Evenstar Mystery Shawl (1st post)
>> Friday, February 12, 2010
I've mentioned before that I'm signed up to knit Susan Pandorf's Evenstar Mystery shawl, a laceweight shawl based on The Lord of the Rings' Evenstar (the necklace the elves wear). Here are my details:
Yarn: Knit Picks Shadow
Colorway: Midnight Heather (black, navy blue, trace amounts of emerald green)
Yardage: approx. 1800 yards
Stash yardage: 2200 yards
Needles: US 4 (dpns, then Knit Picks Options interchangable circulars)
Beads: Crystal 8/0 seed beads
Bead count: 2900
Beads purchased: 3360 from beadwrangler.com
Gauge recommended: swatch = 6" x 4"
Gauge as knit: slightly less
The gauge swatch was a piece of the pattern. I knit it up, soaked it and blocked it. I had to block it pretty aggressively to get it close to the 6" x 4" recommended, and as you'll see in a moment I still didn't quite get there. I've already gone up a needle size from the recommended US 3, so I think I'm going to leave it where it is, and if it's a tiny bit smaller than the pattern says, who will ever know but me? Most of the knitters signed up are using light colored, silvery yarns, but I opted to go dark because it is what was in my stash. I like it:
And a close up of the stitch pattern:
I got the first clue tonight and have finished half of it. I will do the rest of it tomorrow, and then wait on tenterhooks until the next clue comes out (which I believe is in two weeks?). Until then, happy knitting!
Irish Moss Toque and other stuff
>> Monday, February 8, 2010
I finished the Irish Moss Toque for my friend Leigh Anne yesterday. I'm not going to block it as it looks pretty good already and I don't have a head form to make sure it blocks in the round. I hope Leigh Anne likes it! I enjoyed knitting it - the chart was pretty good and easy to follow. Every round is three repeats of the chart and it knits up quickly. Two repeats of the 24 row chart and you're ready for the decreases. I wasn't really a fan of the decreases as they stay in pattern but it's so easy to lose track of which stitches remain and which ones disappear. It looks pretty good, though, so I'm pleased overall:
I will get a picture of her wearing it as soon as I can.
In other news, I was finally able to knit up the Evenstar swatch. I will be participating in the Evenstar Mystery Shawl Knit along that begins on the 12th. I love all of Susan Pandorf's designs, and this shawl kicks off a whole series of designs inspired by the Lord of the Rings. The inner geek in me is loving this. I'm going up a needle size, which I was worried about at first but my swatch just barely got gauge so I think the size should just about even out. My yarn is Knit Picks Shadow, colorway "Midnight Heather" I hope this shawl goes better than the mystery sock did. I still have to frog that and design a new sock to make from it. I won't be beginning that project until the following are done:
1. Icarus
2. Horseshoe Scarf
3. Giraffe
4. Manhattan sock #2
The Evenstar Shawl will be knit apace with the clues, if I'm lucky. I have February vacation next week and I'm hoping to knock out at least two projects by the end of the week. Wish me luck!
On Frogging
>> Wednesday, February 3, 2010
I cast on the Girls' Night Out Mystery Sock with a lot of hopes. It was my first mystery sock, my first KAL, and my first time trying out mosaic knitting. I got gauge with the yarn and needles suggested, but something happened when I tried the sock on.
Which I didn't do until I'd finished clue #4 (turning the heel and completing gusset decreases).
It does. Not. Fit.
I cannot even get the sock over my heel. Apparently my gauge changed for the mosaic section, and it was now too tight (and with two colors, it was also not elastic at all) to get anywhere near my heel, let alone turn it.
When I realized that there was no way the sock would ever fit me, I was faced with a decision: keep on knitting the socks and gift them away, or frog the project completely and try something different with the yarn. I wasn't really in love with the pattern (which is very well written and entertaining to knit, but just not my kettle of beans), so I am going to take the plunge and frog this sock.
It will be the first time I've ever frogged a knitting project. Ever.
I'm not as sad about it as I thought I would be, probably because I'm looking forward to designing a sock that will better suit me. It's fabulous yarn. I think it will be a toe-up sock and will have some sort of sun motif on the top. I'll have to work on it and get back to you about it.
I have three Christmas projects I need to finish, and one I need to start and finish, hopefully all before the 13th. On the 13th I begin the Evenstar Mystery shawl, which I'm hoping will go better than this mystery KAL did.
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