Miss Rumphius Shawlette

Pattern: Wendy's Summer Mystery Shawlette

Yarn: Quince & Co. Finch

100% American wool

221 yds/50 gr color Lupine 116

about 1.5 balls

a joy to knit and blocked wonderfully

Needles: size 6 KnitPicks options

This post is going to be less about the finished shawlette and more about the inspiration behind it.

Back in January I saw a cousin. I was wearing my Summer Mystery Shawlette at the time and she commented favorably upon it. I decided right then to make one for her. I had been hearing about the Quince & Co. yarns and wanted to try them so I began browsing and as soon as I saw the color Lupine I knew what I wanted to do.

( Barbara Cooney : August 6, 1917 – March 10, 2000)


My #1 ALL-TIME favorite children's book author and illustrator is Barbara Cooney. Her artwork is lovely. What a treasure! I absolutely canNOT choose a favorite book. Each time I consider them and pick one, I immediately think of another that I love equally well. ALL are wonderful. She has authored and/or illustrated more than 200 books and twice was awarded the Caldecott Medal.

Her book that inspired this knit is "Miss Rumphius"

A synopsis of Miss Rumphius:

Alice was a young girl who dreamt of doing wonderful things, just like her grandfather. She wanted to travel the world, then come home and live in a house by the sea.

Her grandfather approved, but told her "You must do a third thing. You must do something to make the world more beautiful."

Alice grew up and she did just as she planned. She traveled the world, then came home to a place by the sea. She planted lupines outside her bedroom window. Then one spring, an old back injury began to bother her and she could do nothing but stay in bed for a long time. She was sad that she was unable to plant more lupine seeds. At the same time, she had in the back of her mind her grandfather's instruction to her. She had no idea what she could do to make the world more beautiful.The next spring arrived, and Miss Rumphius was up again. Much to her surprise, she discovered a patch of lupines growing where she had not planted any seeds. She realized that seeds from the lupines she had planted had drifted on the wind and planted themselves. Suddenly, she knew how she could make the world more beautiful. She bought bags full of lupine seeds, then spent her time walking and scattering the seeds as she went. The seeds grew into lupines, which produced more seeds that flew off, so the lupine fields grew bigger every year.

About this book Ms. Cooney said “Miss Rumphius has been, perhaps, the closest to my heart. There are, of course, many dissimilarities between me and Alice Rumphius, but, as I worked, she gradually seemed to become my alter ego. Perhaps she had been that right from the start.”

So today's PSA is this: There is no age restriction for reading books for children. If you aren't familiar with her books, look for them the next time you are in the library or bookstore. I know you won't be disappointed. You may LOVE them as much as I do!

Rahakiri Stole

Stitch pattern from "The Haapsalu Shawl" (p 157 - Rahakiri)

with edging from "Knitted Lace of Estonia" (p 154 - Modern 24-round lace edge)

27" x 56"

Yarn: Lace-a-licious by J. Knits

cobweb - 100% hand dyed alpaca

1200 yds/113 grams ; almost all of it

color name: Washington

[no link - I don't think still available]

Needles: Size 2 addi Lace

This stitch pattern is one of the old ones and, unlike many Haapsalu designs, contains no nupps. I thought the larger areas of stockinette would work well with this yarn and I liked that it was not directional.

In Estonian, raha = money and kiri=pattern. I suppose the roundish areas could be coins but this was not mentioned in the book.

This is the widest stole I've knit and I'm quite pleased with the finished dimensions. However the book instructs one to plan for a proportion of 1:3 and mine is close to 1:2. Still it is a good size for me. Since I knit the edging on in the round it is not a true Haapsalu shawl anyway. Perhaps one day I'll knit in the true manner, possibly if I ever do a large square.

Such an uninspired photo I know, but it does show the color fairly well and gives a reasonable idea of the size.

How Do You Speak to an Angel?

How do you speak to an angel

I’m completely in the dark
When you know that you’ve just met an angel
Is there a proper remark?

We were alone for a moment
Why was I lost in a cloud ?
Do you speak to an angel in a whisper ,
Or do you just say I love you out loud?

Pattern: Angel Lace Shawl
by the One, the Only Evelyn A. Clark

Yarn: Classic Elite - Mountain Top Vail

70% alpaca / 30% bamboo

236 yd/50 gr. - 2 skeins color 6403 - Steel

Needle: Size 5 KnitPicks Options

Now you know I love me a good Evelyn A. Clark knit. She never disappoints. This is my third time to knit this pattern and I'm sure not my last. This may very well be my favorite of her triangular patterns that I have tried so far. I have yet to knit some of her older, larger designs, though. This one, in particular, is a very soothing repeat to knit.

And the yarn? Oh, my it was a treat, too. This Mountain Top line by Classic Elite is a natural, undyed line of yarns with Vail being the fingering weight. Classic Elite says it is luxury that won't cost you a fortune. Very soft. Nice drape. I think I'll try this again, too.

I added one smoky glass bead at each point of the edging. Not too much bling. In fact, you hardly notice, but I think it adds just the right touch.

"How Do You Speak To An Angel"

Jule Styne - 1952

Haapsalu Shawl Day

Pattern: used motif Sofia from The Haapsalu Shawl book

Yarn: Wooly West Nordic Lites; color White Nights, 475 yd/100 gr.; 2 skeins

Needles: size 6; KnitPicks Options

Do you remember last year when I linked to the video of the ladies dancing with their wonderful Estonian shawls? I haven't been able to find a video of this year's dance, although it seems there was a dance this year. [If you find a video, please let me know.]

I did find this wonderful post with lots of great pictures. At the end of that post is a link to a black and white film made in 1937 showing Estonian knitters and fast-moving, busy fingers.
If you have 6+ minutes, you might want to watch. It's a treasure.

Summer Mystery Shawlette

It is after 9 pm and over 80 degrees still. I hardly need a wool shawlette. When I took this grainy photo, the thermometer there behind me was reading about 94. Whew. Hopefully this fall and winter I'll get a chance to wear this. I love how it turned out.

I had such a FUN time with this project. Wendy's pattern - Summer Mystery Shawlette - besides being a JOY to knit, is a lovely design and reminds me of tulips. I expect I'll knit another sometime and I think I'll cast on the extra stitches next time and go for the larger size now that I know how lovely it is.

I used less than two skeins of Louet Gems Fingering in the discontinued color, Caribbean Blue and my size 6 KnitPicks Options needles.

Wendy, in the meantime, has already designed and finished a large circular Pi shawl. Goodness, she's fast! Her latest book, "Wendy Knits Lace" comes out in August and has 20 patterns.

Tuesday Afternoon Stole

Pattern: Lattice Lace Stole by Debbie O'Neill

19" x 66"

Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Select Lace
100% superwash merino
996 yds/100 gr. - not quite the full hank
color 29 Moody Blues

Needles: Size 3 KnitPicks Options circular (3.0 mm)

A FO at last. This one was a long time coming. Actually it was all finished by April 5, but my blocking wires were out on loan. They have been home for awhile, but I just couldn't get very motivated to block it. Too warm already to need it and, truthfully, I'm still seeing stripes.

The stripes aren't too bad and certainly not a deal-breaker. This will make me more cautious in the future when choosing yarn for a lace pattern. The pattern and the yarn were both pleasant to work and I think the very definite geometric nature of this lace patterning works with this colorway.

To repeat, I did not work two halves and graft at center as the pattern instructed. I knit following an idea from "Victorian Lace Today". The narrow lace at the ends is knit sideways. I bound off all but the last stitch and, leaving it on the needle, picked up across the top and began the wider border, worked all the way to the other end and then knit the narrow lace sideways attaching to live stitches as I inched across.

The K2tog I used to connect it created just a slight raised effect that is not at the other end, but to me that is less noticeable than a graft down the center. [It's the end of the right in this picture.] You can see the graft in the photo on Debbie's blog. To each his own, I suppose.

I stopped off this morning to make these photos and didn't manage to really capture the vividness of the deep blue. A Moody Blue. Perfect for Moody Me.

Chromatophobia

the fear of colors

I don't really have a FEAR of colors. I like many colors - just maybe not together.* Well, maybe not hot pink. Or lime green. Nor pastels, really. Gee, this is becoming quite a list!

My wonderful interlude with Evelyn is over. Every stitch a relaxing joy.

I used her free pattern, Brimnes Lace Shawl. I don't think it is available outside of Ravelry. If anyone needed a reason to join Ravlery, well there you go! The KnitPicks Palette yarn softened up nicely after a Soak.

It immediately brought to my mind Civil War-era garments. JP actually likes it and says it doesn't remind him of Civil War clothing at all, but then he doesn't really immerse himself in period dramas or know all the scenes from "Gone With the Wind". It is the first shawl I've made that I might be self-conscious wearing out in public. Or the first one that I thought cried out for a rocking chair. Not that there is anything wrong with rockers. smile

In my bookmarks are links to blogs of creative folks who LOVE color, cannot get enough color, wouldn't dream of making a single object in ONE color alone. I love reading their posts and seeing their projects even as I know I could never let loose with so much color myself.

You may already follow this one - Attic 24. Lucy blogs from Northern England and has a terrific scarf FO in her current post. She most assuredly is not a chromatophobe!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post and her excitement and enthusiasm really came across as she shared the project.

*I make an exception for a rainbow of M&Ms.

Facing Lilies Stole

Pattern: Facing Lilies Stole
by Nancy Bush
Interweave Knits - Spring 2010
21" x 58"

Yarn: Old Maiden Aunt handpainted yarn
80% merino / 20% silk 2-ply laceweight
1300 yd/100 gr.
won from Podcaster Paula at Knitting Pipeline

Needles: Size 3 addi Turbo
24" for body / 32" for edging done in round

I am over-the-moon satisfied with this FO. It is always easy to love the latest, greatest FO the best, but this one may very well turn out to be my most favorite knit ever. The pattern, combining two traditional Estonian motifs, by Nancy Bush is just perfect. The body was a very relaxing and enjoyable knit. You may recall that I had a little problem getting that edging started. Stitches are picked up all around the four sides and the garter-stitch edging is knit in the round. The problem was entirely my own fault. The instructions specifically call for wooden or bamboo needles but I went with the slick addi Turbo ones. Lesson learned: Listen to Nancy.

I took a number of photos of the finished shawl but this one seemed to show the pattern the best. It has been quite overcast and dreary these past few days and this photo was taken indoors without natural light so you don't really get to see all the subtle shadings in this yarn.

The yarn was a dream to knit and the finished hand is heavenly. I was fortunate to win this yarn from Paula's podcast, Knitting Pipeline. I enjoy her podcasts so much! I listen to quite a few podcasts with the majority concerning knitting. Paula's quickly became a favorite.

So thank you Nancy and thank you Paula; two-part harmony.

Lida Rose, My Prairie Rose

Pattern: Prairie Rose Lace Shawl

by HRH Evelyn A. Clark
from "The Knitter's Book of Wool" by Clara Parkes
51" across / 24" down center

Yarn: Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace
70% alpaca/30% silk - 460 yds/50 gr.
color 2432 - Garnet

Needles: Size 4 - KnitPicks Options

What can I say that I don't always say?
An Evelyn A. Clark pattern = Satisfaction all the way.

The only modification I made was to knit two extra repeats of the leaf border simply to extend the pleasure and to use as much of the yarn as possible. I'm not certain, but I may have had enough yarn to even do one more leaf repeat, but I was afraid it would upset the proportion of body to border. As it is, I quite like it with three rows of leaves.

It was another 95 degree day, but I took the shawl and the camera to work with me today and, much like a mad dog or an Englishman, went about in the midday sun to snap a few pictures. I cut the right side off in every shot and, in one, managed to arrange it wrong side facing. I blame the heat!

I waited until I got back to the office to take the closeup of the beads on the edge. Ah....I may love air conditioning as much as Evelyn.

(If you know why I call it Lida Rose, and why I'm humming, leave me a comment. If you don't, here's a clue.)

Peacock Tail Stole

Pattern: Peacock Tail and Leaf Scarf
from "Knitted Lace of Estonia" by Nancy Bush
17.5" x 60"

Yarn: Louet Gems - 100% merino; 4-ply fingering weight
color Cloud Grey - 185 yards/50 grams - 3 skeins (555 yd)

Needles: Size 6 - KnitPicks Options

Yes, the RED DOOR is back. It is just too miserably hot to be out styling photos. I get extra points for at least sweeping away the dry leaves before taking the shot. Last weekend I noticed brown leaves falling almost like it was the beginning of autumn. I can only assume they are just burned and are giving up early. I know how they feel.

Except for knitting one extra length repeat, omitting nupps, and using a heavier yarn, I knit this exactly like the pattern. The pattern is written as a scarf using lace weight yarn and is lovely with the nupps, but I had this yarn and wanted it in a stole size. At 17.5" x 60", it came out just right using only 3 of the 4 skeins of yarn.

The pattern was very nice to knit and, with no nupps on this one, fairly quick as well. You may not really notice in these pictures, but there is an eyelet section between the edging and the body which I particularly like. I'm not as fond of the edging as some others because this one is done in garter stitch.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book. Maybe it arrived at the right point for me when I was more comfortable knitting lace, but I've used it more than any other. I find the patterns extremely versatile. It is easy to change yarn weights or to add or remove repeats to alter the size. Although many require that you knit an edge separately and either graft (kitchener stitch) or sew it on, I find that less daunting than knitting on a edge afterwards to live or picked up stitches. It is also easier, so far, for me to feel comfortable with having enough yarn.

Maybe it is just time for me to dive in and try the other kind.

This is going out to the grown daughter of a former coworker of JP. He requested a knit. : ) The Louet Gems is a superwash 100% merino and I think is perfect for gifting to a non-knitter.

ETA: YouTube video of Nancy Bush demonstrating knitting nupps here

Lilac Leaf again

Pattern: Lilac Leaf Shawl

by Nancy Bush in "Knitted Lace of Estonia"
18" x 60"

Yarn: Jade Sapphire Lacey Lamb
100% Extrafine Lambswool - Color 225 / Blood Red
825 yds/60 gr - leftovers

Needles: Size 4 circulars

Color is a bit dulled in this picture. I think it was overcast when I took it. We've been having some cooler spring days around here. That is really welcome. So often we head directly into summer with weather just immediately hitting the 80s and only going up from there.

I knit this same pattern once before and it was such an easy, enjoyable knit that I decided to use the leftovers from the two balls of yarn to make it again. I didn't quite get all the repeats called for by the pattern, but I used as much of the yarn as I could.

I've said before, I love, love, love this Lacey Lamb yarn. It is such a pleasure to knit. So wonderful in fact that I think I should buy another ball or two....but maybe in a different color.

My blue heaven

Pattern: Sand Dollar Shawl
"Knitting Lace Triangles" by Evelyn A. Clark

Yarn: KnitPicks Bare 100% merino wool
440 yds/ 100 gr.
dyed with 3 packs of Berry Blast Kool-Aid

Needles: KnitPicks Options size 6; 32" cable

Since Evelyn lives in the Pacific Northwest and I live in the Southeast (and travel very little), I may never get to meet her in person. Perhaps it is just as well as I would no doubt gush and make a fool of myself telling her how much I enjoy her designs, possibly even scaring her in the bargain.
But oh my! How much fun! I love to knit her designs. They never fail to please and entertain.

This was a such a fun project from start to finish. I was frustrated with the red shawl when I remembered I had this hank of wool waiting to be dyed. Someday I'd like to get some chemical dyes and try it for real, but in the meantime the Kool-Aid worked and the bright color certainly helped brighten up the dull, drizzly days we've had this March.

I went with her instructions and added three beads to each point, mixing both shiny and matte. They are a subtle embellishment and I think add just the right touch. In fact, without enlarging this picture, you don't really even notice them.

Kinda sad to see the finish of this one. I'm not yet ready to grant amnesty to the red shawl so I'll return instead to the sampler for a change.

Good news.....the Easter M&Ms are out.

Sunshine & Shadows Shawl

Pattern: Sunshine & Shawdows Shawl

from "Knitting Lace Triangles" by Evelyn A. Clark

Yarn: Cascade Alpaca Lace

color #1409 : Caribbean Heather

437 yds/50 gr. - 1 skein

Needles: Size 4

I hit a few snags with this one but all, I repeat all, were of my own making. The charts and directions in Evelyn's book are perfect. {I love Evelyn!}

This time I used her recipe for a three motif shawl. The body alternates between a basic leaf motif and a more open medallion motif. The shawl ends with a repeat of the ripple lace chart. Ordinarily you would then proceed right into the edging, but I still had enough yarn left so I put one more medallion repeat. I thought of the leaf as the shadow and the medallion as the sunshine, so this way I was insuring more sunshine than shadows for the wearer.

The color of the yarn is lovely and I can't seem to capture it well in pictures. I'd love to find a merino or wool/silk yarn in this lovely heathery shade. The alpaca is wonderfully soft, but sometimes I think the fuzziness obscures some of the stitch definition.

Groovy Kind of Love

When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do

Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue

When you're close to me, I can feel your heart beat

I can hear you breathing near my ear

Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love

Pattern: Madli's Shawl

from Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush

18" x 58"

Yarn: KnitWitch Mystical World - color Atlantis

80% superfine merino/20% silk - 670 yds/50 gr

Needles: Size 4 circular

I couldn't be happier with this yarn or the finished shawl. I bought one skein of this yarn back in April at the Stitches South vendor market. The pattern for Madli's shawl calls for over 1300 yards of laceweight yarn so I obviously did not have nearly enough. Because I got an entire Lilac Leaf Shawl out of less than 825 yards, I deluded myself into thinking I could squeeze this one out. But those nupps, beautiful as they are, really eat up the yarn.*

So I compromised and only knit the nupps on the two end edgings and I knitted them both first, setting aside the second one to graft on after completing as much of the center as I could with the yarn. I was able to get 28 out of the 31 repeats called for by the pattern, and it even blocked to a bit longer than the one in the book and wider as well. I'm quite happy with the size:

While knitting this I intended to give it away and had a recipient in mind. Now? I'm not so sure I can part with it.

When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue When I'm in your arms, nothing seems to matter My whole world could shatter, I don't care Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love We got a groovy kind of love

*see an absolutely stunning Crown Prince Shawl covered in yarn-hungry nupps here on Grumperina's blog.

Soggy and Happy

It rained all night (I think) and it was a very wet, rainy day today. I may be soggy, but I couldn't be happier to welcome the much needed rain and to enjoy the cooler temperatures. It hasn't even hit the 80s today!

Not too much planned around the cul-de-sac this weekend, so perhaps I'll have a chance to peacefully knit on the new shawl.

I am in LOVE with the yarn color [#1409 here].

I am working once again from Evelyn A. Clark's book "Knitting Lace Triangles". This is definitely one knitting book that I wouldn't won't to be without - so versatile; so satisfying. You can mix and match the lace motifs or go with one of the ones she's already mapped out for you. I'm using her Sunshine & Shadows recipe and hope to maybe eek out a few extra repeats.

It's pictured here on the languishing Schwalm embroidery. Haven't put another stitch in it since mid-July.

Do you have a favorite knitting book? One that you wouldn't want to be without? One, perhaps, that you'd love to start at the beginning and knit your way through every single pattern? There's one knitter out there who feels this way. Wow.

The Luddite Laptop

With the Brooklyn Birch Leaf socks put away, I've returned to Madli's Shawl and once again I'm making good use of the tin Kay provided.

JP teasingly calls it my laptop so it now has a name - the Luddite Laptop.

Oh, yes, we are easily amused over here at stringplay, no?

One thing I've found with these Estonian patterns, they are fairly easy to UNknit. And there is always UNknitting around here.

There is only 670 yards in this ball of handdyed yarn. It is not nearly enough.

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I decided it would do for Madli's Shawl which calls for a 1300 yard ball. So for this first Madli, I'm going nupp-less. I did knit the nupps in the two end edgings and pre-knit the other end edging so I could use every bit of the yarn in the center section.

It's a lovely pattern I think, and I hope to knit it again with all the nupps*in place.

*nupp (rhymes with soup) is a feature of Estonian lace knitting used to add texture. According to Nancy Bush, since Estonian shawls were typically sold by weight, the nupps added weight and commanded higher prices. Also, they cannot be duplicated by machine and were proof the article was handknitted.

Triangular Scarf in Leaf Pattern

Pattern: Triangular Scarf in Leaf Pattern

from "Knitted Lace of Estonia" by Nancy Bush

Yarn: Classic Elite - Silky Alpaca Lace

70% alpaca / 30% silk ; 1.5 balls

Color 2403 ; Cloud Gray

Needles: Size 4 circular

32" cable for edging

Wow! Happy Dance! This one was such a wonderful surprise. It was so hard to tell much about it as I was knitting around and around for the edging. This is the first time I've picked up stitches and added an edging this way and there were so many stitches bunched up on the cable, it was difficult to see. This edging, however, is very easy and every row is the same until the bind off. I can see using this same, simple edging around a baby blanket knit on the bias ala brooklyntweed.

The yarn is wonderful; light and soft and very natural looking in color. I'm sure others might be bored with the single motif repeated throughout, but I quite like the look.

Although the actual name of this one has it as a scarf, and many of the smaller triangles I've done have been named shawls, this one is much larger and is truly shawl sized. [53" x 42"]

Light at the end of the tunnel

Quite hard to tell what this is supposed to be, isn't it?

This is the Cloud Gray shawl - a triangular shawl but you sure can't tell that by the picture. I can hardly tell it myself and I'm knitting it!

I'm working the edging, in the round, on all three sides. Rounds are rather long, but the edging repeats are actually soothing to knit and every other round is plain knit.

I started this with close to a full ball of yarn and had visions of lace scarves and things I might could knit with the leftover yarn. Well this edge, on this many stitches, is a yarn eater and I'm not sure now I'll have enough. But we shall see. No need to get the cart before horse just yet.

It might be nice to have a bit of instant gratification, and these quick loopy felt flowers might be fun. I think they'd be nice to use instead of bows on packages and gift bags. Of course, I'd have to get UP to find the felt. Maybe I'll just keep knitting around and around.

Whew! Another hot, hot day. I hope you've had a good weekend.

a cloud on the horizon

Would you be surprised to learn that my new knit is a lace shawl? No? How about that it is one from "Knitted Lace of Estonia"? Still not surprised? How about that I'm not using Lacey Lamb? See! I'm full of surprises. And, hey! It isn't even RED either!

I bought two balls of Classic Elite's Silky Alpaca Lace in a soft gray they call Cloud Gray. I think it would be perfect for the Galina Khmeleva shawl pictured on the front of the current "Piecework", but just reading the instructions made my head hurt! I just felt I'd be too distracted to tackle it just now.

Instead I turned back to Nancy Bush and picked "Triangular Scarf in Leaf Pattern". This one starts at the very bottom tip and increases up. One 8-stitch leaf is repeated. Once the triangle is knitted, stitches are picked up all around and the edge is knitted on.

Something tells me that it may prove too long and pointed to be very wearable, but it sure is FUN to knit so far.

I'm certainly getting Santa Claus' money's worth out of this book and there are a couple more simple ones before I get to the gorgeous Crown Prince Square Shawl pictured on the book's cover.

(Sat., June 13 is World Wide Knit In Public Day. I enjoyed a new-to-me podcast today complete with British accent - Electric Sheep - and in episode 2 she gives a little glimpse into her public knitting encounters.)

Not Exactly Lilac

Pattern: Lilac Leaf Shawl
by Nancy Bush in Knitted Lace of Estonia
18" x 60"

Yarn: Jade Sapphire Lacey Lamb
100% Extrafine Lambswool - Color 225 / Blood Red
825 yds/60 gr - less than 1 ball

Needles: Size 4 circulars

This is the third shawl I've knit from this book. The knitting was actually finished before I started the Miralda shawl, but I just sealed it up in a ziplock and put it aside rather than face the blocking wires. (I'll save my breath and not whine about that again.) And I've even had this post drafted since late April but kept going to the next thing rather than finalize.

I loved the bright, deep, clear RED of the Lacey Lamb so much when knitting my first one that I bought another identical ball. Now with leftovers from both balls, I think I can eek out one more!

Blogless FloridaMo was my inspiration for first choosing RED. I would never have made the leap without seeing hers. But I am oh so glad I did.