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November 21, 2005
The Lace: Flower Basket Shawl
The poorly photographed heap you see here is a Flower Basket Shawl. I knit it using some Frog Tree Sport in colour #63 (which is really difficult to photograph). Instead of using fingering weight yarn doubled (as the pattern calls for) I used it single stranded with the same needles (4.5 mm). When I started the project I figured if I put it on larger needles and smaller yarn, that it would turn out (a) more cob-webby like and (b) bigger than the original design.
But you know what? I was so wrong.
This is a shot (pre-blocked) through my lace. It doesn't look like much does it? It especially doesn't look like a cob-web. I knew after taking this picture that it would "stretch out" after blocking, however I also knew that it would never be as open of a lace as I had hoped for with this needle and yarn combo.
Instead of ditching the project here because it wasn't turning out as I had anticipated, I forged onward. I completed 9 pattern repeats in the end, using up about 270 yards of yarn. Considering that I bought this yarn for about $5 a ball, and each ball is about 215 yards, that is an incredibly good deal for knitting a fancy triangular shawl.
Before now I had always shied away from the triangular lace knitting because I really couldn't envision myself wearing a triangular shawl. Its not that I don't enjoy being wrapped up, I simply like rectangles better than triangles. Hmm, what does that say about me? Take for example this photo. In it I'm wearing a rectangular shawl. Its some cheapo faux pashmina that I bought at LAX before flying somehwere. I love this thing to death. Its the right width, weight and length. Years ago my parents brought my sister and I back rectangular shawls from Printemps in Paris. Although a bit heavier, I sport that shawl around school, loving it too! So why would I break with my own convention and knit a triangular shawl?
I've seen some very beautiful triangular shalws out there in blog land. I became infected with the idea that I needed to knit one (for myself). Now that I have completed this experiment,
I can conclude that lace knitting (a) is difficult to do while staring at the TV (unlike my last FO) (b) can produce some lovely effects (if you pay attention to the details) and (b) I don't yet appreciate it for myself. The blocked Flower Basket Shawl, which I will properly photograph when its dry, will be a gift. It will be given to someone who is a more appropriate size for this modest sized shawl.
What's next then, besides showing you the finished FBS? Ironically, I think I'm going to knit a Kiri designed by Polly. Yes, I know its a triangular shawl. But I've got a certain receipient in mind. A few weeks back I purchased some Crystal Palace Kid Merino (colour:4683 Canyon). It seems like its the budget version of Kid Silk Haze. It feel incredibly soft, which is important because the receipient has an incredibly sensitive itch detector!
After contemplating what lace to knit next for myself, I'm really leaning towards something along the lines of the Florence Scarf at Fiddle Sticks. After analyzing the little picture of the rectangular scarf, I figured out how to make a similarly patterned scarf and the remaining 1.9 balls of the Frog Tree Alapaca have now found a purpose. But knitting the Florence Scarf clone will have to wait until my gift knitting (including Rogue#3) is completed.
Posted by loriz at November 21, 2005 10:02 AM
Comments
Interesting yarn choice for a shawl! I want to try a shawl too, if just for the experience, and will be interested to see how yours came out.
Posted by: Diana at November 21, 2005 02:24 PM
I think it's amazing you have the fortitude to finish this Beautiful, but not quite what you were thinking, shawl, give it as a gift although you intended it for yourself, and move right on to more lace shawls. Whew. :)
Posted by: jillian at November 21, 2005 03:33 PM
You're going to beat me to the punch! I've got Kiri on my list and yarn in hand, but too many projects on the needles. As per usual. Your FBS is gorgeous - shame it didn't suit you. Looking forward to seeing the post-blocking photo, though!
Posted by: Amanda at November 21, 2005 11:55 PM
It's important to find the right combination of yarn weight and needle size to get that fine, cobwebby shawl. Kiri sounds like a good step up from FBS; you're going the same direction I went. Now I feel like I can knit any shawl! Those Fiber Trends patterns are fantastic.
Posted by: MJ at November 23, 2005 10:20 AM