FO: Burgundy bat shawl
Pattern: Japanese feather and fan shawl from Izzy’s Knitting. This stitch pattern is super-popular, and is also featured in the Baltic Sea Stole and Japanese Feather Stole.
Yarn: Most of two skeins of Fleece Artist Merino Sock, $24 each , from Knitty City, thanks to a gift from Sarah and her mom. Thanks Sarah and Sarah’s Mom! Their gift certificate has ended up being turned into two shawls, the Ella Shawl and this one.
Needles: Lace Addis, size 5
Project began/ended: Started April 28, finished July 11, or a little over two months.
Notes and Modifications: I was a little worried about how the variegated yarn was going to turn out, and probably, if I could turn back time, (to quote Cher), I would have picked a semi-solid. I even contemplated overdying the whole project, but once it was blocked out, I think it was fine. An interesting experiment–and it definitely turned out better than I had expected when it was on the needles.
I knit the pattern exactly as written. It’s pretty clear, though lacking in direction. If you haven’t figured it out, you knit as written on the chart to the end (from right to left), knit the middle stitch as indicated, then knit back from left to right for the other half of the stitches, reversing the directions of the decreases (replacing the SSK with K2TOG and vice versa). My edging didn’t really feather and fan, but no one else’s on Ravelry’s seemed to either.
Click through after the jump to see more photos.
I always seem to be modeling shawls in inappropriate weather. It was totes hot last weekend, and I was sweating in the shawl.
The shape is sort of a scooped out half circle–like half of a doughnut.
I think there’s something about the shawl that makes me feel like I should be on an album cover for Greensleeves, “performed with period instruments” or something. (All photos taken by Adam at the Cloisters, New York’s awesome medieval museum.)
July 16th, 2008 at 9:49 pm #Wayne Manor
Batgirl strikes again! It was a quiet morning at City Hall, until Mayor Megabucks was pulled out of a meeting with the Commissioner of Health, Nutrition, Sitting Up Straight, and Keeping Elbows Off the Table to receive the fearsome news: Cigarette violation at the Cloisters! He knew right away that there was only one person in Gotham City who could stop The Smoker. Mayor Megabucks called up the Department of Special Effects and told them to project over Gotham’s skyline the famed Batgirl signal, fearsome scourge of scofflaws and minor criminals: A pair of knitting needles crossed over a Chinese ideogram that means either “cotton swab” or “your message here,” depending on the region. Batgirl saw the silhouette, hopped on the A train, boldly strode up to The Smoker, and said, “Um, sorry to be a pest–I know I’m always complaining–but would you mind not smoking? If it isn’t too much trouble.” The Smoker said, “Oh, sure, sorry,” and stubbed out his cigarette. Gotham City was safe once again–thanks to the bravery of Batgirl and her ultra-attractive custom-knit shawl.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:59 pm #michele
i think this looks fantastic! and i’m glad you didn’t overdye the yarn – it looks good in this pattern – not over the top. that Baltic Sea shawl has been on my list for ages so i’m glad you made this.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:45 pm #jenny
oh! you are putting me to shame with my non-knitting ways! LOVE this! And I’m so jealous, as I’ve never finished any of the shawls I’ve started!
so sorry about having to frog the socks! they are so cute!
July 25th, 2008 at 9:22 am #lekkercraft
Gorgeous photo shoot. The shawl is beautiful – I like the variations in the yarn a lot. It looks like a lot of work! I’ve never tackled a shawl because I don’t know how to wear one — you definitely make it look cool, though. You’re giving me inspiration to try one out!