FO : VLT shawl
04/23/2007
Pattern: Spider’s-web shawl, Victorian Lace Today
Size: Half hexagon
Finished Measurements, approx. 75” across top, 24” from middle center down to bottom of shawl
Yarn: silk merino hand painted lace from Yarn Ahoy etsy store in color chocolate cinnamon, 1 skein
Needles: 4.5 mm, 5 mm and 5.5 mm circular addi turbo
Modifications: ended shawl after working Chart C once using 5.5 mm needles (the pattern calls for this chart to be worked 4 more times using 6 mm needles, resulting in a completed half hexagon 84” x 36”), single crochet bind off
I’m not sure what drives me to knit lace. A burst of passion for the delicate yarn and interesting stitches carries me through the bulk of a lace project. What is it that calls you to gather lace weight yarn and needles and find a seat next to good light? In this case I was drawn to the shawl featured on page 42 of VLT – the idea of strolling in a lush garden draped in hand knitted lace, the simple Barège pattern highlighted by the surrounding greenery. It speaks of leisure and elegance, a feeling that I wanted to try to recreate with my needles. This is the first time I used variegated lace weight yarn and I think it worked well in this pattern, but in general it’s a risky endeavor, no? The blocking process didn’t go as smoothly as usual: the yarn bled a lot in the sink, I really could have used blocking wires to get the hexagon shape perfect. I didn’t knit the last four repeats of Chart C – I had my fill of the Barège pattern and realized that the finished size (84”) would mean coming up with a creative blocking surface plan.
Layers of lace & tissue, ready to be mailed to its recipient.
Cross posted at the Victorian Lace Today kal
04/23/2007 at 10:41 pm
It is pretty and I envy the one who receives it. That one is a lucky one.
04/23/2007 at 11:07 pm
beautiful!!
04/23/2007 at 11:23 pm
Both pattern and yarn are stunning! Especially that yarn – the fairly subtle variegation definitely works with the large stockinette sections.
04/23/2007 at 11:35 pm
Gorgeous! I’m off to go check my copy of Victorian Lace for the original, you’ve inspired me!
04/24/2007 at 1:25 am
That is so beautiful. The colors are so pretty. I’ve had some silk lace yarn for awhile but no courage to knit with it yet.
04/24/2007 at 1:33 am
this yarn worked very well for the pattern, lovely.
04/24/2007 at 2:05 am
The yarn, with just the right amount of handpaintedness, goes really so well with this pattern. Lovely!
04/24/2007 at 3:30 am
it’s stunning!
04/24/2007 at 5:30 am
Lovely, lovely, lovely! I just don’t have the patience for lace, but I’m glad you do. I can enjoy it by proxy!
04/24/2007 at 8:03 am
Lovely! Someone will be happy to open that package!
I agree with you about lace knitting. Although it looks difficult, I think it’s the most relaxing and interesting knitting!
04/24/2007 at 8:44 am
wow. that is stunning! that shape is so neat – not one you see too often! the variegated yarn worked really well – maybe because it was more of a subtle variegation and not so severe?
04/24/2007 at 8:59 am
Gorgeous work, Brooke! I also love to see beautifully wrapped packages. Perhaps it’s because when I was little I had relatives in Japan who sent the most beautiful gifts- pencils, umbrellas- didn’t matter what it was, it always looked like treasure.
04/24/2007 at 9:40 am
Beautiful shawl!What a lovely gift.
04/24/2007 at 10:24 am
gorgeous!
04/24/2007 at 10:33 am
Well, that is gorgeous. I am always nervous to use variegated yarn (even for socks, to be honest); but, I think the yarn and the pattern work well together. It is a beautiful shawl and I think the recipient will be giddy with delight.
04/24/2007 at 11:01 am
Stunning, and the variegated colors came out beautifully! A very lucky recipient indeed.
04/24/2007 at 11:33 am
Simply wonderful!
04/24/2007 at 11:53 am
i love the lace, and something about it wrapped up says ‘cultured’ to me. very nice!
04/24/2007 at 12:05 pm
Wow! Really pretty, especially with the subtle varigation in the yarn colour. I am adding this to my list of shawls to knit from VLT!
04/24/2007 at 12:10 pm
So beautiful!
04/24/2007 at 6:31 pm
That’s one nice-looking piece of lace! It’s one of the ones in VLT that I really want to try, but I have to limit myself to smaller projects because I have no good places to block out any large ones. So I’ll just content myself with admiring the ones that other people create.
04/24/2007 at 8:32 pm
I’m in throes of a lace bug myself, working on Birch for my sister’s wedding shawl. Love your Spider Web–the recipient is a lucky person!
04/24/2007 at 9:10 pm
It’s so beautiful! Who’s the super lucky recipient?
04/24/2007 at 9:31 pm
::sigh::
Gorgeous, stunning, stunning and gorgeous some more. Did I mention gorgeous? Lace knitting still intimidates me but I am taking the plunge this summer. I really must try it for myself. Especially if the above is the result. You continue to inspire.
04/25/2007 at 1:15 am
That is just gorgeous. I love the chocolatey goodness of the color and the patience it takes to do lace, well let’s just say I am still acquiring the patience to do much less at the moment.
Just stunning.
04/25/2007 at 11:27 am
So beautiful. Because of this post, I zoomed off to Amazon and ordered the book. Lace knitting here I come!
04/25/2007 at 12:45 pm
Absolutely gorgeous. I’ve been dreaming about lace, but I have too many WIPs to do more than dream right now.
04/25/2007 at 5:20 pm
Oooh! Lovely!
I can’t believe you’re giving it away
04/26/2007 at 2:43 am
Very beautiful!
04/26/2007 at 11:05 am
What a beautiful shawl! I have that book myself, and want to knit the patterns on every page. So elegant. I hope your recipient is amazed.
05/01/2007 at 3:06 am
oh wow brooke…this is so beautiful.
look what happens when i get behind in reading my bloglines, you go and finish and amazing shawl. well done!
05/10/2007 at 11:48 pm
Brooke, I’m honored that you made such a beautiful shawl out of yarn I dyed!
I shall link my blog to this page.
Best regards
Manasi