Internet love.

I just had to post about how amazed I am at the love I am receiving from the internets in relation to my yarny efforts.  It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

I am still a bit amazed that some people are actually following my humble little blog here *waves at followers*.  I wonder how you found me?  And why you chose to stay :)

I love getting comments.  I'm new to blogging, so I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to blog etiquitte.  Should I reply to comments, and how do I do that?  I feel like a bit of a dunce commenting on my own post.  In any case, just assume I say 'thank you' for your comment, and if you ask a question I will certainly endeavour to answer it!

I also feel a bit famous, because some of my favorite bloggers have recently posted on my blog, in particular:

• Tickety-boo from Tickety-boo :)
• Anastacia from Anastacia Knits Designs - see her designs
• Carole from Gingerbread Girl
• Catherine from A Crocheted World- omg check out her Star Wars Amigurumi!
• Alice from Crochet with Raymond - so much yarny goodness.
• Jarka from from now till then and in between
• Sara from Tangled Happy
• Lauren from Lauren Carney
• Punto Reves - who is having a giveaway atm!!

So thanks all for visiting.  I am a bit of an internet stalker, so if you leave a comment for me, or follow me, I will track you down and follow your blog, and probably your Rav account too... (That's not creepy, right?)

Separately, I am super proud of my wedding shawl, so I posted it in the July thread for 11 shawls in 11 on Rav.  I am amazed that I got over 120 'loves' in 8 days!  It's such a small thing, but I certainly feel warm and fuzzy nevertheless <3.



FO! Wedding Shawl...

Part 4 and final part!

I finished this baby the Tuesday before the Sunday wedding.  I gave it to the bride-to-be on the Thursday, and I was super relieved that she was happy. 

Ravelled here, but final stats are:

Weighs just over 100g. Around 1000m I believe. Ms Gusset is obviously very generous with her yarns, as I still have a bit left over from one skein!

Highly scientific and accurate weighing mechanism.

Unblocked: 55” along the top, 25” deep.
Blocked: 65” top and 34” deep.

The pattern said to block it to 70", but I couldn't get mine to stretch that far.  In any case, 5" is not very much.

I already posted (a rather crappy) picture of it unblocked, so here it is blocking/blocked:

Edging detail.  I estimate I used about 100 pins to block this sucker!

The Kitten always gets in  my crochet shots!

And the best pictures of them all!  I think the shawl, and of course my friend, looked stunning.  These photos looks like they were from a magazine!

In conclusion, I am really happy with the result, and was very relieved that my friend loved it so much.  We both agree it was perfect.

I'm so jealous, now I really want one!!

More photos on my Flickr!

Race to make a wedding shawl part 3: my poor hands...

WOOOOOO!  Shawl is complete, bar weaving in ends and blocking, which I will do tonight.  I had a mammoth session yesterday, at least 8 hours.  This is how my hands felt at the end of it:

I haven't gotten to this stage without drama.  I was feeling very chuffed with myself when I wound the first skein of this yarn into a ball.  But I've since learned that a self-wound centre-pull ball is probably not the best idea for lace weight yarn.  Is this general knowledge?  I feel like such an idiot.  Even with some 8ply I had wound with a ball winder sometimes clumps would come out and get a bit tangled.  But this yarn, oh the knots, oh the agony! 

Also, how did I not know about russian joins?  That's one to try out next time.  Especially as I got my yarn discounted for having a few knots in it.

Also also, I've made LOTS of mistakes.  And due to the time frame, there was no frogging unless absolutely necessary.  My most common mistkes included not enough dcs in a shell, or too many, totally not doing to ch5, or doing 2 ch 5 spaces.  My BIGGEST mistake was putting my stitch marker in the wrong place, so the spine was not actually in the centre for a few rows.  Again, I didn't frog, but just righted it as I continued.  Hopefully all of this is unnoticeable to the untrained eye!

So the last bit of progress last week:


Measuring 17 inches as of Wednesday night.

 



And, after finishing at 1am (Monday).

Terrible blackberry pictures sorry.  I will have some REALLY pretty ones of it blocked and finished soon!

I can't believe I did it.  Those last rows, the edging, took me ages.  A combination of being a bit over it, having crippled hands and the LOOOOONNNNNGGGG rows. 

I might take a break from lace crochet for a while.  Or just make sure my next lace project is within a more manageable time frame :)  I have more than 2 skeins of this yarn left. I didn't even use a whole skein!  I thought that was kinda odd, I hope it blocks out big enough. 

Remnants of the one skein I used.

Pictures of the finished product coming soon!!

Race to make a wedding shawl part 2: some progress

My counter is deceptive. It tells me I have more time than I actually have.  Obviously I need to get it to the bride before the actual day, and with enough time in case she absolutely hates it and needs to find an alterntaive.  I really hope she doesn't hate it.

So, I've made some progress.  Getting the hang of the lace weight yarn - it's just so insubstantial in your hands, nothing at all to hold on to!

The first task is making the body, then I move on to the complicated edging.  The body needs to be 20-21 inches deep.

Saturday morning, after one night's work.

Sunday - measuring about 10 inches.

I'm loving the way the yarn is working up.  The slight variation in the yarn is gorgeous.

Monday, I forgot to measure.



And today, last night measuring just over 12 inches, and not counting this morning's work on the train.   Hook included for scale.

I'm still a bit stressed, I've been working SO much I haven't had as much time to progress this as much as I would have wanted.  I figure if I can get the body done by friday, I have the weekend for the edging - it's 7 rows wide!  And the rows will be LONG by that stage.
I CAN DO IT!

On a different note, I've been super tired and quite stressed these last few weeks.  Yesterday was a shocker, I hardly had time to think, I don't even know how I was functioning.  But I got two lovely surprises when I needed it most.  One lovely person bought me a donut (I freaking love donuts), and another bought me a pineapple freddo Hahaha freddo has a wiki page!!.  Just when I needed it, a little ray of sunshine.  I have such lovely friends <3


Who freaking knew they made pineapple Freddos?  GENIUS!

Race to make a wedding shawl part 1: the supplies

Am I mad?  I've offered to make my friend a shawl for her wedding. 

She is getting married on 12 June 2011.  That's currently 17 days to get this sucker completed.  Less really, because I need to get it to her before then!

What's more, it's a lace-weight shawl.  In silk. I've not worked with 2ply OR silk before. 

Nevermind, I'M 100% SURE I CAN DO IT!!

My friend has chosen the dahlia shawl, which is super pretty and feminine, with a gorgeous edging. I think I even have enough yarn to make one for myself!!

Picture from Interweave Crochet here.

Received the lovely lovely yarn yesterday.  My first ever etsy purchase!  Thank you ms gusset! 

I spent two and a half hours last night winding one of these skeins into a ball.  Ok, I don't have a ball winder, or a swift :(

I found this tutorial about how to make your own swift with household items, Macgyver style (thanks webecca!  Here is my effort:



Please ignore the fugly rug.

At least I had company, The Kitten watched me the whole time.



And the result below.  Even with the home made swift it was hard work!  I wasn't paying attention at one stage and made a huge mess.  I even cut a knot out once because it was the only way to keep my sanity.

1km of silk. 

 Tonight I actually start making the shawl!  Onward and upward!