoy them.
Posted by: Rebekah at April 25, 2005 04:30 PMPolly,
Bronte is beautiful. What a beautiful shawl she is. Love the colour too. Enjoy wearing her.
I may have to buy that book just to knit this shawl/scarf. It's lovely! And I bet you don't mind at all that it came out a bit on the large side. It just means that you have more lace to wrap yourself dramatically in. ;-)
Posted by: Beth S. at April 25, 2005 03:11 PMIt's gorgeous! And I agree with you, it would make a fabulous table runner. Don't worry about blaspheming the Rowan design team, I bet if they get wind of your idea you will find they do a similar one in the next book!
Posted by: Anmiryam at April 25, 2005 02:58 PMIt is stunning!
Posted by: tacha at April 25, 2005 02:36 PMI LOVE IT Polly!
Posted by: Marta at April 25, 2005 02:11 PMWow, I can't believe how quickly you finished it after starting completely over! I don't think I would have been able to convince myself to pick up all those stitches for the garter st border, but it really make the edges lay nice and flat. It is beautiful!
Posted by: Melisa at April 25, 2005 01:53 PMwow it's fantastic - really beautiful. and I know what you mean about the table runners. I just inherited a pile of wonderful hand embroidered and cutwork table runners (and doilies and anti-macassars) from my granny. They are so beautiful. Table runners are experiencing a regeneration in my house.
Posted by: anna at April 25, 2005 12:54 PMIts absolutely beautiful Polly
It's really beautiful, Polly. Much nicer in shawl proportions where you can see all that lovely detail!
Posted by: Anita at April 25, 2005 10:28 AMYou are beyond belief! I totally expect to see you up on a cliff with heather in the background and wind bloing your hair (not in your face, but in that wholly unrealistic off to one side only kind of way).
Gorgeous Polly warts and all (cause I am blind and I dont see a sneaker :)
Posted by: stinkerbell at April 25, 2005 10:19 AMI've been watching along on your Blog as this shawl has progressed bit by bit. The result is absolutely stunning!
You deserve to be proud of a beautiful piece of knitting, so give yourself a big pat on the back. The shawl is truly lovely!
It is very beautiful ! Well done !
Posted by: Eva Shiu at April 25, 2005 02:53 AMGorgeous! You did a fantastic job!
Posted by: Mary Beth at April 25, 2005 02:11 AMWhat a beautiful scarf/shawl. The pattern is so pretty. You do such nice work and I too love your garden.
Did you buy the pattern for the little booties at the top of your blog or is that your own pattern? They are so adorable!
Posted by: Sheri at April 25, 2005 12:00 AMI love the finished product! So beautiful! You seem to have the know how with blocking, so I am going to ask... how and when do you fully drench it/soak it for 20 minutes block and when do you just spritz it block? I have a Koigu Painters Palette Merino scarf that is a lacy material... I was just going to spray it, but should I wet it?!
You should check out the gorgeous table runner in Simple Knits for Sophisticated Living by Barbara Albright..one of my favorite books...
Posted by: Dani at April 24, 2005 11:25 PMThat is just gorgous.
Posted by: jacqueline at April 24, 2005 10:38 PMPerfect!
Posted by: Tracy at April 24, 2005 09:51 PMVery, very nice. I always love your pictures, they are really artsy! Your garden is beautiful.
Posted by: Chery at April 24, 2005 08:58 PMso beautiful! and i agree on the table runner thing, in linen. thanks for the idea!
Oh my goodness! What an amazing shawl.
Posted by: Colleen at April 24, 2005 04:53 PMPolly it looks absolutely stunning - and well worth putting Fruity to the side for. Think I might have to take a closer look at a Yorkshire Fable. Love the colour too - will you be bringing it to Liberty's???
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah at April 24, 2005 04:14 PMThe shawl looks fantastic! I love the colour.
Posted by: Katie at April 24, 2005 04:11 PM