I did finish the linen shawl this weekend. Specs: my old standby feather and fan pattern, size 7 circ., 3.5 skeins of Euroflax Sport in Soapstone. I love it - it's big and luxurious. I never tire of feather and fan - I don't know what it is about it, but it's my comfort knitting.
When my brain starts working again, I will think about knitting something else. Not today.
That looks gorgeous! I have this mental block against lace - I think all the holes, they make the pattern fall out of my head. But I just cannot memorize a lace pattern to save my life. Yes, I even need the pattern for a F&F. Which means as beautiful as I think lace is, it will never be my comfort knitting!
ReplyDeleteI don't do "real" lace - the stuff with the 20 row pattern repeats that needs stitch markers and lifelines. That does not look like fun to me AT ALL. But F&F is four rows and only one really involves "doing" anything, and it's just yo and k2tog stuff. I am still capable of screwing it up, so I use stitch markers between the repeats and make sure I still have 18 stitches between each marker. Otherwise, it's mindless.
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful and elegant. Is linen hard to work with, unstretchy like cotton? I've never knitted with it, only used it a few times in weaving, and I love it's sheen.
ReplyDeleteLinen is an adjustment to work with, and it seems like knitters either love it or hate it. I love it. I think many cottons are harder to work with, and are harder on my hands. But yeah, linen has no stretch and feels stiff until it is washed a couple of times. In order to block my shawl to its full width I took it out of the wash without giving it a good long tumble in the dryer, so it's still a bit stiffer than it will be, but I wanted that width, so it would drape. I am very happy with the end product, it's classy but will be quite at home with jeans and a tank top at the movies.
ReplyDeleteI love it! How many repeats (or total number of stitches)? I have at least that many skeins of French blue Euroflax in my stash just waiting for a project, and like you I really enjoy knitting feather and fan things. I may have to cast on tomorrow!!
ReplyDeleteIt's 5 repeats plus 12 - a six stitch border at each end, and six ridges at beginning and end. Oh, I love the French blue - I have promised myself I must work from the stash only for at least the next three projects before I can indulge in more linen, but that may only last until my next reward trip to the LYS. ;-)
ReplyDeleteFeather and Fan is a wonderful pattern. Yours is really beautiful. Hope you got the fog to lift. Murphy is a little dolly of a dog. It's great to hear your tales about him.
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