Finished Object!
The beaded shawlette is finished.
I am very pleased with it. I have calluses on my thumbs and forefingers from struggling with the beads, but it was totally worth it. Still, if I am going to knit 20,000 stitches and individually place 2,040 beads, I want more than a shoulder-skimming kerchief. So I blocked it rather *ahem* severely.
First I gave it a nice bath/soak with some Eucalan. Then I squeezed it out, spun it in my salad spinner to remove more water, rolled it up in a big bath towel and squeezed it again. I ran a slippery cord through the neck edge eyelets and laid it out on my bedroom carpet. Not bad. But it was a bit wiggly around the edges and not quite symmetrical. Also very much in the way.
So I decided to *gasp* hang it up. I put a tiny binder clip at the point to make it hang straight, but otherwise gravity did all the work.
Here are the particulars:
Started: Sunday, July 22, 2006
Finished: Monday, August 7, 2006
Pattern: Beaded Eyelet Shapely Shawlette by Judy Pascale
Yarn: Fleece Artist merino; 1 skein plus a bit (I made the larger version; I think the smaller one could have been done from one skein)
Needles: 4.5 mm, 80 cm circular (100 cm would have been nice, but I didn't have one and my LYS was out of them)
Lesson learned: Buy Japanese beads. Their manufacturing process produces a way more consistent product with bigger holes.
Bonus pictures:
Knitting in tree
Happy cats
Pretty flowers (even if they are pink)
Your knitting is on my list of "favorite things seen in NY" - I have to thank you (again) for the offer of your shawl, but had to refuse simply because I was afraid you'd never get it back. Ever. I haven't knit lace yet, but something similar to this is on my (never'ending) list of things to knit soon'ish. Now, I just have to find some fleece artist and some beads....
It was lovely to meet you!
Wow, your shawl is beautiful. I have yet to attempt knitting with beads. I've heard it can be quite the challenge. :) Your tuxedo kitty looks like my little girl, Otis. :)