The Heart Wants What It Wants
My coffee table used to look like the headquarters of Interweave Knits. Swatches, balls of yarn, needles, patterns, notebooks- strewn helter skelter across the more usual debris of mugs, coasters and remotes. Buried in the mess was the elusive perfect project: something for the metro, another for the evenings, a third for a friend's birthday. No one can say I didn't sample every ware before making a decision, so it's especially refreshing to note how quickly the right combination came together into a finished object.
Something about this shawl just says "Summer," to me, with all its juicy, barefoot pleasures. After a sweetly warm day of museums and cafes, there arrives a just-slightly-chilled night, outdoors with a kir and a gentleman caller. There's a very Continental feel to this shawl, one I hope the recipient enjoys.
The Flower Basket Shawl, by Evelyn Clark from the Fall, 2004 Interweave Knits. Knit on US 8 using Solitude Leicester Longwool, a sport/dk weight pure wool from local sheep and my local farmer's market. I used a little under two skeins, about 475 yards. It's somewhat larger than the pattern, hence the additional yarn usage. I knit 10 repeats instead of the called-for 7. Pre block, the shawl had a 52 inch wingspan and was 23 1/2 inches deep. After blocking, it measured 80 inches wide and 30 inches deep.
The yarn got a little fuzzy in the blocking, more than I would have expected from such a smooth spin. The halo obscures the lace a little, but not in an unpleasant way.
The shawl is a little outside the recipient's usual wardrobe, but she's soon to return to the working world after many years of graduate school.
And since I'm clearly on a lace kick, now on the needles is a lovely little snack you may have heard of: The February Lady Sweater. It is most delicious.
Great shawl, but also I applaud your ability to wear a hat with panache!
Posted by: Linda | June 25, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Fantastic! I've had one on the needles for a while as well and need to get cracking:)
Posted by: Heather | June 25, 2008 at 02:11 PM
you are seriously on a lace kick! it's gorgeous!
Posted by: ann | June 25, 2008 at 02:33 PM
You are a knitting machine!
Now only would it take me 6 months to make such a beauty, but I could never wear it with such class! By the way, the Lace Tunic is just spectacular.
ps. I just meme-tagged you :p
Posted by: knitbug | June 25, 2008 at 03:53 PM
So beautiful. You look like an elegant English lady on the pictures.
Posted by: Ljolja | June 25, 2008 at 04:55 PM
YES,You do wear the hat well!!!
AND the Feb.Lady sweater is terrific.What type yarn and what colour?It should look great on you!!
Posted by: Wendy Rambo Shuford | June 25, 2008 at 08:50 PM
beautiful! love the hat - the perfect summer accompaniment!
Posted by: stacey | June 26, 2008 at 08:52 AM
It's just beautiful! Love the meme, too.
Posted by: Amy | June 26, 2008 at 05:11 PM
As the lucky recipient of this gorgeous shawl, I can assure you that I am thoroughly enjoying everything about it! I only hope I will wear it as elegantly as you in these beautiful photos! In the two days I've had with it I'm already very much enjoying having it wrapped around my shoulders in the cool evenings of my apartment; I can't wait to take it out into the world.
Thank you so much my lovely friend!
Posted by: Lori | July 01, 2008 at 12:18 PM
oh, it's beautiful! and so are the photos!
Posted by: pamela wynne | July 01, 2008 at 04:20 PM