Super Spiral Shawl
She is done!
*laid out kind of flat*
*edge detail*
The facts:
~5.5 skeins of Reynolds Candide in oatmeal (color #2), could sub about 1100 yards (!!!) worsted weight
~Super Spiral Shawl pattern, by Meg Swansen from A Gathering of Lace, modified with far different yarn and larger needles
~ size 11 needles
~ 53″ in diameter unblocked
~ 68″ in diameter blocked
~ Can’t find any of my errors at all, even though I know they’re there.
~started on 9/7 and finished 9/25
Whew! That was a lot of knitting. Other than some disagreements the pattern and I had about the best ways to word things and the use of a Denise circular*, this was a pleasure to knit.
The yarn I used is a little harsh for a shawl (I can feel a little tickle on the back of my next from it), but it reminds me so much of the yarn used in a beautiful woven blanket we had when I was a kid, so it makes me smile to touch it. The yarn did soften with washing in shampoo with conditioner and boy, did it relax and expand! The shawl started out 53″ across and I had to use our queen size bed to block it as there wasn’t another space large enough in our house. It was a race to dry it before we went to sleep.
Now that the shawl is done, I can allow myself to concentrate fully on the Cafe Bastille Sweater. *check it* After studying the photo of the sweater more closely, I think I might just make the sleeves in seed stitch, rather than have the cable and ribbing. It looks awkward how it stops abruptly at the shoulder. I am also thinking of picking up stitches for the sleeves and knitting out from the shoulder. No seaming is just plain rad.
*I used to be such a Denise needle set fan, but they really suck for knitting wool. I spent nearly as much time shoving the stitches along on the cord as I did knitting. I’d have gone out and bought an Addi Turbo, but I’ve got a bunch of 100 cm ones coming from Germany very soon. This is the last time I’ll torture myself with those needles!
aubree wrote:
whoa…amazing. stunned by the beauty—awesome job, adrian!
Posted on 26-Sep-05 at 11:59 am | Permalink
kerrie wrote:
That is totally amazing, I had no idea it was going to be so big! I imagined it something vaguely pinwheel blanket like. beautiful…
Posted on 26-Sep-05 at 12:22 pm | Permalink
Heidi wrote:
Oh my gawd! That is stunning! I love the size of it! I can’t stop using exclamation points, it’s that fabulous!
Posted on 26-Sep-05 at 12:32 pm | Permalink
beth wrote:
WOW!!! That is big! I love it! How the heck did you keep it on the needles?
Posted on 26-Sep-05 at 1:03 pm | Permalink
Sarah G. wrote:
Oh my, it is absolutely breathtaking! I’m really enjoying seeing all of the output of your recent shawl craze. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Posted on 26-Sep-05 at 1:48 pm | Permalink
PumpkinMama wrote:
That is an amazing shawl - gorgeous!
Posted on 26-Sep-05 at 3:59 pm | Permalink
Kel wrote:
Oh my GAWRSH! That is AMAZING! *immediately covets and plots*
Posted on 26-Sep-05 at 5:02 pm | Permalink
Suzanne wrote:
Holy cow!… that is … crazy huge-i could smoother you to death- kinda shawl … I’m amazed and … I want it … Good Job! (XP I typed gooj dob … but i fixed it :))
Posted on 26-Sep-05 at 6:41 pm | Permalink
Gwen wrote:
Wow, you make the most yummy shawls. I want it…I want them! Can’t wait to see whats next.
Posted on 26-Sep-05 at 9:47 pm | Permalink
eling wrote:
the shawl is GORGEOUS. i am in awe. thanks for the eye candy
Posted on 26-Sep-05 at 10:47 pm | Permalink
Mom wrote:
Wow, Adrian! A masterpiece! You may have the scratchy blanket from your childhood if you want it. Of course, I still have it.
Posted on 27-Sep-05 at 11:09 am | Permalink
Rebecca wrote:
Wow that’s gorgeous! No wonder you were quiet for more days than usual. You did that in some serious record time. That will be really great to cuddle up on the sofa I’d bet.
Posted on 27-Sep-05 at 1:15 pm | Permalink
Marie wrote:
That is so beautiful! You could use it not only as a shawl but a lap blanket.
Posted on 27-Sep-05 at 4:57 pm | Permalink
Tiffany wrote:
OMG she is just a monster of beauty. I just came over here to check out your spindle kits and get the link for someone who is interested in starting and was not prepared to see such beauty, I almost gasped
Good job. How in the world did you block her?
Posted on 27-Sep-05 at 9:23 pm | Permalink
Felicia at sweetgeorgia wrote:
OMG, that is amazing!!! Congrats Adrian! That IS a lot of knitting. phew.
Posted on 28-Sep-05 at 2:04 pm | Permalink
Meg wrote:
Why don’t you carry the sleeve cables all the way up the shoulders? I can help you figure it out if it something you are interested in doing. Let me know.
Posted on 28-Sep-05 at 7:29 pm | Permalink
Meg wrote:
And Adrian…the shawl is absolutely stunning!
Posted on 28-Sep-05 at 7:31 pm | Permalink
Becky wrote:
O-M-G!!! That shawl is perfect! I think it’s the prettiest thing I’ve seen in ages!
Posted on 28-Sep-05 at 8:41 pm | Permalink
PuppyMomma wrote:
Great googly-moogly! Love it! Now I’m going to have to do that one too. I hope I have enough yarn. GREAT JOB!
Posted on 29-Sep-05 at 12:05 am | Permalink
'Zann wrote:
I loved that shawl most of all in MS’ book and your rendition is stunning!
Posted on 29-Sep-05 at 2:11 am | Permalink
Angela wrote:
Not to sound redundant, but OMG! That is amazing! I wouldn’t wear it as a shawl, but I’d definitely use it as a blanket.. I just might have to get that book.
Posted on 30-Sep-05 at 12:49 pm | Permalink
Liz wrote:
WOW! It’s huge! It’s amazing! Way to go!!
Posted on 30-Sep-05 at 1:50 pm | Permalink
Romy wrote:
I have been enjoying your blog for some time now, but have never posted.
I am very interested in the super spiral shawl pattern.
did you make it uop?
or can I buy it somewhere?
Posted on 30-Oct-05 at 3:26 pm | Permalink
Romy wrote:
duh!!!!!!
never mind!
I should have looked more closely to your original post.
got it.
I also spin a little now. Thanks to your photos of yarn!
I purchased a wheel and am attempting to dye and spin some, but I am having an issue with the colours all runnuing together.
Do you have any suggestions for me?
Thanks!
Posted on 30-Oct-05 at 3:30 pm | Permalink
Jennifer wrote:
Impressive! don’t take it the wrong way - but it would make a FAB tablecloth too! such versatility! simply stunning. and I’m pretty impressed that meg swansen reads your blog!
Posted on 04-Jan-06 at 4:05 pm | Permalink