Since my last post I have been knitting busily, as usual, my most recent FOs are two Ishbel shawls, and I love them! The first is a fingering weight Ishbel that I knit as a sample for the Sheep. I used Tanis Fiber Arts fingering weight in the colour Chestnut; it is BEAUTIFUL! This was my first time knitting with Tanis' yarn, and it was a lovely experience...the colour is mouthwatering too! After a considerable amount of Ravelry pattern stocking (as the Stash and Burn ladies would say) I decided that I would have enough yarn to knit the small stockingette, and large lace portions, which I did. Just a teeny ball of yarn remains, which is such a satisfying thing.
My second Ishbel is for me, and I've already talked about the yarn I used... Malabrigo lace in a colourway of my own creation! I knit the large size shawl, after noticing that a few people on Ravelry had been able to do this with just one skein, and it worked! I had an even tinier ball left over from this Ishbel, and its my new favourite shawl. I LOVE Malabrigo lace, but after knitting a few shawls with it, I'm noticing that it doesn't hold onto its block for very long. Even though its only been about two weeks, my Ishbel has already shrunk up considerably. Sad. I don't think that this little downside is enough to stop me from knitting with this yarn, but it is a bit of a bummer...
Speaking of Malabrigo lace, I've already cast on another shawl, this time in the colourway Polar Morn. Unfortunately, this one is not for me, its actually a commission from a friend of my mom. The pattern is "Melon Pattern for a Shawl or Scarf" (Rav link) from Victorian Lace Today. I've had the book for a while now, but this is my first time knitting anything from it. I'm about 2/3 through the body of the shawl, which has proven to be very simple to knit. This will also be my first time making a knit on border, which I'm kina excited about.
Because this project is for someone else, who is paying for it no less, I've felt as though I shouldn't be knitting anything for myself...and I haven't, yet. As everyone else in the world but me seems to know already, denying yourself something only makes you want that thing more. So as I plug away on this lovely little shawl, I've been dreaming about all the projects that I'd love to be finishing, and starting, and all the spinning that I want to be doing, and sewing, and all those other crafts that I can't even do yet, but want to learn...and I think you get the idea. How long will this monogamy last? Will I totally loose my marbles by the end of this project? Stay tuned to find out.
I have attempted to motivate myself by dangling the carrot of a new and exciting project; the Paper Dolls sweater by Kate Davies. I've got the pattern and the yarn all ready to knit, and have promised myself that I can cast on the moment I finish this melon shawl business...hope I can hold out is all. The temptation is even greater considering the excellent yarn I chose for this project...more Tanis! The colours I chose are "Sand" for the body "Blueberry" for the dolls and "Amber" for the little accents...I can't wait!
Your Ishbels are very lovely!
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