You all are too sweet--I appreciate the kind words regarding my dad and I am so glad to know that you have my back in the 'paybacks' department. Many of you expressed concern that the Curmudgeon had not adequately paid his debt to society and had somehow gotten off easy at Needlework Unlimited with the measly Jitterbug and J.Knits purchase. Fear not! This girl took your words to heart. Before leaving the Twin Cities, I high tailed it over to St. Paul to the Yarnery and picked up the three skeins of my new bff, Pagewood Farms St. Elias sock yarn (pictured above). This yarn is so utterly gorgeous that I might even cast on a pair of socks right away--yes, it's that good.
I am very pleased to note that Kiri is finished and in the can. Is there anything more satisfying than blocking a shawl? To watch it unfurl, inspect it in its final form and look out on the great expanse of it and think that over series of weeks that you somehow managed to follow the pattern and made that gigantic thing, well, that's quite a feeling, isn't it? I strongly recommend this pattern--at any given moment, you always know where you are. This might be the case with other shawl patterns and I have just revealed my shawl ineptitude, but Kiri is by no means intricate and thus very likely to not lead you astray... Thanks to Ashley for suggesting this pattern--as usual her recommendation was spot on!
The Specs:
Pattern : Kiri by Polly Outhwaite
Yarn: 1855 Fiber Company Alpaca Merino. Three skeins in 'Sweet Pea'. I purchased this yarn at Maryland Sheep and Wool this past May and since I am hell bent on knitting all of the yarn purchased at that event, it was a good choice for this pattern and allows me to continue with my 'knitting shawls out of counter-intuitive fibers' drill.
Time: October to January, off and on.
My next knitting endeavor is going to truly blow your minds. The teaser title : A Series of Small Knitted Accessories Not Made Out Of Malabrigo...
Your Kiri is beautiful!! Love the Pagewood Farms yarn: I have some of the Alyeska, which is cashmere, merino, and tencel, and I am totally in love with it. Can't wait to see the gorgeous socks you create with it!
ReplyDeleteOoooh, I love Kiri! It's great to hear about patterns where you can figure out where you're at. It's going to the top of my list.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check out the Yarnery next time I'm in MN. I only bought a few skeins of Dale Baby Ull at Needlework Unlimited over break.
P.S. The apple green Malabrigo went out in today's mail.
i've seen pagewood farms yarn (the one lisa has) and it's divine! i can only imagine their whole line is amazing. kiri is one of my favorite patterns :) someday i will make one!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Honey!
ReplyDeleteYour shawl is a perfect green!!! Oh, and guess who I showed contitental knitting.... Karl!! We totally talked about you and Peepers and Brown and R.E.M. whilst they were here!
Thanks for reminding me how much I love this pattern! Your Kiri is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat's this crazy talk about no Malabrigo?!!
The shawl is gorgeous! Nice job! and that yarn - omg. I need to squeeze some soon:)
ReplyDeleteNow THAT is be-yoo-tiful! I still have not figured out how to wear the shawls exactly; but I'm making one and I WILL wear it! I'm thinking of becoming very eccentric in my old age, wearing very large brooches... Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteDid I recommend that? I *am* a genius. It looks fab--so good that I kind of want to knit another one right now.
ReplyDeleteHoly Crap. Accessories not made out of Malabrigo? The world must be coming to an end. Kiri is a lovely hint towards spring. Beautiful knitting as always.
ReplyDeleteThe Kiri is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful shawl! That's the first Kiri I've seen not done in a fuzzy lace yarn, and I love it. Is that yarn..sportweight-ish?
ReplyDeleteThat looks like an extremely cozy Kiri -- well done! This pattern has been in my queue for some time, and now that I've seen yours, I think it's about time I bump it up toward the top.
ReplyDeleteLovely shawl. You've turned me into a strong supporter of lace shawls knit in anything but laceweight yarn.
ReplyDeleteMy palms just got sweaty as I read "no Malabrigo." WTF?
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Kiri!! And those three skeins of sock yarn? Yum!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shawl! Really lovely. One of my goals in 2009 is to knit up a shawl.
ReplyDeleteI love the Yarnery! Nice choices. Kiri looks great too.
ReplyDeleteOoh, Kiri looks nice and cozy and warm... Love the color too!
ReplyDeleteyep. totally beautiful kiri.
ReplyDeletebut.....always know where you are?! i think it looks like i would be lost from the start. seriously!
ooooo, kiri looks so warm and cozy! I love the color too, such a pretty soft green.
ReplyDeleteKiri is lovely. And I am with you. Three cheers for shawls with non lace-weight yarn. Can't wait for the Malabrigo-free accessories.
ReplyDeleteAh how those leafy shawls satisfy! Beautiful Kiri! And that sock yarn looks to die for. I think you might be close to reaching "Paid back" status for the hat desecration.
ReplyDeleteBut Kirsten is right. No Malabrigo=crazy talk!
LOVE the Kiri, but...
ReplyDeletebut...
Small knits without malabrigo? Are you sure you're not your evil twin?
I love your shawl, and the color is totally perfect.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I knit something out of a yarn other than Mal, I feel kinda like I'm cheating on it--it always welcomes me back though :) Can't wait to see what you have in store for us.
That shawl is beautiful! I have to ask (since I always wonder when I see gorgeous shawls): do you actually wear shawls? Or do you use them in some other public manner, such as draping them over a table or hanging them on the wall? Or are they the sort of thing you put in a box and save to show your grandkids to prove that people once had hobbies that didn't involve cerebral implants?
ReplyDeletePrevious commenters said it all. That Kiri is beautimous. I'm off to put it in the rav queue.
ReplyDeleteAmy's comment "Are you your evil twin" line cracks me up. I'm going to use it to describe myself sometime.
As to Yarnhog's questions- I would be so happy if it were socially acceptable to wear shawls over one's head on a regular basis. So much more complementary than hats and it makes you feel like the queen of sheba or something
Kiri is beautiful! Looks like it was complicated but so worth it!
ReplyDeleteYour Kiri is lovely! I think the yarn you chose is perfect.
ReplyDeleteGreat shawl. Maybe there's hope for my lace knitting! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour Kiri is fabulous! I much prefer it in the yarn you choose as opposed to the original in Rowan kid silk haze.
ReplyDeleteJust lovely!
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! That color!
ReplyDelete