Sunday, October 10, 2010

simple yet effective shawl

Last weekend I finally finished my 'simple yet effective' shawl. Hooray! I think I've been working on this since March, so six months. Not bad, I suppose, considering it's made with such tiny yarn and needles. The real reason it took so long is because after the rows started getting very long I found I didn't want to pick it up very often. Who has 20-30 minutes or more just to complete a row? I often wonder this about knitters who take their knitting everywhere--what if you don't have a long enough block of time to finish a row? Then what do you do? It makes me not want to pick it up at all. But then, when I finally got toward the end, I pushed through and did several rows in one weekend. And now I have a finished--tiny--shawl.
I knew this shawl was tiny because I have seen it on others' blogs. I don't mind. I pictured it all along with this dress and boots and they do look pretty cute together. It's perfect for fall in So. Cal. We don't need much extra warmth just yet.
The boys and I had fun doing a silly photo shoot in the yard. Here they are handing me handfuls of lavendar.
Mostly I'm proud of myself for completing such a large knitted piece. And the sock yarn knits up so pretty. It really held my interest.

Can't wait to start my next project now!

15 comments:

Holly C. said...

The shawl is lovely and you always look so darn cute!

Fiona said...

Lovely shawl. When I put down in the middle of a row, I just slip the stitches off the needles of the circular onto the wire. This keeps the stitches from falling off and facilitates a quick put-down.

Jennifer said...

It looks gorgeous, just perfect for that outfit. Great job on getting it finished.

Emilie said...

cute! when I'm unable to finish a row, I also just push the stitches back from the needles down to the circular cable so they don't fall off the needle tips. Unless you are right in middle of a complex pattern repeat, there is no problem with stopping in the middle of a row, at least in my opinion ;)
What are you planning on knitting next?

Annie said...

I stop in the middle of a row all the time. Sometimes it feels like I get my knitting done in increments of 10 stitches at a time ;)

Like other said, I just push the stitches down the needles onto the circular cable. They do make little point protectors you cans put on the end of the needle, but they always seem to come off anyway. But once the stitches are on the cable then I can just tuck it in a basket or in my bag and as long as I keep it out of the reach of little hands that like to pull out knitting needles, they are safe :)

Karen said...

it does look pretty! i feel the same way about portable knitting. i'm trying my hand at a baby sweater this fall! my first!

Micaela said...

i am proud of you too!! it's beautiful and goes perfectly with your outfit (i adore the boots!) and your pretty curls.

yes, what are you planning on knitting next? ;)

nocton4 said...

have made one of these too, yours is lovely xx

Andrea said...

It turned out wonderful! I enjoyed making one of these so much, I started another (love the self-striping yarn!), but stalled quite a bit in the summer. While the satisfaction of finishing a whole row is nice, if I don't have time, I just jab the needles out so they won't drop stitches (there are little holder thingies too that you can put on the ends of your needles, but I usually don't bother with them) and come back to it later. Just make sure you start going in the right direction when you pick it back up (I've knitted half a row heading the wrong way before!).

Michelle said...

It came out beautifully! I just finished the same pattern, but for bulky yarn, and am hoping to post photos soon. Even with the thick yarn, those long rows took a loooong time!

Congratulations on finishing something so special for yourself... you deserve it:-)

Suzanne said...

This was the first shawl I made and it is STILL the one I grab. I used Noro which had some surprise color changes but that's what makes it so versatile. I'm glad to see you wearing yours!

Rosa said...

beautiful! Oh help! I have been trying to figure out this pattern for two days now! I am an experienced knitter but find the pattern so misleading! I have rosa 1,2 and three done. I am increasing each edge and centre as directed every RS row. It is starting to bucke now. When do I repeat the First row, how many pay times!!! I have unravelled this three times, help!!!anyone!

Rosa said...

beautiful! Oh help! I have been trying to figure out this pattern for two days now! I am an experienced knitter but find the pattern so misleading! I have rosa 1,2 and three done. I am increasing each edge and centre as directed every RS row. It is starting to bucke now. When do I repeat the First row, how many pay times!!! I have unravelled this three times, help!!!anyone!

Rosa said...

Beautiful! What brand yarn did u use? I have started this but am sooo confused! I knit rows 1-3 then started the garter/stockinette st rows increasing each side and centre every alt row. It is buckling!! What am I doing wrong? When do I repeat row 1?! Help!

Mary Beth said...

Rosa--I'm so sorry I can't help you. It's been years since I made this shawl and I'm not much of a knitter. Best of luck to you!