Monday, December 24, 2007

Legends Blocked (Another one bites the dust!)














This project was started because I joined "Spun Stitches" a Spin/Knit-a-long in June 2007. I used my single treadle Schacht wheel to spin fiber from Lisa Souza. One single in BFL and one in Merino both in her "Petroglyph" colorway, then plied them on my sisters Majacraft Rose using the lace flyer with the large core bobbins. I did this because I wanted something a little bit stronger than just plied merino. I ended up with a lace weight yarn at approx. 36 WPI that was really quite soft and had good strength. I then knit "Legends of the Shetland Seas" by Hazel Carter using 2.5 mm needles with a modified edging and finished blocking it today :-) I really do like how it came out this time. Now I can continue working on the edge for the Sampler Stole. I know I can't finish it before the end of the year, but I can at least make some headway. I can't justify starting anything new until that one is done. I have even put aside my pretty Princess edging (yes, more edging) until that one is done. So, in the nick of time, I have finished one more thing before the end of 2007. You have all been very patient and supportive and I want to wish everyone out there a Happy Holiday and a Wonderful New Year! See you all in 2008!


44 comments:

Lillysmuul said...

Sooooo beautiful work!
Merry Christmas to you!

Lacefreak said...

Dear lillysmuul,

Thank you and a Merry Christmas to you as well!

fluffbuff said...

So gorgeous!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Lacefreak said...

Dear fluffbuff,

Have a wonderful Christmas and a knitting filled 2008. Thanks for looking in on this old blog of mine!

June said...

Handspun and handknit - just gorgeous! Thanks for the inspiration.

m1k1 said...

Congratulations. Stunning work, both the spinning and the knitting.

yarnlot said...

In one word: exquisite!

LittleBerry said...

it's stunning and lovely colours... and you don't notice the striping as much now it's complete and blocked as much as the WIP photos...

Merry Christmas & all the best for 2008

Päivi, Lankakomero said...

So gorgeus or "upea" as I would say in Finnish!

Dave said...

It's absolutely gorgeous. I love the juxtaposition of the earthy colours and the delicate stitch patterns. Well done, again!!

Happy holidays!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! Really, really gorgeous! I have to say you're such a wonderful fiber srtist - from the spinning, plying, knitting and blocking - you've made a piece to put us all in awe of you. Just great work, wonderful to follow too! A very Merry Holiday to you! Terry

Anonymous said...

Wowsa! It's beautiful. Congratulations.

Laritza said...

It is beautiful beyond words! Congratulations!

Jenny said...

That is such a beautiful shawl. I'm not usually a fan of multicoloured shawls but this one just blows me away. Well done and merry Christmas.

Opal said...

Oh Jane, it's just gorgeous! Really breathtaking. Now I'm just itching to get some lace on the needles.

Anonymous said...

You did an amazing job! And in a relatively short period of time, considering how may projects you keep going at a time. You have inspired me to work on my lace spinning technique.
Hope you had a great Christmas and I wish you a wonderful year to come. May it be filled with as much fiber as you desire.

Kim

Ruth said...

It's stunning! Do you wear all your shawls?

Lacefreak said...

Dear June,

I'm happy you liked it. It takes so long to spin and knit an item, I rarely do more than one a year but this stole really turned out interesting.

Lacefreak said...

Dear m1k1,

Thank you! I wish all my spinning turned out this well but I don't spin often enough for that to be the case. Sometimes it's just easier to knit lace with purchased yarn but I have the comfort of knowing that this time it was worth it.

Lacefreak said...

Dear yarnalot,

Thank you! Happy to supply the eye-candy :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear littleberry,

I also feel that the edging toned down the stripes though I really don't mind the colors shifting as I am so fond of variegated colors. It's hard on a lace knitter to justify using variegated yarns as they don't always show case the lace patterns. Still, I'm willing to swap a little pattern definition to add another dimension, depth of color, to a lace project :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear lankakomero,

I'm happy it appeals to you :-) Thank you for leaving a comment and for looking in at the lace.

Lacefreak said...

Dear Dave,

I love the color vs lace aspect too! It's a stole that "soft sells" the lace but doesn't loose the delicacy. I'm not very fem so actually wearing lace is not something I'm tempted to do but I could wear this stole and feel comfortable without being "out of character" I'm happy you liked this one as much as I do :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear Terry

Merry Christmas to you! Who knew menopause would give me renewed interest in knitting and spinning? (You have to find something to do when you are awake at 2 AM with a hot flash if you catch my drift). Hope you have a great New Year!

Lacefreak said...

Dear knitterguy,

Thank you so much! I wish I could spin as much as you do but I'm so slow that one hand spun hand knit item a year is about all I can manage. I'm glad you liked this one.

Lacefreak said...

Dear laritza,

Since you excell in beautiful and exquisitely executed knitting and spinning, I am honored by your approval :-) Besides, you gotta love anything that combines two hobbies!

Lacefreak said...

Dear Jennie,

Having given away my Peacock Shawl because I didn't like how the variegated yarn was comming out, I can appreciate that sentiment. Thank goodness this one worked out well! Thanks for your message and I'm happy it was an eye-pleaser this time.

Lacefreak said...

Dear Opal,

If you start knitting lace again where am I going to get my sock fix? Only kidding. I know you can do both at the same time besides which I do miss watching you knit lace. Glad you liked this one :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear msleo,

I can honestly say I've never gone without any yarn or fiber I've wanted LOL but thank you for such lovely wishes! If I inspire someone to more knitting and spinning then so much the better! Thank you for your message and a Happy Holiday to you!

Lacefreak said...

Dear ruth,

Thank you. I almost never wear any of the shawls except as an example of my knitting at Stitches West. However, this one is something I could actually wear and not feel silly so I just might end up wearing :-)

Soo said...

That's gorgeous Jane! The yarn is beautiful and it works so well with the pattern. Stunning!

Agneta said...

absolutely gorgeous.
Happy New Year from Sweden

BadCatDesigns said...

As lovely as always. I can't wait to see what else you finish in 2007...

z's momma said...

Beautiful--the yarn and the shawl. Happy New Year!

Lacefreak said...

Dear Soo,

I have to say I'm happy with how it came out. When I go the fiber I had no idea what I would do with the yarn once I made it so I got lucky with this one :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear agneta,

I'm happy to send a little eye-candy to Sweden for you! Thanks for the encouragement :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear badcatdesigns,

I wish I had been able to finish everything from 2007 but I imagine I'm not the only one with projects that are "hibernating". Some, like the edgings for Princess and Sampler Stole are just a little tedious, but I will eventually get on with them. I have a few new things in mind too. The side-bar with current projects is getting a little bit thin! I look forward to seeing what you get into in 2008 as well.

Lacefreak said...

Dear Z's Momma,

Thank you! It's been a good year for lace and I'm looking forward to 2008. I hope you have had a great Holiday Season and that your New Year is terrific!

missalicefaye said...

congratulations--it's beautiful! Can't wait to see the 2008 lace projects! :)

Happy Holidays!

Anonymous said...

It's a beautiful shawl!

And though it's a bit late in coming, I hope you had a good Christmas, and will have a happy new year.

The Chickengoddess said...

That is just gorgeous! I love the colors, I just wish yarn like that was available! Wow!

Lacefreak said...

Dear missalicefaye,

I am looking forward to 2008 and have started the center for the "International" shawl:-) I will work on that and the Sampler Stole edge and all the other bits and pieces clamoring for attention that were left over from 2007. You are very likely half way done with the Princess Shawl :-) Happy 2008 to you as well and lots and lots of new projects to drool over!

Lacefreak said...

Dear ria,

Thank you! and I hope you had a great Holiday and will have an outstanding 2008 :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear chickengodess,

I know Lisa Souza sells yarn in that colorway in lace weight, but I have no idea how it knits up. I have some of her Alpaca in a color that is similar and when I get to knitting with it I will see how the colors look. Hope you had a great Holiday. Happy Knitting in 2008!