I don't know about anyone else but I did not go into knitting so I could sew! That said, I did end up sewing the edging onto the center of the Crown Prince Square Shawl. Alpaca is not a very elastic yarn for sewing so I'm not thrilled with how difficult it was to sew up.It was tricky to get the tension right. If I had actually read the pattern before I started knitting it, I might have knit the edge first and then attached the live stitches to the center as I knit it. That might have worked better for me. Still, it is a pretty thing. Sorry for the color shifting in the pictures but I could not really get the color down with flash photography and even the natural light photos at the end don't really show the color of this shawl. If you are going to Stitches West this year, perhaps Kristine (seen wearing the shawl) will have it with her at the shop booth for "A Verb For Keeping Warm" since it now belongs to her :-)
To Recap-
Crown Prince Square Shawl pattern from "Knitted Lace of Estonian Techniques, Patterns, and Traditions" by Nancy Bush. Knit on US 3 needles using 100% alpaca lace weight yarn from " A Verb For Keeping Warm. Yarn is called "Holding" in the "Twilight" colorway. Be sure to check out the errata page at Interweave Press for the corrections to this and other patterns in the book!
Now I'm back to work on Goldregen but have switched to US 000 Addi Lace Needles since I had needle failure on the Hiya Hiya needles in US 0000. I'm a bit more than half-way done with the pattern so the change of needles at this point is OK. I have more stuff to show but I'll post later.
41 comments:
Wow!! That is utterly magnificent! No way I would sew on an edgint though--kudos to you for going along with that.
Needle failure? Did the cable come loose or something?
So beautiful, that is an impressive shawl!
I have the book and am working on a scarf and you know what ... I love nupps. I was so worried becuase I read what a pain they are, but I really think they are fun.
Beautiful! I am sure Kristine is forever grateful and utterly touched by your gift! Ya gotta big heart :) Terry
A lace treasure...
Dear VickiW,
Thanks:-)
Dear fleegle,
Good to hear from you! I hope you are feeling better. If I ever pick a pattern where I have to sew something again just slap me silly! Yes, I had the cable come away from the needle when I was knitting Goldregen on US 0000 Hiya Hiya needles. I had to fix the dropped stitches and then went out and bought US 000 Addi Lace needles (the lowest they go right now). Not that bad since I'm half way through and the lace is getting larger as well. I will not be knitting thread on the Hiya Hiya needles in future. I will consider them for yarn only and I hope I don't get any other problems or they will all be pitched out of the House :=_
Dear nestra,
It's pretty but not difficult (sewing aside)to knit. If someone wanted to make it without this edging it would be a slam dunk as long as they get the corrected charts from the Interweave site :-)
Dear Terry,
I'm grateful for the wonderful yarn to knit with! Let's face it. I have a tough time finding yarn in most knitting stores. I end up buying it at shows or sight unseen on-line. It's great to be able to go to a local vendor and actually see/fondle pretty yarn anytime I want to before buying. Besides. She is more likely to wear it. If it stays with me it gets wrapped up in tissue and put in a box.
Dear yarnlot,
Thank you! It was fun to knit and came out very pretty. I was happy with the end result.
Congrats! I'm knitting the Triinu Shawl myself, and finding it a bit boring. No errata page for the book by all appearances.
Amazingly beautiful and you flew with it! That is one reason why I like people like you leading the way, now I know and there is NO way I am going to sew the edging on. I am not a seamstress we know that :)
Needle failure? Ouch! I had one with KnitPicks at the beginning of the Princes border, scary spooky stuff. The set I have now also KP has help up so far. Four rows away from finishing the center I think the needles will make it since the lasts part is points yet again :(
Exquisite! I will look for it and that booth next weekend!
i'm swooning! it is amazing! all your trouble was worth it!
...i've thought about knitting this as well but that edging is intimidating. at least now i live vicariously through you!
It looks amazing --- and I love the colour. (And you've just reconfirmed my decision about knitting mine on!)
Don't blame you for being frustrated with sewing the edging on but it was worth it.... it looks stunning and especially in that colour...
It's really a work of art. So delicate in knitting and colour. As I'm knitting away and counting stitches, you've had all that nupps too!
I'm amazed at the size; it looks much bigger in the pictures (squared) than on your friend Kristine.
What a great gift.
I'm sure that was a LOT of sewing, but the end result is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for all the pictures. It's nice to see it at the different stages. Great job!
Beautiful! I have that book and drooled over the shawls rather alot. I like the idea of doing hte border first. Sinplifies a bit. I suppose I could read the book. But the pictures keep distracting me!
OmiGawd that is gorgeous! Better than the model in the book, I think.
I looked at it but didn't think I could face sewing on the border.
Wow! You almost make we want to cast-on, but I don't sew either, so we would need a big re-design! You did a spectacular job.
Dear KatieK,
Thank you. I am also knitting the Triinu Scarf and was falling asleep knitting it. I will finish it at some point but I bet you finish yours first!
Dear Laritza,
Since you are usually the one to knit things first it's only fair if I'm the one who gets the shaft from time to time :-) This shawl is so easy to knit that it's relaxing. I just can't face to edging stitches right now so I can feel your pain that you have to make more of them to finish the Princess but I'm sure it will be worth it!
Dear AlisonH,
It has a lot of nice patterns in it but beware the ones that require sewing!
Dear tani,
Thank you :-) I love to see what others are knitting and it's almost as good as knitting it yourself.
Dear Soo,
I wish I had done what you did but I really wanted that edging so I paid the price LOL! I love the color of the shawl too and I don't mind that it came out smaller than the cover shawl. In the book there is a picture of the same shawl and it's small like mine :-)
Dear Littleberry,
Thank you! I love knitting with color and it's not a "solid" blue/gray but has some splashes of darker blue in it that you really can't see unless you see the shawl in person. Still, I would knit with white given the right circumstances and the right yarn :-)
Dear MoniqueB,
Thank You! I guess we could have made a more artful arrangement of the shawl to show it is a bit bigger but she tied it on that way so I just took the shots :-) It's only 46 inches square since I used US 3 rather than US 6 requested by the pattern.
Dear Stringplay,
Thank you! And thank you for putting up with my less than stellar photography :-) I do like to show things in stages so you can all share the agony with me LOL!
Dear Carol,
They really are pretty and not difficult compared to other things you've knit. Give one a try. I'm doing the Queen Silvia Shawl in a hand spun that shifts from cream to gray.Maybe not the best choice for lace but it's Pygora and so soft that I can't stop knitting with it. Oh well. We shall see how this one turns out :-)
Dear Ted. Thank you!
If you knit one, try what Soo did. Believe me, you will not be happy if you have to sew like I did.
Dear BadCatDesigns,
I agree it would need some love to make this one over but I just know that it would be more elastic if not for the sewing so I would encourage anyone who wanted to make this one to give an alternate method a try.
Holy cow. Your work is consistently beautiful. I am in awe. I just picked up my first lace pattern (for a stole) at Stitches West last weekend to make my attempt. Thanks for always showing such great photos of your projects, too.
Off topic: Where was the photo of Kristine taken? I see yarn on the shelves and roving on the walls and it doesn't look like a store I am aware of (I live in Cupertino) so of course, I need to know!
Cheers!
Thank goodness someone is making progress on something ... you! You've done it again. Congratulations on finishing this beauty. If only I could get back to Princess ... but I'm working on two commissions, so that project is running as slowly as molasses in January (or March). I've got my eye on several of those Estonian Lace patterns, and this is one of them. Love it!
Dear mydogpetey,
I wish you lots of luck with the lace pattern! I enjoyed Stitches but have not had time to post the haul :-)
The picture was taken at the Verb Store in Berkeley located at:
Activspace Building
2703 7th St #147*
Berkeley 94710
The store and workspace open up on the first floor in the parking area rather than the street side. It's a great little store but is only open on some days. If you go to the Verb site they will give the days/hours of operation.
Dear OceanKnitter,
Thanks!I'm just happy to have finished something as well though I don't have any commissions slowing me down. I'm not feeling the love from the Princess at all. I did 33 edge points and stalled. It's just not fun for me I'm afraid. I hate to rip out the edging and give up but I'm giving it serious thought!
Thanks, Jane!
I will definitely go and check that out. I always love going to a new yarn/fiber store!
As for my lace, you are a great inspiration. I have a few things to get off the knitting needles and spinning wheels first so I can give it my full attention.
cheers!
kathy
i can't believe you sewed that edging on! phew! the results are beautiful though! the shawl is gorgeous!
Dear mydogpete,
Hope you have lots of fun with the lace and going to the Verb store can be a dangerous thing to the pocketbook!
Dear Opal,
Thank you! Though I like how the shawl came out, I would think twice before I ever tried to sew an edge on again :-)
Your shawl is lovely!!
Dear colorandtexture,
Thank you!
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