theraineysisters knitting and so much more

Blocking is magic.  Blocking makes things happen!!  And thank goodness for that!

I started the “Stars and Stripes” Wrap designed by Carol Sunday last April.  The lace work was challenging and the stripes boring, so I set it aside for a while.  After finishing my Sandness and Flora Cardigans, I had nothing fun on my needles, so I picked it up again.  Still challenging and it looked hideous!!

I soldiered on, but had my doubts.  I made some changes to the ends: I substituted a crocheted, scalloped edging that wasn’t flared like the original.  I also did a “pick up/bind off” edging on the long sides of the wrap to give it a cleaner look.

But just how much difference could blocking make?  I mean, if it was a full on lace shawl I would have no doubts whatsoever, but this wasn’t full on lace!

Mount Vesuvius??!!  Kilauea??!!  What the beep??

I really didn’t think the miracle of blocking could fix this thing…but, I gave it a go.  Blocking wires assured a straight edge and consistent width:

Mount Vesuvius disappeared!  The color in the next pictures is very true.

So, blocking took it from hideous to gorgeous!  Yay!!  Speaking of gorgeous, the Together Apart Shawl that Surly made me arrived on Monday.  So stunning and more than thoughtful.

Two FOs for the price of one!!

PS to Heather T.: The “pick up/bind off” method I used is very basic.  The edge on this wrap consisted of k2, p1.  Using the same size needle as the wrap, I picked 3 sts for every 4 rows into the left leg of knit st number 1.  This left me with an unbroken knit st to follow.  Then I bound off with a needle one size larger, as to knit from the WS.

For the Weather Scarf, blocking alone might be enough to smooth out the edge.  I don’t know what yarn you’re using, but I had a tough time blocking my Tukuwool.  It ended up looking very nice however!

Melanie Berg is a prolific and talented shawl designer.  I saw her Together Apart shawl knit and loved the  lace pattern and the colors Melanie used (Tosh Merino Light Copper Pink solid with Phantasm stripes).  I bought the identical yarn and began to knit.

About halfway through the knitting, I began to feel guilty.  In her description of the pattern, Melanie wrote:  “Knit two shawls in inverted colorways and send one to your friend! The intertwined colors are a reminder that even when we’re apart, we’re still a part of each other’s lives.”

During the course of this never ending pandemic I’ve had to cancel four trips.  I missed a family vacation (where I’d get to see my son, who lives in Seattle), a baby shower in Minneapolis, a charity gala I attend every year with dear friends, and knitting camp.  I’m lucky that my daughter lives here in town, but I miss my friends and family deeply.  Susan is both my sister and my best friend.  Not being able to visit in person is no fun!

So I bought more yarn and when I finished my predominantly pink shawl, I knit one for my sister in the reverse colors.  It took me about two weeks for each shawl.  (It just felt longer.)  I popped Susan’s in the mail today.

Here are photos of the two shawls.  Someday soon, if we’re lucky, they (and we) will be Together Again instead of Together Apart.

Happy Knitting and stay safe everyone.

PS from Susan: My shawl is stunning!  I know the lace was not a simple pattern and the shawl is very generous in size, so I know how much work was involved.  Whew!!  I can’t wait to get it!  Sally said she had a little trouble trying to figure out the best way to wear hers, but I love this shape and I love the colors!  Thank you to my lil sistie!  I dreamt last night that she popped into town to surprise me.  Even though she spilled the beans about the shawl during our virtual camp Zoom call, it still is like a surprise visit from Surly!