Happy happy joy joy
No, not my house… just that my neighbor's gate worked better than mine and his house has greater curb appeal.
Can you tell how happy I am? After all the roller coaster of the bad start and bad finish, I am very happy with how the shawl turned out.
And I learned a few things in the process:
- Check for possible pattern errata BEFORE you cast on.
- Check for pattern errata BEFORE you cast on the second time.
- Check for the darn pattern errata, woman, BEFORE you cast on the third time!
- Learn to use lifelines.
- Check your knitting for mistakes OFTEN.
- Find a better way to keep track of which row you are on in the border.
- DO NOT run around with scissors.
- If you didn't pay attention to #7, at least, do no rip indiscriminately while still in shock.
- If everything else fails, bribe a good friend!
For those who like details:
Pattern
"Myrtle Leaf shawl" from the book Victorian Lace Today.
The pattern is "true lace", being worked on both right and wrong side.
ALERT: There is a mistake in the pattern so please check out the errata before you cast on.
Finished size
36" x 80" (91 cm x 203 cm)
Yarn
Brand: Lorna's Laces
Product: Helen's Lace.
Composition: 50% wool, 50% silk.
Yardage: 1250 yards/4 oz (I had only a little left over)
Color: Denim.
NOTE: I have since learned that Helen's Lace is Zephyr yarn hand-dyed by Lorna's Laces. Zephyr is considerably less expensive and if you are interested in solid colors, it's worth checking first.
Needles
Brand: Addi Lace
Size: 3.5mm (US #4)
Happy Monday, everyone!
Comments
Woweee! It was definitely worth the effort, the shawl looks great and amazing on you! Happy Monday, this was a great boost for a grey day :)
Posted by: Bea | July 2, 2007 9:33 AM
Your shawl is just beautiful. I read about your saga on Ravelry - and I am so relieved to see how well it came out. Congratulations. I think I will bookmark this page to come back to next time I make a mistake - there's something very calming about seeing it get fixed!
Posted by: YTT | July 2, 2007 9:39 AM
Beautiful work! And congratulations getting through your lace knitting trial-by-fire! :)
Posted by: alice | July 2, 2007 9:51 AM
So awesome! Congratulations :)
Posted by: May | July 2, 2007 10:21 AM
Mi...., che pazienza che hai! I had put the stole in a bag and forgotten all about it if it had happened to me. But in the end it turned out beautiful just like a scary fairytale.
Did you meet with Cookie yesterday and talked about the German stockings?
Posted by: Lone | July 2, 2007 10:28 AM
Bravo! How wonderful it looks and thanks for all the helpful hints, too.
Posted by: rosie | July 2, 2007 10:56 AM
wonderful!! it's perfect! lucky you were able to save it after your near catastrophe.
Posted by: kristin | July 2, 2007 11:41 AM
Bravo! And thank you so much about the errata tip. I would have been in tears for days before I thought about it. (This was actually the next shawl I was thinking about knitting.)
Posted by: Sachi | July 2, 2007 11:46 AM
Lovely! Absolutely wonderful! I must say I'm very happy to read that you got over the _small_ scissor problem, and successfully finished the stole. And greetings from Veneto, we are now in Bibione, and have finally got the wireless access in our hotel to work.
Posted by: Maud | July 2, 2007 12:44 PM
It looks beautiful Francesca! I'm glad Kathy was able to get you back on track - she's quite a wonder. I have a lace tablecloth I started years ago that has been languishing because I made an error way in the beginning and didn't have the heart to rip back. Maybe I'll follow Kathy's advice and try to fix it.
Congratulations on a beautiful end to the saga!
Posted by: janel | July 2, 2007 1:16 PM
Gorgeous, Francesca. Thanks for the "details". That shawl will definitely have to wait till I practice some more. Have you picked out the next one from that book?
Posted by: Marina | July 2, 2007 1:52 PM
Simply gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Bobbi | July 2, 2007 1:55 PM
Hooray! I looks lovely, and congrats on the Big Fix! :)
Posted by: Janice in GA | July 2, 2007 2:12 PM
*Round Of Applause**Round of Cheers*
Yeah... it is beautiful. I am glad Kathy was able to get you back on track and you didn't rip more than you had to...
SO pretty!!!
Posted by: kitty kitty | July 2, 2007 3:39 PM
Yay! It's fixed and absolutely lovely! What an accomplishment!
Posted by: Rachele | July 2, 2007 4:43 PM
beautiful, francesca!!
;)
Posted by: andrea | July 2, 2007 6:41 PM
It's really beautiful Francesca!
Posted by: Wannietta | July 2, 2007 6:44 PM
yay!!
Posted by: karen | July 2, 2007 7:26 PM
Beautiful beautiful!
I've never used a lifeline ... but I know I need to master that sooner or later.
Posted by: Agnes | July 2, 2007 7:49 PM
Oh, Francesca, it's beautiful! Thanks for all the enormously useful tips. I will likely start on a shawl of the same size for a friend soon. How long did it take you to make it?
Posted by: Ava | July 2, 2007 8:09 PM
It's yummy, just scrumptious!
Posted by: Kyra | July 2, 2007 9:51 PM
Oh the lightness of lace! Sublime.
Posted by: Mari | July 3, 2007 1:06 AM
Absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations, i think the struggles were well worth it.
Posted by: lomester | July 3, 2007 8:34 AM
It is gorgeous, good thing you persisted and managed to get it fixed, the shawl is well worth it.
Posted by: Anna | July 3, 2007 1:02 PM
Hoorah! You fixed it! It is stunning. But, no Darwin Award for you! (((hugs)))
I think that Darwin Award can be given to me. I'm knitting the Scotch Thistle lace stole from Heartstrings for my sister and I have somehow managed to accidentally pull the knitting off the needles three times now! Not once, not twice but THREE TIMES! NO LIFELINE! Definitely a Darwin Award winner! sigh
Posted by: Kate/Massachusetts | July 3, 2007 4:58 PM
It's beautiful, and it looks great on you, too!
Posted by: strikkelise | July 5, 2007 2:43 AM
Lovely! That is just beautiful!
Posted by: Lorette | July 7, 2007 10:41 AM
I'm so glad you got it put to rights in the end, Francesca; it's beautiful!
Posted by: Karen | July 7, 2007 12:18 PM
Congratulazioni, e' davvero bellissimo! Goditelo dopo tutte le miserie che hai passato...
Posted by: Zita | July 7, 2007 1:33 PM