Shawl Progress and Pattern

As you can see, Waves on the Beach is coming along nicely. And, I found my card reader (hooray!), so I can show off my knitting again. This is the most yarn intensive project I've ever undertaken (6 balls) and I can't help but wonder, what am I going to do when I move on to sweaters? One step at a time, I guess, for this attention-span-challenged knitter. Here's another, closer, view of the shawl-in-progress, followed by the pattern (in case anyone's interested--it's pretty standard and easy to do):

Waves on the Beach

YARN : MicroSpun (Lion Brand Yarns) in Lilac 15 ozs; 1008 yds; 6 balls

NEEDLES : US 7 straight or circular (shown on Inox greys)

GAGE : 4" = 22 sts/24 rows

FINISHED SIZE : 24" x 60", unblocked

* like in scarves, gage isn't terribly critical, as long as you match your yarn with your needle to get the length and width you want *

PATTERN : multiple of 18 sts + 6

R 1 : Ktbl all

R 2 : Ktbl 3, P to last 3 sts, Ktbl 3

R 3 : Ktbl 3, *(K2togtbl) 3x's, (yo, Ktbl) 6x's, (K2togtbl) 3x's, repeat from * to last 3 sts, Ktbl 3

R 4 : Ktbl all

CO 132 sts. Work 84 pattern repeats or until shawl is desired length.

Ktbl -- Knit through the back loop to form a twisted knit stitch

K2togtbl -- Knit 2 stitches together through the back loop to form a twisted decrease stitch

This is an easy beginning lace version of Feather and Fan stitch even novice knitters can do. If you use acrylic yarn, blocking will not dramatically change the look of the shawl as it will if you use wool, cotton, silk, or alpaca yarn. I've noticed the MicroSpun develops a haze fairly quickly, so if you aren't allergic to wool, mohair, or alpaca like I am, I suggest substituting one of these natural fiber yarns instead. Since this was my first lace project (and one I might still give away), I found MicroSpun to be easiest on my pocketbook (at $2.49 a skein at my local JoAnns, it still beats even KnitPicks cheapest Merino DK weight)

Always Reliable

I love KnitPicks. I'm always surprised when I meet people who haven't heard of them and I have a moment of indecision: do I share or not? Call me indoctrinated or overly cautious, but I tend to keep my secrets to myself. Because if large numbers suddenly went where I go for yarn, I would no longer be the one to find the bargains. Or worse. The place would change, catering to the vapid vagaries of the majority (who have more credit cards than I do). I hate competition. Too much work.

Knitting isn't a competition. Stretching my measly dollars to stay in practice without going bankrupt, well, that's another story. But being the generally enlightened person that I am (who has a hard time keeping anything to myself, anyway) I share. KnitPicks is great.

Not just great. Superb. I will expain. I had a project. Well, hoping I still have a project for a friend who doesn't know the amazing thing she will be eventually getting as soon as my yarn arrives to start said project (now I'm starting to sound like the Jack Sparrow of knitting bloggers). I ordered this yarn at the end of May and I'm well aware that impatience is my middle name. Still, after almost 2 weeks, I called to check on my order status. Tracking number in hand--provided by a cheerful KnitPicks CSR--I found out my yarn had made it as far as Atlanta. But no farther. There it sat and numerous calls to the USPS (both local branch and national help line) could not explain why it was still sitting in Atlanta. The heat? Doing some sightseeing? Had a run in with an exuberent cat? What could my yarn be doing for 10 days in some USPS wharehouse? The people at USPS didn't know, didn't appreciate my possible explanations, and wouldn't go investigate or liberate my yarn, either. Poor, lonely, incarcerated package of possibility. Now it will just be gathering dust and obscurity.

Happily, the good folks at KnitPicks said "no problem, we'll just mail you a replacement". How awesome is that? They could have forced me to fight it out with the Atlanta USPS office or even shook their heads and called it an act of god. But no, they took care of me. And, indirectly, my friend who will eventually be getting the very awesome thing the yarn will be becoming (sorry, channeling Sparrow is addicting). And let's not forget the fate of my very first KAL experience, which hinges on getting that yarn!

Yay for KnitPicks! I was good, too. I didn't tell them in exact detail how excited I get when another of their catalogues comes in the mail, how dog eared, read, and re-read it gets, either. Some things are too embarrassing to share. Like yarn orgasms. But that's for another post.

It's No Secret

My friends all know I watch a lot of movies. In fact, I can hear them giggling in the background even now because they think "alot" is a gross understatement. I am constantly in search of stuff to watch and if I had to rely only on the usual methods (ie movie theatres, cable, and Blockbuster) I'd be in serious trouble.

How do I have all this free time? It's not free time. Just a large amount of downtime at work, and a handy laptop.

I may also be the slowest knitter in the world, but at least I have worked out how to watch videos while knitting. Now, when I actually shell out the bucks for the occasional theatre experience, I feel my hands twitching, wondering why they aren't dully occupied with yarn (knitting in the dark remains unconquered territory, for now).

So, occasionally, tv and video stuff is going to come up on this blog. Sometimes rather obscure stuff, as I've recently started aquiring tv shows from Britain to watch (having gone through all the good stuff here). Case in point. If you've never come across Prime Suspect, with Helen Mirren, you have not lived a full life. The series has 7 parts, each comprised of a two hour story on 2 CD's. I'm still searching for PS-6 "The Last Witness" which I've only seen half of, dealing with the murder and "secret lives" of Bosnian refugees in London.

Helen Mirren plays DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) Jane Tennyson, a late 40's career policewoman who is always being crushed between the brutality of her job and the burned out SOB coppers working for her (and against her) . But whatever praise I might give the series here, it will be too little. It's rare that I see stories of this caliber anywhere and Helen Mirren, well, this is why an actor of her caliber chose to do these on again, off again tv specials. I'm just finishing up #7, Jane's last case before retirement, and can't wait to get back to the screen to see what happens.

So, on that note, the shawl and I (up to Pattern Repeat 50 out of 84) are getting back to it. Do whatever you have to, to see Prime Suspect. It's worth it, if for nothing else than seeing a 40's-50's career woman who is not poshly dressed and coiffed to within an inch of her life, trying to retain what it means to be female after decades of bleakness, male shite, and various addictive, coping behaviors.

Totally coincidentally, Jane looks just like my Mom. They share a lot of the same expressions, presence, and grimness of gaze (no other way to describe that). This series was produced long after my mom died, but I think she would have been deeply connected and moved by Jane.

Project Hoarding

My first shawl, Waves on the Beach, is past the half way point at last. Tonight, I'm on Pattern Repeat 45 (out of 84) and near the beginning of my 4th ball of yarn (2 more to go). I'd have pics to share, except that my dear father has lost my card reader and until I can replace it, I can't upload anything. Did I mention my camera cable is also MIA? Yes, the only thing I can reliably find on a regular basis is yarn. And let's not go into the list of seen once and not for a long time since knitting needles...

But if I can't share a photo, I can at least paint an image with words. 30" wide unblocked, it stretches from my neck down to and just past my wrist. Both short ends are scalloped, the long edges straight and bordered with 3 knit stitches. When finished, it will stretch the length of my outstretched arms, fingertips to fingertips. Maybe longer after it's blocked. The color is a pewter/periwinkle shade of blue, the same color as the smoke drifting down the moutainside at dusk, in ethereal waves. The lace pattern is basic, a twisted stitch version of feather and fan knit with sport weight, microfiber yarn on INOX #7's. It has a more substantial feel compared to the usual gossamer feel of lace but not so much that it would weigh a person down. It's also quite warm and since I work inside a freezer here (not literally, but most nights it feels like), the warmth is appreciated.

The only sticky bit is who gets it when I'm done. I have been waffling back and forth since I started the project. On one hand, I want to give it to my friend Danielle. I originally chose the color and yarn for her. But after so much work and time, I find that I've become loathe to part with it. In the same way that a dragon hoards its gold, I wrap it around me while I knit and every night, I see the thing as mine more and more. I swear I just started out with string and sticks and have no idea where this baby came from..

It's hard being a yarn dragon. But we are what we are.

And since I'm falling asleep over typing this, I'd better get back to work and hunt up some espresso.