Sunday, December 09, 2007

Legends of the Shetland Seas Edging (Can she finish one more thing before Christmas?)






I've been working on my "Legends of the Shetland Seas" stole since this is close to being done. I'm also going to work on the Sampler Stole edge as well even though I'm not fond of those color shift in that one. The colors in the "Legends" stole are a little bit smoother. Everything else is going to wait since I'd really like to be done with these two before the end of the year if possible. It's really tough to get the pictures to show the color of this shawl since most of the time I'm shooting with flash at night, having used the daylight hours for the actual knitting. I figure I'd try to finish these two since everyone has been very patient with how long it takes me to actually complete a project. End of year eye-candy would be a nice way to finish off 2007 if possible. I'm almost done with shopping and wrapping gifts but way behind in trying to bake anything. There's a kind of interesting project shaping up for next year, but I will wait to post about it when it's a little better defined. Until then, if you don't hear from me for a few weeks it's because I'm swamped for the holidays as I imagine you all might be as well. I remind myself to have fun while I'm running off to buy more butter and sugar and I hope you all remember to enjoy yourselves as well as the year runs down. I promise to post the Legends of the Shetland Seas stole once it's done. See you guys in a few weeks!

34 comments:

Pinneguri said...

THe colorwork here is just stunning, but I reallt don't understand where anyone, you, get your patient from. You're good :)

fleegle said...

As always, it's fantabulous. The color shifts are interesting--this is Graceful, right? How are you finding the yarn for softness?

I bow in admiration to your energy! We don't do anything for the holidays because when Roy was a police officer, he worked all the holidays because we have no kids. Now that he's retired, we can't get in the habit. But I love watching everyone else scurry around :)

Soo said...

The colours on the stole look great and I think the changes work well with the pattern.

Beautiful!

Lacefreak said...

Dear pinneguri,

I can't take credit for any "color work" as the roving was pre-dyed. I just spun the singles as they presented themselves and then plyed them. Lisa Souza colorways are really beautiful. I'm a sucker for them. As for finding the time, I imagine I could be doing other things but they are not as enjoyable :-) Thanks for your comment!

Lacefreak said...

Dear fleegle,

Nope, not Graceful for this one. I'm using Graceful for that kind of Pinkish Sampler Stole (still knitting the edge for that too but not as nice as this one) This is the handspun yarn I made out of the Lisa Souza pre-dyed roving. I don't make a lot of handspun lace in a year because it takes so long to spin the stuff. Maybe one a year if I'm lucky. My sister and I are slowing down with the baking etc as we are aging. Someone younger needs to pick up the torch because this year ware are only baking a few things. Bake or knit, bake or knit. I think you know which one will win :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear Soo,

Thanks! I'm not doing as much varigated yarn in the future just because it's tough to find a pattern I like or want to do that the color shifting looks good with. This one works well and was lots of fun to spin but sometimes you have to choose between showing off the pretty color with a less intricate lace or showing off the knitting with a less busy color. I hate having to choose the pattern over color, but maybe I can find a happy medium like with this stole.

Laritza said...

I really do not like changing colors for lace. Call it variegated or hand painted. But this one is absolutely beautiful! The color changes are so subtle that it does not distort the lace pattern at all! Plus the spinning is perfect!

z's momma said...

That is beautiful. AND you spun it?! wow.You made the yarn? wow.

fluffbuff said...

It looks fabulous. Good luck finishing those two projects by Christmas!

Anonymous said...

I think I'll start saving a template for all the descriptive words I like to say about your work - gorgeous, breathtaking, etc. It seems those are the only words your wonderful work gets outa me! This is a wonderful pattern - the patterns w/i each other. Hope you reach your goal of finishing your two shawls. And, thanks for the reminder to have fun at this time of year. Have a wonderful holiday and thanks for your wonderful posts of 2007! Terry

missalicefaye said...

Beautiful! Good luck with your finishing, but don't sacrifice your sanity for our sake. :)

Lacefreak said...

Dear laritiza,

The spinning is really not so perfect but from a distance it's not too bad. I'm less and less in love with shifting colors but this time it came out pretty well. I dislike the corners on this stole so I'm just going to try to "ease" my way around the corners though I may have already kinda of screwed up. I'm not about to rip out all that edging those. I'll just fudge it!

Lacefreak said...

Dear z's momma,

Yep. I spin from time to time. It takes so long to make laceweight that I don't do it very often and I'm not that great at it. Still, I've knit with worse yarn :-) Glad you like the way it's coming out!

Lacefreak said...

Dear fluffbuff,

I really need to get some of this stuff DONE. I don't want to really carry all of it over into 2008 if you know what I mean.

Lacefreak said...

Dear Terry,

With everything going on it's a miracle if you can have some fun. As for the knitting, see what happens when you hit menopause? Enjoy your holidays!

Lacefreak said...

Dear missalicefaye,

Not sane to begin with so no big sacrifice here :-) I just need to get some of this stuff off the needles. It's not like it's torture you know? Knitting, even knitting edges is still a great activity!

Knit Picking said...

I love the pattern, but the colorway is stunning. I love those earthy colours. Will you keep this one for yourself? You deserve one too ;)

Diana said...

It's quite beautiful! I love the autumn colors. The changing pattern makes it even more exquisite.

Opal said...

I really like the shifting of colors in this piece. I think you did a fantastic job of spinning this yarn up. I'm with Knit Picking, you deserve to keep one of these shawls for yourself!

Irene said...

Dearest Jane,
Thank you so much for the Peacock Shawl... I am overwhelmed and a little bit scared to touch it but am getting lots of encouragement from my knitting group. I plan on putting a lifeline in and diving right in in the new year...

Your spinning and knitting is absolutely inspirational!

Hope you have a happy, memorable (in all the good ways ;)) and safe holiday season!

xoxo
Irene

Lacefreak said...

Dear knit picking,

I was fortunate that Lisa Souzas roving was perfect for what I had in mind. I'm happy you like how it's turning out :-) As for keeping this one, I don't really know yet. Let's finish it first then decide!

Lacefreak said...

Dear diana,

I'm a sucker for color and these really are well suited to knitting at this time of year. However, I've knit enough lace to find that not all patterns or varigated yarns look well together. At least not to me. This time I lucked out :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear Opal,

I'm glad that all that spinning was not in vain LOL. Since I don't like to color knit, this is my way of getting a similar type of effect. I can't wait to see this one blocked though it's going to take up a lot of floor space not to mention pins and blocking wire. I always mean to keep my shawls, but they make such great gifts that you never really know what will stay and what will go. I'd like to wear this or the Lyra to Stitches West 2008 though. I've not yet decided which. Maybe I'll bring both and switch half way through?

Lacefreak said...

Dear Irene,

I'm happy you feel that shawl is worthing giving a try :-) Good luck with using a "lifeline" with the shawl. That works well but I've never really gotten into using one. Have a happy and safe holiday season yourself! Thank you Laritza for the suggestion that I try to offer the Peacock Shawl to someone else to finish!

Courtney said...

Wow, what can I say except, it is just SO beautiful! Once again, great work!

LittleBerry said...

it's definitely worth the wait and all the edginig work... looking forward to seeing the finished item.... I do like the colours though

Enjoy Christmas!

Lacefreak said...

Dear Courtney,

Thank you! I like how this one is turning out as well!

Lacefreak said...

Dear littleberry,

Thanks! I'm now half way through the edgeing so I hope to finish soon!

Shell said...

Wow- I so want to knit that pattern! Maybe it will make it on my list for 2008.
Can't wait to see the finished shawl!

Lacefreak said...

Dear shell,

It's actually a lot of fun to knit. Not so difficult as a Sharon Miller pattern. I'm still knitting edging but if I get enough time, I hope to finish and block it before Christmas :-) I'm too slow to finish the Sampler Stole this month but will work on it next.

Knit Picking said...

Dear Jane,
Wishing you a Happy Holidays!

BadCatDesigns said...

Six hours and 50 minutes to go! How is the edging coming??? Merry, merry holidays to you!

Lacefreak said...

Dear knit pickings,

Have a wonderful holiday yourself! Here's to more a better knitting in 2008!

Lacefreak said...

Dear badcatdesigns,

Just finished it today and posted pictures :-) Have a terrific New Year!