FO: Bluegrass Mountain Ulmus

I've been looking forward to writing about this project since I cast on at the end of May. First of all, it's a great pattern. After taking over a year to complete my first shawl (Susan Lawrence's Forest Canopy Shawl), I was excited to see a shawl that involved lace, but whose body could be worked up in a relatively short period of time. The slipped rib pattern of the body is easy to memorize, and makes it simple to see and correct any mistakes. As with my last shawl (and probably any pattern from here on out involving a pattern repeat), I made a flip chart for the body, which was enormously helpful.

Once the body was done, the border presented more of a challenge for me. I have never knit from a chart before, and this time, I really had no choice. There were no written directions for each row of the chart, and about 22 of 34 rows of the border are different. So, I blew up the charts, and hammered my way through it. I knit thru about row 10 of the border before I realized that I had begun the border too soon--I had started with two few stitches (damn you, glass of wine before bed!). So, I ripped out, and began again. I was super excited that the ripping out worked--it was a little tricky finding the right stitches to thread onto before I frogged, but it worked out beautifully (thank you, Stitch N Bitch!). Once I got past row 22, the border pretty much flew, and it was simple to see which stitches I needed to knit, and which to purl.

I bound off on Saturday, July 4th, and it was done and blocked by Sunday. These pictures were taken this morning, before I left for work. 

I was SO EXCITED to be able to wear something like this to my job. Normally my work wardrobe consists of black suit, black suit, black suit, AH, EXCITEMENT CITY, GREY!!!!!! suit....you get the idea. While I suppose I could make more of an effort on the "fashion front" to dress professionally AND colorfully, suits are pretty standard fare when it comes to court attire, and, at the moment, a mix and match wardrobe makes the most economical sense. I've had this shirt for some time, and it's a little big in the bust, so this shawl was prefect to cover that up a bit, and I think the colors match beautifully. I received so many compliments on it, which made it even more fun.

This shawl was knit out of Malabrigo Sock Yarn, which is a superwash merino that is deliciously soft, and the colors are so saturated and gorgeous. The Bluegrass color is Solis, and the Mountain color (so reflective of my beloved Blue Ridge) is Cote d'Azure. Wrapping this around me feels like wearing my heart on my sleeve, in a wonderful way. I used #5 circulars, and had about (x oz) of the Solis leftover. I think this will be enough to knit at least one square of the Barn Raising Quilt from the book Knitalong that I plan to make (over the course of a million years).

And, as promised, here's a sneak peak at my next shawl in progress: Truly Madly Deeply Ulmus. 

I think I'll be using the red for the border. I plan to make the medium size for this one, and yes, there is likely going to be another FO in the smallest size on the near future, using what's leftover of the Cote d'Azure, and some Auracania Ranco Multi. I. Just. Can't. Stop. Sock yarn=bliss. Happy Wednesday.

Comments

[Mick]

GORGEOUS. It turned out stunning, Laura! I love your color choices; the shawl looks very watery to me too, but not washed out. Congrats on a beautiful FO!

[Andrea]

Laura, how beautiful! And I love that it is symbolic of the Blue Ridge. You are so very talented!

[Dianne]

Laura,
You should be so very proud..
It's a lovely piece..and your lace work will only become easier and more beautiful..seems you're a natural!!!