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Pattern: Flower Basket Shawl by Evelyn Clark, Interweave Knits Fall 2004
Yarn: Misti Alpaca in #605 Natural Tan, also available here
Needles: US9
Finished Size: 66" wide x 35" long

I ended up with 9 repeats of the pattern. The larger size may have been due to the fact that I used larger needles; I was actually surprised that it came out as big as it did. My grandmother and I are the same size (she's a bit shorter) so this is sure to fit her. And she *loves* earth tones. It's an easy pattern to knit; I didn't have problems working with the yarn doubled or its fineness, or the charts. I highly recommend this to any beginners because it's a good introduction to lace knitting. Best of all, I *get* charts now. I forced myself to work from the chart instead of writing everything out. It just clicked. Hah! More pictures of the shawl here.

So these are my projects for the rest of the year, in no particular order:

1. Polly's Kiri for BF's mom
2. Another Kiri for me, in that gorgeous merino/tencel from Silver Creek Farms I bought from Stitches West earlier this year
3. The shawl from the Mystery Shawl Knit-Along. There's already a Part 2, but I'll try the first one first
4. Another sock pattern... maybe. I'm stuck on 2 sizes for Mirabella
5. A hat pattern... maybe
6. A scarf pattern... maybe
7. Cabled turtleneck sweater from an old Rebecca
8. Baby items! This is phase 3 of the pregnant friends...

Ooh. Google. Bad Google. Bad, bad, Google!

Reading: Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. I haven't mentioned any books in a while but I've been reading in the background. I've already passed 52 books, but I'll continue with my list until year's end.

If a shawl project takes me just 2 weeks and 2 entries, it's easy.

Look! I'm already blocking the thing!

Closeups of the points.

Granted, my Canon S330 is 2 years old, but it still takes pretty good pictures!

Aeron* kindly modeled in my place. I'm afraid I wasn't looking my best...

I'll have a real model shot tomorrow, promise!

Meanwhile, read 5ives. Comments closed for this post.

*BF likes this, but I like the el cheapo generic leather chair better, because I can tuck my feet under me while I work and when I pass out from overwork the high back prevents me from getting a crick in my neck. I would *love* to have Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Sissel chair!

You've read enough on the Flower Basket Shawl on other blogs, let's talk about alpaca here. I'm actually using the yarn called for in the pattern, surprise surprise, Misti Alpaca in #605 Natural Tan. YUUMMM! It's soft and squishy in the ball. It's a dream to knit up. It doesn't tangle like mohair. Even BF likes to squeeze the shawl every once in a while. I think my grandma will like this very much.

This picture shows the end of the 5th repeat. I'm actually about to start on the 9th, as there is still at least a third of the ball left. The pattern directions call for 7, but I hate to waste yarn, so I might as well try to finish the balls up. Maybe I'll stop after the 9th. ...Maybe. The shawl has become one beautifully muddled mess in my lap that keeps me warm as I knit in the eveings. (I know, you're thinking, warm? I'm a tropical girl through and through. I wear sweatshirts in the summer.)

Please don't forget the animals: the Humane Society of the United States is accepting donations. Have a safe and happy weekend.