The shawl that finally ends

Front of the shawl

I finally finished my Damson shawl! I've been knitting this shawl for over a year. Ok, that's kind of a lie.  I mean, it's been hogging my needles for a year, but I was so over it that I put it down for about eight months.  I decided it was finally time to complete it as I was only about 20 rows from completion.  It just so happened that they were rows of 300 stitches and more, interspersed with an entire row of purling between each pattern row. Uggghhh!

Back of the shawl

I forced myself to sit down over the course of a few nights and whipped out (ok, well, slowly churned out) the end of the shawl.  The final bind off row was over 500 stitches and was pure torture, but it was so worth it when it was completed! I blocked the shawl into place and within 24 hours was wearing it in this perfect California Spring weather.

Pre-blocking

Blocking

This was my first knit shawl, and like childbirth (well, from what I've been told) I forgot the pain this inflicted and instantly cast on another shawl.  Not the same pattern, and I swear it seems like it should be less painful... right? Uh oh, what have I got myself into...

In the loop

Just been working on a crochet project for a friends' upcoming birthday.  I love the yarn I'm using - Misti Alpaca Hand Painted lace. The color is gorgeous and it's wonderful to work with.  I'm using the Crocus Bud Shawl pattern again because I just loved it so much. It's fast and easy to put together.

 

My favorite part of this shawl is blocking it and seeing the pattern open up. This one may actually be more like a shawl in size because of the lace weight yarn.  I'll keep you posted. I'm flying down to Southern California this weekend for a Disneyland trip so hopefully I can finish this project up on the plane ride.

Crochet Shawl... I mean, Scarf

When I first signed up for Ravelry, I accidently purchased a crochet pattern: the Crocus Bud Shawl.  For some reason, I had missed the fact that patterns could be for either knitting or crochet... and I only knew the former.  I promised myself that one day I would learn to crochet just so I could make the shawl.

Before blocking

Well, I didn't end up learning to crochet just for that pattern, but I did instantly run and dust it off.  I was happy to discover that it was a fairly easy pattern and consisted of stitches that were similar to my first crochet lesson.  I busted out a sock yarn from my stash (as I just don't have the motivation to make a pair of socks) and whipped out this shawl... Unfortunately, I didn't have enough yarn to make a long, drapey shawl, however once it was blocked, it still made a nice scarf.

During blocking

I really enjoyed working on the pattern though so I'm ready to cast it on with some lace weight yarn I've been saving for a similar project.

Blocking

A sneak peak of the crochet shawl I'm blocking.  So exciting!

Even with a couple of blockings, it's not as large as I would have liked, but it was so easy to make that I think I'll just make another one.