Shoulder Shawl...finished!

I finished the first of my three shawls-in-progress from this wonderful book and have already given it away as a belated birthday gift. I ended up enlarging it substantially - going to 281 sts before binding off, but I still couldn't figure out how to add the knitted on border! (I feel like a dunce...I am a pretty accomplished knitter but I sit down to do this and I get all thumbs and needles, can't find the stitches I'm picking up, can't remember which side I'm on etc, etc.) So once again (as the last one of these I did), I added the peaked edging border from the Swallowtail pattern. Maybe when I have more time, I can master this border nonsense, but this wasn't it.

The yarn was from Handpainted Yarns and at $5.95 for 850 yards, you can't beat it. It's soft as can be and worked up beautifully. I used size 3 needles and, even with making it larger than called for, I have probably a good 1/4 of the yarn left over! There are more photos on my blog if you're interested.

Finished size - 60" wide, 24" from top edge to center point

This pattern is a joy and I'll be making many more of them, I'm sure!

Cherry Leaf Shoulder Shawl

For my very first lace project ever, I chose the Shoulder Shawl in cherry leaf pattern from page 134. That may be a "bit" ambitions, but when I met the author at Stitches West, she said I shouldn't have a problem with it even if it were my first project. I realize the photo of her signing my book isn't very good, but there was only a camera phone available, and obviously it's not one of the "better" camera phones. I got to spend about 10 minutes talking with her and for more info about our conversation, please refer to this post on my blog.

The yarn I've chosen for this shawl is the variegated Graceful laceweight yarn I purchased at Stitches West from Yarn Place. I'm not sure I *love* the variegated colors for this particular pattern, but since I've just started, I'm not going to be too critical of it yet. I'm also a bit nervous because the pattern calls for 900 yards and my skein is 900 yards. I went down a needle size and I suppose I could leave off a pattern repeat if I need to. This may be a nail biter!! Have any of you knit this yet and if yes, how many yards did you end up using.

Thankfully Laura (who is making THIS incredible melon shawl) has agreed to teach me how to crochet since this shawl has a crochet edge. Well of course it does. I never go the simple route.

~Kristie (Guilty Pleasures)

Shawl Mania

These aren't great photos and nothing is blocked (or even finished!), but I wanted to share some of what this book is doing to me!

First I started the Maltese Shawl....

...then, since I needed a break from the pattern-every-row when I was dog tired, I started the Three Cornered Shawl.

Then, since it was my second one, I thought I could pop off a quick Shoulder Shawl.......


I feel more than a little obssessed!!