Stripey

7 Small Shawls: T - 32 days and counting down.

I am still reveling in the relaxing and enjoyable knit this shawl is providing. It's a great way to wind down after a day of craziness and a few projects that are vexing me sorely (I've been listening to Emma as I work and the language is so wonderfully descriptive). I am recommending this one as a vacation to Jessica, who, I'm afraid, has had enough of beads for a long time after recently finishing Celaeno (although it is a truly lovely version!).

I've gone past the halfway point several times and ripped back when my decreases did not produce a fabric that mirrored the increase side. I had chevrons, then I had holes, and then I had zig-zags. But the stripes had to be perfectly straight, and it ended up being one of the very easiest and most obvious of decreases that made it all look proper. It was one of those cases of over-thinking to begin with. But see how straight the stripes are now?!

I have the center stripe marked. Here you can see the close-up. I think the two sides are almost indistinguishable, don't you?!

The method I have been employing has created a series of loops along the side that are perfectly uniformly placed. These will be picked up and the rest of the shawl knit down in a lovely simple lace pattern.

The loops are very easy to see, even more-so in person. I don't very much enjoy picking up stitches, so I wanted to make sure this was a walk in the park. Each loop is very visible in the same contrast color, which actually makes it rather enjoyable!

I'm also enjoying some yarn I received recently from Black Trillium. Aren't those lovely colors? I do love high twist sock yarn. :)

I also purchased some yarn from one of my favorite Etsy shops, Yarn Chef. It's a cashmere and silk blend that is truly decadent.

It's a lovely color, but sadly not one that looks at all good on me. Due to the vagaries of computer monitors, it appeared much less pink on mine than it is in real life. I'm afraid that I need to commit the despicable act of over-dyeing to warm up the color. I'm thinking a touch of gold.... Shhhhhhhhhhh.

I'm trying not to think about how much I have to get finished by the end of the year, and am resigned to putting one foot in front of the other and working to achieve super efficiency. Happily, we are not entertaining this year. And I almost have all my Christmas shopping done. Just one store left to visit. Does anyone else do Christmas shopping for themselves? I mean buy their own presents, wrap them and put them under the tree with everyone else's? I know I can't be the only one. I think Santa may bring me a spinning wheel this year. ;)