I made a push and managed to finished this thing. It's a very addictive knit. Works up much quicker than Tina because there's an easy round, where you knit every other round.
At this moment, I am not a fan of the crocheted chain edging. I'm thinking, this puppy will never stay flat.
I gave her a cold bath with some washing up liquid. This yarn is oiled on cone and the past few days working with it, has given me the most wonderfully soft hands.
It took over an hour to pin her out.
I'm going to post a lot of photos because the photos in the book were a bit mingy and you can't really see the details. The end product was a bit of a surprise to me. The pattern had quite a few errors, so read the errata before starting. This pattern was written in text and personally, I prefer charts so I would found it hard going... except that the pattern is very straight-forward and rather *obvious*, so I found myself only occasionally referring to the text. Jury is still out on the crochet chain edging. I'll tell you what I think after I unpin it and see how it looks. (Yes, there'll be another post on this shawl, I'm going to stretch out my F.O.'s)
Don't look too closely, I'm really not a natural with crochet hooks.
I love this panel...
especially, when it follows the van dyke panel.
The yarn is a lightweight 4 ply. I used 4.5mm needles and the finished diagonal length is 72 inches... (6 feet). Pre-wash, she was 247g.
... wait 'til you see the proper photo session. I have some special **night** shots.
I hope that you all LOVE it and would give lots of money towards a good cause to have her... because I have never finished a project of this size in such a quick time... let's just say, I lost a bit of sleep over it.
Posted by atu at September 5, 2005 08:03 PMBeautiful shawl ! Excellent work !
Posted by: Eva Shiu at September 8, 2005 08:14 AMIt's priceless! But would be worth paying for! Congratulations!
Posted by: Mary Beth at September 7, 2005 09:03 PMPolly, it's beautiful! I think the understated color is the perfect background for the sophisticated lace stitches.
Posted by: MJ at September 7, 2005 07:37 PMThat is so beautiful! I love the chain edging!
Posted by: Dani at September 7, 2005 03:52 PMPolly, I have to return the compliment and tell you that your shawl is stunning! I love the color and take my hat off to you on doing the crochet edging. I still have to master that.
I have a feeling I may take a stab at aquiring it when the auction starts. :)
Posted by: Erin at September 7, 2005 01:31 PMPolly it's superb. It actually makes me want to have a go. Hang on - didn't you start this last week ???
Posted by: Tessa at September 7, 2005 11:08 AMPolly, it is lovely, and you knitted it so quickly. I don't know how you manage to knit so much and still get some sleep.
Posted by: Louise at September 6, 2005 08:54 PMBoy that was fast! And it sounds like it turned out to be a very useful size, too.
I hope you'll model it for the camera! :-)
Posted by: Beth S. at September 6, 2005 04:30 PMThe crocheted edge looks terrific. And I like that it may not be exactly flat. It's flirtier that way.
Posted by: Susan at September 6, 2005 03:34 PMI am determined to win this shawl!!!!
Posted by: susan at September 6, 2005 03:33 PMAnd that's why I don't knit lace....anything that takes an hour to pin out would make me mental! It is BEAUTIFUL!!
Posted by: Kristine at September 6, 2005 03:28 PMhave you suddenly learnt how to knit in your sleep??? because i don't see any other way how you could have finished this so fast!
it looks amazing polly! just gorgeous.
Posted by: jacqueline at September 6, 2005 10:35 AMYou're a star and a shining example to everyone.
Posted by: Tracy at September 6, 2005 08:09 AMHey Polly
I'm thinking of starting this shawl and yours is an inspiration to me.
Lovely job!
Mona
Polly have you turned into Wendy?! You finished it so fast!!!! Fabulous shawl, I have the book so I may be tempted on this one seeing as how it has an easy round and now I have a link to the errata. You are so generous for a very worthy cause!
Posted by: Jacinta at September 6, 2005 06:34 AMHands down to you, Polly! It's superb!
Posted by: Siow Chin at September 6, 2005 02:21 AMwow that's amazing. i can't believe how quickly you knitted this up. the work looks flawless -- and that crochet edge looks perfect to me.
what a generous gift to give to such a worthy cause.
Posted by: jody at September 5, 2005 11:41 PMIt's beautiful Polly. I can't believe you got it done so soon; for a very worthy cause as well.
Posted by: Mary at September 5, 2005 10:43 PMI think it's beautiful! Knitted lace is so gorgeous.
Posted by: Jenn at September 5, 2005 10:25 PMI think the crochet edging looks good. I did a similar edging on the shawl I made (Peacock Feathers). The loops are a simple, elegant finish that is still a bit "lacy."
I gave my crochet loops a light spray of starch to help hold their shapes.
Posted by: Laura at September 5, 2005 10:07 PMwow! quick knitting, I'm going to start calling you Wendy! Is this for the auction??
Peacock has an edging similar to this and I've had no problems with it lying flat. Not sure if you saw the shawl at libertys?
Dawn
Posted by: dawn at September 5, 2005 09:47 PMThe shawl looks beautiful, Polly - and your needles must have been on fire to get it finished so quickly!
(By the way your 'money' link has a repeated 'http://' so it's failing...)
Will the shawl be auctioned?
Gosh - you must have broken some kind of speed-knitting record! It looks beautiful, you're a very talented knitter.
Posted by: Anita at September 5, 2005 09:33 PMLooks fab Polly - I'll give, shawl or no
Posted by: Alpaca Woman at September 5, 2005 09:17 PMBeautiful!
Posted by: Chery at September 5, 2005 09:13 PMPolly I am in awe at both the shawl and the speed you finished it! (I couldn't get your "money" link to work, are you fund-raising?)
Posted by: Kathleen at September 5, 2005 08:49 PMI don't have to wait until next post: Polly, it looks Gorgeous!!
One of the most beautiful shawl I'v seen on the blogs lately - and I h've seen quite a lot. I really like the geometric pattern...
I'm more likely to knit this after seeing your photos than after looking at those in the book (where it looks a bit of a crumpled heap). I had to get the book out just to check that it was the same shawl, the edging look so much better now that I can actually see it.
Posted by: Caroline Morris at September 5, 2005 08:28 PM