Highlights and shadows
Pattern: Shetland Triangle from Interweave Knits' Wrap Style
Yarn: My own handspun 2-ply made from Ashland Bay Trading Company Merino/Silk top (70% Merino, 30% Silk; 4 oz.; 601 yards) in Rose
Needles: US9
Finished Size: 76" wide x 38" long
Two weeks ago I drove down to Lori's in Irvine so she could play with my wheel. I also took along the shawl for a photo op, as Lori's back yard seems to have great lighting.
No one picture captures the color *at all*, because it's got cool and warm grays, cool and warm browns, and touches of white and pink. I remember when I bought the fiber at Stitches West that it was peachy pink. Later, while spinning, more of the greys and browns came out, and with my experimenting with all sorts of drafting methods I ended up with an interesting mix of light and dark and middle values. I have to say, though, that the yarn has redeemed itself. The "color" has grown on me.
This shawl is for my older sister, who has slowly acquired an appreciation of the quality of handknits (Hailey's hats, my sister-in-law's shawl, my mom's scarf). Of all the lace patterns out there, I've been selective and kept to a handful that I've repeatedly knit. There is a certain grace and fluidity in the shetland lace pattern that I love, and the triangle shape enhances it. I hope my sister will appreciate the effort!
The doctor taking time off from research to play! We hit the Purl warehouse--my god, you'll spend a good chunk of change on both yarn and fabric there. We drooled over everything especially the Liberty prints. Damn that Purl. Then we headed over to Kinokuniya for Japanese books, and Mitsuwa for noodles. Thanks for driving me around, Lori!
Don't you love this Christmas star? Yes, it's waayyy past Christmas, but so what!
Linkworthy:
1: I won't summarize this link. You'll just have to read this article, it's about context.
2: Brand New offers opinions on branding.
3: Decency and decorum, and lack of both, in blogging. On Monday the New York Time published an article on the proposed rules of conduct for blogging. Then Anil Dash posted his personal experiences.
4: I've been considering switching cms from Movable Type to Wordpress. There are some informative articles around, and having read through quite a few of them I've decided to stay with Movable Type for now, simply because I'm familiar with their code. I'll probably redo all my templates in CSS, and upgrade, but that's about it.
5: James Howard Kunstler (author of The Long Emergency) has a blog. Go read it.
6: Wanna know where your where your tax dollars go?
The shawl is simply gorgeous. The fact that it is handspun is continued inspiration to spin and knit my own yarn. Thanks for the show & tell.
That's such a great way to showcase your pretty shawl!
The shawl is gorgeous. I agree with you about this pattern. I used it to knit my first project from my handspun. I aspire to someday do wonderful things with color and handspun like you.
You are not gonna believe this. When I looked at your pictures, the first thing I thought (after GOSH how beautiful is that shawl) is "that looks just like the backdrop in Lori's pictures"!
Great shawl - FANTASTIC photographs. And thanks so much for the links - some of which really helped form some of my current opinions.
the shawl is really lovely! I'm so impressed with the handspun laceweight -- beautiful stuff.
and did you say Purl *warehouse*???
That shawl is gorgeous! Beautiful.
Your shawl is beautiful - I am so impressed with your skills!
I've been to Purl twice now - each time I love looking at the fabrics and chatting with Jennifer. And I always follow up with a visit to Kinokuniya... but instead of noodles at Mitsuwa, I usually grab a few Vietnamese sandwiches at Lee's Sandwiches. My husband gets so upset if I head to Orange County without grabbing a few!
Beautiful shawl! I am sure your sister will be thrilled. :)
When I go down to Costa Mesa I do the same rounds: Purl Soho, Kinokuniya and lately also the bookstore inside Mitsuwa. It's a great way to spend a day.
Your handspun is amazing! Wow. The shawl itself is lovely, too - that pattern is at the top of my to-knit list these days.
I was hoping that shawl might be for another special occasion. Maybe you could "borrow" it for our date on Friday?
Wordpress has interested me, too. But I'm sticking with MT for now, as it works well and is familiar. No time to hack up a whole new type of code. I use css in a limited fashion and love it. But its got much more power than I utilize.
How beautiful that shawl is. I have dyed up some merino/bombyx before and it is sooo lovely. The silk doesn't take the dye too readily, but it does give that shimmer. My colors came out quite similar to yours, actually. Gorgeous.
The shawl is just gorgeous. And thanks for the links -- as for link #1 -- I don't usually go through L'enfant Plaza metro station on my commute (thhough I have once or twice), but I'd like to think that I would have stopped and listened. But if I was on my way to work, I probably would not have. Sad, but true.
Your shawl is stunning! The drape and color are truly beautiful.
That shawl is beautiful, I love the texture and color. My hubby is going to LA for a business trip, I'm hoping I can convince him to get me lots of presents from the Purl warehouse :)
Gorgeous shawl. I love the way the colors muddled together to be a shimmery neutral.
Stunning, MJ! Your sister is very lucky indeed. I cannot wait to check out Purl!
Beautiful shawl! I had to do a double take when I first looked at your pictures... "wait, did Lori make another shawl" lol! That first link you posted (Joshua Bell) is FANTASTIC - I forwarded it to several people already and I couldn't stop thinking about it all evening :)
Your shetland shawl looks great! It looks even better in handspun. I just finished my second one. The first was in peach to brown Koigu and the second was in KnitPicks Bare 70 merino/30 silk that I dyed a very bright green. I think at some point I will knit a third one.
Hope you enjoy wearing yours,
Valerie
Ooooh, I want to come and play too! Maybe we can the next time I head to LA.
I love the shawl. And I am sure that she will appreciate it.
Beautiful shawl! Makes me want to hit my stash of Ashland Bay merino/silk...
It's so beautiful. I've been wanting to knit this pattern for awhile, it's such a classic. I love the hues in yours!
MJ, it is simply beautiful. What an accomplishment in your own yarn too. You should be so proud! I have seen this pattern many times and often wonder if it would be a good first lace project for me... I have the perfect yarn!
Now to look at some of these links...
Have a good one~
What a gorgeous Shetland Triangle! It came out beautifully. The photos are nice too!
Hi MJ, thanks for linking to the piece I wrote! It's interesting -- I work with the Movable Type team (and thanks for using MT :)) and the teams that do TypePad, Vox, and LiveJournal, and I think that's informed a lot of the perspective I've developed on various blogging communities. Once you've had the privilege to watch a few million people start blogging, it really feels like an almost sacred obligation to try and protect the communities that form.
To a large degree, it's actually exactly like what James Kunstler describes -- I'd had the chance to hear him speak a while ago and he was saying (paraphrasing) "If you make people live in an environment that looks like a prison, they're going to act like criminals." We think about that a lot when making blogging tools -- what kind of behavior are we encouraging?
For what it's worth, I've been using the knitting blogs community as an example for years as one of the most supportive and positive big blogging communities around. The political blogs or tech folks might get more attention from the mainstream press, but the thoughtfulness of a lot of the biggest knitting sites really impresses me.
And as far as your own blog goes -- we've added a *ton* of improvements to MT in the four years or so since the 2.x versions that you're on. Plus there's a lot more new stuff coming soon as we gear up to make massive improvements in the next couple months. So I hope you'll give us a chance to keep helping you blog, and thanks for making the kind of blog that helps inspire us. :)
And I'm sorry, since I'm completely unschooled in knitting, but that shawl really *is* beautiful to my untrained eye. :)
This one absolutely slays me! I neeeed to make this shawl, it's amazing, you did a remarkable job.
The colors in the shawl are neat on their hints of each shade. It is like a cloudy opal teasing with bits of sparkle. Thanks for listing the links. I hope to get back on the blogging track soon!
=:8
I really enjoyed the Joshua Bell article. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Absolutely stunning shawl MJ!
Your shawl is gorgeous! I'm also in awe of the fact that it is made from your own handspun. I am just getting into spinning - with only a drop spindle right now. It seems like it will be forever before I have the ability to spin anything I could actually knit with!
that shawl is beautiful, MJ! the colors are luminous, like warm-hued riverstones or something. i get wide-eyed trying to realize the yarn is your handspun; so impressive.
Love your "generic neckdown triangle shawl".It's gorgeous. Vicki at www.simpleknits.blogspot.com listed your shawl and about 150 others to link to for free pattern or information where to obtain pattern but there isn't any information where to find the pattern for this sensational shawl. I would love to knit it and would like to know if you can share where the pattern can be located.
Thanks so much.
Ronni
I love the shawl and I adore that color! I also wanted to say thank you for sharing your Liesel scarf pattern; I knit it last year and I really enjoyed wearing it (until a friend had to have it). I'll definitely knit another one soon!