Metamorphosis, or how a Shaped Triangle became a Swallowtail Shawl
Memories of a 6th standard (or thereabouts) biology lesson.
Caterpillar, or Just off the Needles, Finally:
Chrysalis, a.k.a. the twenty-minute soak:
And finally, the butterfly:
Perched on a branch, and on a wall:
Project specs:
Pattern: Started out as Shaped Triangle shawl from Gathering of Lace, but got sick of that pattern and ended it with the Swallowtail pattern from Fall 06 Interweave knits, almost a year after starting it. The saga of this shift is here.
Yarn: Jaggerspun Superfine Merino 100% wool (this is the full merino cousin of Zephyr). I have no idea how much, but a ton of it is still left on the cone. Body on size 3s, edging on size 4s.
This shawl is so difficult to photograph! It’s light and wispy and soft, and I hope my MIL likes it. It turned out a little smaller than I’d anticipated (60" wingspan x 30" depth before blocking and 80 and 40 after blocking).
I wrapped it around myself today and it should be okay, I think. But I’m not so sure I like laceweight shawls, actually. I find I need the weight of the shawl as much as the actual wool to be warm. I think fingering, or sportweight might be my preferred weight, and that would allow me to use larger needles and make the fabric firm too; the airiness of the lacy fabric is gorgeous to look at and is surely warm as well, but I don’t know why, it feels a tad too wispy to me.
ED: [i]sorry, i had to tweak a few times to fix the damn formatting[/i]
I’m in a real lace mood these days…your shawl in fantastic! I would have a hard time giving it away!!! Jane
That came out beautiful! I love the butterfly analogy!
I’m with you on having the weight of something being just as important as warmth – I have a cotton blanket I use on my bed to weigh down my goose down comforter for that very reason – I love the weight!
I think a sport weight shawl would be beautiful!
So pretty. Sigh.
Gorgeous! It’s amazing.
Oooh, it turned out beautiful!! The adapted border looks wonderful.
Well, it’s just lovely, and I love the metamorphasis.
What did you soak it in?
It’s lovely! I’m sure she’ll like it. I do know what you mean about wanting a little heft to your knits. I ended up deciding to restart my blue laceweight alpaca, again doing FFL, but this time with the yarn doubled. I think it’s going to be just about the perfect weight.
Oh, how marvelous! It is so beautiful, congrats on finishing! I’m sure your MIL will be bowled over.
It’s beautiful! I remember when you were starting that. Gorgeous.
Wow! That shawl looks just beautiful perched on the branch.
Its beautiful!
it’s beautiful.. you mil will no doubt adore it.
That looks really beautiful. So elegant in the black too.
It’s gorgeous! I know what you mean about feeling the weight of a shawl around you. I still like the laceweight feel, but that’s because I live in such a temperate climate.
Absolutely gorgeous! I’m still working on my first-ever lace shawl. I can only hope it looks as good after blocking as this one! I’m sure your MIL will love it to pieces.