Seems too early for Christmas trees in the stores and for snowmen in the news, but both are events witnessed by me recently — it snowed here yesterday! What happened to fall? I guess it is November and blah-blah-blah, but it seems like time is passing at a staggering clip.
I had a knitting goal in mind for this fall, but I think it has already passed me by! I started the Winter Wonderland Shawl a few years back and always meant to complete it before the “first snowfall” of the “next” year (whenever the bee-boop THAT means!). So, after finishing the Aran Wrap — and the temps still being very mild — I pulled out the Winter Wonderland (aka Snowflake) Shawl to give it a go.
I am using the exact yarn called for in the pattern: Suri Alpaca Elegance (1 skein) and Glimmer (3 skeins). US size 6 dpns are used.
It is a much more time consuming piece of knitting than it might appear. The snowflakes can be knit fairly quickly, but the snowy backgrounds are slow going for me. They are awkward and take much more time than their simplicity would indicate.
Here is a graphic that shows the layout of the shawl — the dotted line on the bottom indicates where I may add one more snowflake:
The shawl is made by knitting 13 individual snowflakes, knitting a background around each, and then grafting them together. A border is added around the perimeter at the very end.
Here are some of the 13 snowflakes being blocked:
And a snowflake with the background:
All 13 snowflakes are finished, and I think I have 4 snowflakes completely done. It is a fun project, but again I must ask myself: does everything you make have to be weird? Can’t you knit a plain old something for a change? This could be another of those projects from hell that never reaches its full potential!
Because the holidays are looming, I thought I would revisit a super fun project that I made last year to get you into the holiday knitting mood:
This is Rudy the Reindeer and he is really fun to make! The pattern can be purchased from Amazing Threads and takes worsted weight yarn.
PS — I’m sorry I got on my political soapbox this week on the blog. We have always tried to steer clear of controversial topics — we won’t even go near the “pickers vs throwers” debate 😉 !! I do believe this, however: whatever your political leanings and no matter who you voted for, it serves no one for the new president to fail. The price is too high for all of us, so I hope people are supportive and rally for the success of our country. I am now stepping off my soapbox to go knit on some more of those $##$%& snowflakes! Or do laundry!
Oh ! This pattern is beautiful. The snowflakes are lovely. It almost makes a person want to knit up an extra 20 to hang from the tree. The Rudolph pattern; Cute, cute, cute !!! As for that political soapbox thing, don’t apologize. This is afterall, a country of free speech !!!
Comment by Carolyn — November 8, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
wow! I was thinking this morning that I need to start some projects I’ll finish and then your post shows up. That is beautiful. Maybe I can make the snowflakes for Christmas and start the shawl in January.
Comment by Kim — November 8, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
That background is wonderfully cobwebby. The snowflakes would be lovely done in crochet cotton and starched and hung.
Or you could knit them from white alpaca and put them together and make a very nice shawl 😉
Comment by kmkat — November 8, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
What a stunner! It’s so gorgeous! I can’t wait to see it.
Comment by Evie — November 8, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
Wow! I love it, but do I have the patience? Sooooo lovely.
Comment by astrid — November 8, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
I love the snowflakes an it promises to be a beautiful shawl! I cant wait to see the finished product. I might try the rudolph doll, of course Kobe might think it is for him!
Comment by Eryka Jackson — November 8, 2008 @ 10:53 pm
Weird is GOOD! And the shawl looks beautiful.
I am SO not ready for Christmas; not even for Christmas knitting.
Comment by PainterWoman — November 9, 2008 @ 1:49 am
The shawl is lovely – keep at it.
At the risk of being political. I have no problem with people adding a little of their personal ethos to their personal blogs.
As someone who has watched the US election at a distance, the view where I am is almost universally in Obama’s favour and I wish him well
Comment by Sally — November 9, 2008 @ 3:33 am
The snowflakes are lovely and the construction is interesting. I’d love to see another progress report – you said grafted together? i.e., Kitchner style? Ack! Do you leave the live stitches around the edge?
Thanks for reminding me about Rudy. I purchased the pattern and yarn last year, if I pull it out now, I could have a few Rudys (and some little elves) to give this year for Christmas. Wish me luck finding it all in my stash ‘o pending!
Personally, I enjoyed your take on the election. Hope has broken out – at least in my group of compadres.
Comment by Wendy O'C — November 9, 2008 @ 10:32 am
Susan- You know I adore you and I mean this in the kindest way possible, but ARE YA NUTS???
I’d prefer laundry, myself.
Comment by Lorraine — November 9, 2008 @ 11:30 am
gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous snowflakes. Keep up the great work. My two cents – from the picture, I would say do not add another snowflake (it might look too tail-like).
And regardless of your political views, it’s your blog. No reason not to give your take. Of course, it happens that I agree with you so that helps. Yes we can!!
Comment by Molly — November 9, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
Love the reindeer!
The snowflake shawl construction is certainly unusual. I vote yes on that 14th panel, too.
Comment by June — November 9, 2008 @ 6:53 pm
As it happens, I prefer Obama, but if you had been disappointed McCain lost? It would still be your right to discuss it. Stick to your guns.
The snowflake shawl is lovely, and I think your addition would make it even nicer.
Comment by Valerie — November 10, 2008 @ 9:21 pm
I am thinking this is one project I am going to enjoy vicariously! It is ethereally lovely.
Comment by twinsetellen — November 10, 2008 @ 11:51 pm