For some reason, I like to knit shawls in the summer. Maybe it’s because the yarn feels lighter in my lap than a heavy wool sweater does. In one of our recent posts, I showed a picture of this yarn and accompanying beads:
Today I’ll show what I’m working on. Some of you guessed this was destined to become an Aeolian Shawl, which is a very pretty shawl from Knitty. But that’s not what I’m making. At least not yet. I’m currently knitting the River Run shawl from a kit I bought at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival from Just Our Yarn. (I can’t find a photograph of the finished shawl to show you, so you’ll have to wait.)
Lace in progress never looks all that great, but here’s a photo anyway:
The photograph doesn’t really do justice to the richness of the yarn’s color or to its beautiful silk-like sheen. It really is gorgeous yarn. It’s Almaza, which is tencel, not silk. The idea of knitting with tencel gave me pause — but I couldn’t resist the color. It’s a bit tricky to work with. It’s very slippery, and I don’t think it will have much stretch in blocking so I’m knitting it a little more loosely than I ordinarily would so that the openness of the lace pattern will be knitted in rather than blocked out (if that makes sense).
It’s a fairly simple and easy lace pattern because it’s repetitious and very regular. I don’t need any markers to show pattern repeats because of the regularity and because the beads themselves serve as markers.
Simplicity doesn’t mean one can’t make mistakes, though. Somehow, I frakked up one of my yarnovers. See the odd-looking shape in the middle?
Now, I kept noticing it and thinking I’d “deal” with it later. Finally, I realized that it wasn’t going to go away. By that time, I had knitted another 40+ rows. It was late at night and so of course that seemed the perfect time to rip back forty rows. Was I tired? Check. Was it dark? Check. Had I had at least one glass of wine? Check. Yes — the perfect time to rip back forty rows of lace.
After I ripped it back, I had a few moments of panic. It wasn’t quite as easy to ladder back up the yarnovers as I assumed it would be. I felt like Bones in that one Star Trek episode in which he’s transplanting Spock’s brain and forgets how everything is connected partway through. Fortunately, the shawl and I both survived.
It still looks slightly funky, but I’ll even out the yarnovers when I block it. Whew.
Ha, I love the late night check list! The shawl is really nice. I am looking forward as always to the glamour shots of your beautiful knitting. I wonder if you would give a short little picture tutorial about picking up YOs since I have found myself in exactly the same place before and found I did not understand the way to fix it! I felt kind of silly for not “getting” what to do and I managed to patch the problem well enough but I sure would like your teaching on this if you feel like sharing! If not, I understand- maybe you don’t go there again!
Comment by Trista — June 13, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
I see no funk in that column of yarn overs – I see perfection.
Comment by kmkat — June 13, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
to ripp away as much as you did, in all that flimsy lace? phew! but the job is done now and is very good indeed.
Comment by Ilana H — June 13, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
What a beautiful colorway! Do the beads add a lot of weight to the shawl or cause shifting of yarn?
Comment by Robin — June 13, 2009 @ 1:29 pm
I love it! I am so jealous!!! Just went in search of kit and or pattern with no luck!
Comment by Linda Lindley — June 13, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
the yarn looks splendid and the lace pattern is lovely! I am especially fond of lace knitting. Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Comment by Karen Slate — June 13, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
Did you just ladder down the yarnovers? Every time I make a mistake with yarn over I have to rip the whole thing back because I can’t figure out to fix a YO. Do you know if there are instructions on how to correct messed up yarnovers? Thanks.
Comment by Donna Naas — June 13, 2009 @ 7:12 pm
I love the colors. It’s going to be beautiful. You’re made of sterner stuff than me when it comes to repairs. Did you at least have a lifeline?
Comment by rudee — June 13, 2009 @ 10:16 pm
Strangely, that Trek episode is starting on TV in just a few minutes — maybe I’ll have to go watch it instead of fixing a couple of knitting mistakes.
Comment by GinkgoKnits — June 14, 2009 @ 2:53 am
Whew! You made it. Good going!
Comment by Deborah (aka Mt. Mom) — June 14, 2009 @ 3:22 am
So gorgeous! I have been putting off knitting a wrap for a bride to be. I think I may have to start it. I don’t know why the mere thought of it stresses me so.
Comment by 2muchfun — June 14, 2009 @ 8:01 am
Been there, done that. It’s coming along beautifully. I asume the yarn and beads were a kit, and the appropriate number of beads were supplied. Could you help me today: If I had a shawl pattern I liked, and wanted to add beads, how in the world would I estimate how many beads to get? Many patterns with beads have numbers in the high hundreds, some even more. When I look at a desired pattern, I can’t even imagine how many repeats of the beaded portion there might be. But I don’t want to buy thousands of beads just in case, and due to time constraints, some projects end up in the basket for so long, I wouldn’t be able to return surplus beads. Help!
Comment by Sigrun — June 14, 2009 @ 10:09 am
Your dropped stitch picture got my adrenalin running this morning. It was a good save! It’s a lovely shawl.
Comment by Pam — June 14, 2009 @ 11:03 am
Beautiful lace! I love that you said “frakked” (Battlestar Galatica) and also referenced Star Trek!
Comment by Jill — June 14, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
Whew, I was having chest pains when you showed that picture of the ‘un-knit’ yarn overs. Lace stresses me out, but I lust after it like a junkie. This is going to be a gorgeous piece.
Comment by marissa — June 15, 2009 @ 2:57 am
Looks like the brain transplant was a stunning success. I’d love to see a FO picture in sunlight; I’ll bet it will be breathtaking.
Comment by Mary Lee — June 15, 2009 @ 9:06 am
i’m interested to see how the 100% tencel blocks out. i’ve only knit with a merino/tencel blend. it blocked beautifully. but that was likely due to the merino content. i love the luminosity that tencel has. i had to check the just our yarn website. that yellow color almaza is calling to me. perhaps i should get some earplugs…
Comment by dana — June 15, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
Very very pretty! It’ll all block out. 🙂
Comment by Romi — June 16, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
May I “third” the request for a tutorial in laddering up to create yarnovers? I’ve had to do it a few times and I still can’t get it right. I manage to get something that approximates a hole and fixes the stitch count but it doesn’t look like the rest of the yarn overs in the column.
thanks, and thanks for sharing your beautiful new project.
Comment by Linda M — June 17, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
There is now a very uninspired (boring) picture of the finished River Run up on Ravelry. I wish I could find a way to show what a really lovely shawl this is. Absolutely the most wonderful thing I’ve made yet.
Comment by lilly — June 23, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
examples of all the knitting projects are great….I really like the sunrise jacket. Can you please share with me where I might find the pattern. thank you.
Comment by deborah — July 9, 2009 @ 8:47 pm