Friday, July 06, 2007

Finished!

It is a charm of shawls, I'm finding, that everyone would like one. Well, at my house, anyway. We were very concerned that this shawl would not be big enough. It looked very, very little when I was done knitting it, so small that my oldest daughter claimed it perfect for herself, before the baby decided it would be hers.


Then I proceeded with the blocking. I strung dental floss through the straight sides and, in this shawl's case, the neck. Well, I didn't, myself. I showed the oldest girl (so very, very hopeful she would get this shawl, poor thing) how, and set her to work on it.




Then we pulled all the dental floss straight, and it straightened out the edges of the shawl pretty nicely. See how it stretches out all of the loops around the neckline? If I'd had some nails to drive into the carpet, I could have wound that floss around them and really gotten a straight edge on the sides! As it is, I thought the floss was extremely helpful, and reduced the pinning by a lot. Then I pulled down and pinned the pretty scallops and turned on the fan! I really wanted to wear it to a family get-together tonight, as it would have made me feel good. But, alas, it will not dry in time. Still, so much for it being too small! The pattern said it would be 22 inches long by 60 inches wide, and I ended up with 26 1/2 by 70 inches! And I think I could have blocked it a good deal harder than I did. This isn't the final picture of the blocking. I straightened some little details out. But I have to say that, all in all, shawl knitting is the best knitting time I've had, umm, EVER.


I feel like I snuck in the back door of a riotous party, where everyone is having a great time, just laughing and feeling so darned good just to be there. And here I'd been walking by this building every day, thinking it was some ordinary business, having no idea how much fun was going on inside. And that's how I feel about shawl knitting. There's been a party going on near me all this time, and I didn't know about it. Even if I never thought I was a person to wear shawls, making them is the bees' knees. (And I am so wearing this shawl, EVERYWHERE) Even as I was doing the pretty neat picot bind-off, and ran out of yarn eight inches or so from the edge. Even then, it was fun. (I had more yarn. That helps) I'll show pictures of small hopeful people modeling the shawl, once it's dry. By the by, the middle child didn't ask for this shawl. She said she is waiting for the Dragone one to be done. Smart girl. =)

18 comments:

AR said...

Ooh; ooh! Awesome! You'd better wear it, or bring it on Wednesday! Great job, Carrie! It's so beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you're finished already! I've got to pick up the pace! It's amazingly beautiful - keep it away from the girls. It's all yours.

sheep#100 said...

Very pretty!
Pattern name?

Anonymous said...

That shaw is awesome!

Anonymous said...

It came out great! and yes, isn't shawl knitting the most fun you can have......well, maybe not, but it is fun. I've knit way more shawls than I wear.

Romi said...

:gasp: It's beautiful!!! :)

LaurieM said...

Hooray! Welcome to the club and congrats on your finish. That pattern has a really interesting neckline. I wasn't expecting that.

I'm really looking forward to a shot of you modeling it. Will you glam up for your first shawl's modeled debut?

Anonymous said...

OMG, that looks great! Congratulations!

Carol said...

You did a great job with this! Really nice.

Jen said...

That is beatiful!

Mine is coming along. But not that fast. And it isn't as beautiful as yours is.

Anonymous said...

Now how could you resist those eyes. I learned something new about blocking. I will be trying it. Thanks for the info.
The shawl turned out BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Knitalittle

Laura B said...

BEAUTIFUL work! Seriously! No wonder your daughters are eyeing it! Very smart girls.

Jennifer said...

Lovely, lovely shawl! I can see why the children want to make off with it. So, are you feeling a shawl addiction coming on?

Larjmarj said...

Putting the kids to work pinning? Good idea!
Love the dental floss technique.
I love making shawls too. So many on my list!

Tala said...

GORGEOUS!! Congrats! It came out beautifully!

I am one repeat through the main body of the luna moth shawl - I promisepromisepromise I will blog it this week along with the Disney trip!

Rachel said...

Wow--that is beautiful...I think you are well past needing to do the beginning lace shawl I'm working on! You did an amazing job with this! did you post the pattern name/link earlier or am I just missing it?

ps--definitely post a pic of your turtle quilted wallhanging..I'd love to see it!

Brigitte said...

It's beautiful! You did such a fabulous job (and you are completely justified in keeping it!). Just the motivation I need to keep going on mine.

Anonymous said...

Carrie, it is GORGEOUS! And that dental floss idea was brilliant (I must steal that). I'm soooo happy to hear that you're going to wear your shawl, too--so many knitters think they're too young or whatever, but age has nothing to do with it. Wear it with pride--you've earned it. Great job!