Finished: Mum's Blueberry Shetland Triangle
Welcome to our next installment of Christmas Presents on Parade! Today our subject is none other than She Who Bore Me, the Mother of Elliphantom herself! Seen here modeling her Christmas Shetland Triangle:
This is my Mum
You may say to yourself “didn’t we just see a Mother-in-Law modeling a blue shawl designed by Evelyn A. Clark?” What of it? The matrons in my life like their blue triangular shawls. Who am I to argue?
The Specs:
-Pattern: Shetland Triangle, by Evelyn A. Clark, from Wrap Style.
-Yarn: Blue Moon Silk Thread, one skein in the color “Haida,” knit doubled.
-Needles: Size 6 circs.
-Start to finish: November 29, 2005 - December 16, 2007.
Notes:
My first attempt at this shawl was all wrong. Mum had requested a navy or black shawl for her Christmas gift and, come October, I found myself traveling down the uncomfortable road of “this yarn is not quite what I had in mind…” with 4 balls of navy Cashsoft 4 Ply. It was so soft. It was so squooshy. It was so…blah.
Wendie gets full credit for pointing me in the direction of the silk thread. She and Mr. Wendie were visiting (Thunk and Señor One-Ply-Short share an enormous passion for boy-type nerdly pursuits) and I was woe-is-me-ing my little heart out to Wen-Wen about the all-wrong-ness of the Cashsoft. Thank goodness for knitterly friends with an eye on the hand-dyed yarn market, is all I can say.
The Pattern:
A typical Evelyn A. Clark pattern with an easily memorized pattern repeat. To sum up: no problem-o.
I inherited all of her good qualities.
The Yarn:
I really like the Silk Thread…it’s lovely and silky and drapes like a dream. My only complaint is that the dye didn’t penetrate the entire skein, leaving little undyed patches here and there, which is not so nice in a super-dark colorway. I was on a tight schedule though, so I didn’t have time for complaining and exchanging. It looks fine knit up (the white just looks like a little extra shine on the silk), but I’ve definitely become a center-of-the-skein checker. Heed my wisdom born of experience and go and do likewise.
Mods:
I knitted an extra six lace repeats. I agree with the Bigger is Better philosophy of shawl knitting. It’s difficult to sweep around looking fabulous if you have to keep adjusting your wrap. Make it big. Make it enormous, if you must. The worst that can happen is that it’ll look dramatic.
Final Verdict: Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Comments
it's beautiful. i have this on the needles currently, and plan to do 5 or 6 extra body repeats as well!
Posted by: mai | January 28, 2008 10:42 PM
The shawl is beautiful.
And I think "Make it big. Make it enormous, if you must. The worst that can happen is that it’ll look dramatic." is going to be my new motto.
Posted by: amy | January 28, 2008 10:52 PM
Beautiful shawl and it looks fabulous on your Mum!
Posted by: MrPuffy | January 28, 2008 10:52 PM
What a lovely color! And your mom looks beautiful in it.
Posted by: Pam | January 28, 2008 11:56 PM
BEAUTIFUL!
Posted by: canknitian | January 29, 2008 12:05 AM
Stunning. And I SO agree with the bigger is better theory. Seeing that gorgeous shawl is inspiring to finish the Shetland I have on the needles...
Posted by: Suzanne | January 29, 2008 12:29 AM
Beautiful!! The advice was spot on...that's a gorgeous colorway, and I like those little light patches in there for interest. It looks so gorgeous on your mom.
Posted by: Julia | January 29, 2008 12:29 AM
Absolutely gorgeous.
Posted by: Lin | January 29, 2008 3:59 AM
This is just breathtaking - I am so in love with the colour. A beautiful job.
Posted by: Kirsty | January 29, 2008 4:12 AM
I love your shawl philosophy. Nothing wrong with a little drama, it worked for Alexis Carrington, after all.
Posted by: Marlena | January 29, 2008 6:56 AM
I love this pattern--this is the first one I've seen that is larger than the pattern as written and I love it! Mine is pretty but slightly too small to actually wear. Go matrons in blue!
Posted by: Heather | January 29, 2008 7:27 AM
It's beautiful - and looks lovely on your mum, what a lucky family you've got :)
Posted by: mel | January 29, 2008 7:30 AM
"Lovely, lovely, lovely" is right! What a lucky mom you have!
Posted by: Sarah | January 29, 2008 7:39 AM
Mr. Wendie, hah, I'm sure Jay will like that.
The shawl is just stunning and now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to order some of that yarn for me.
Posted by: Wen-Wen | January 29, 2008 7:55 AM
What a beautiful shawl! Your mom makes a fabulous model.
Posted by: Leslie | January 29, 2008 8:40 AM
The mothers in your life are such cute models! The shawl is lovely.
Posted by: Ruth | January 29, 2008 8:41 AM
Lovely it is! And she wears it so well.
Posted by: sulafaye | January 29, 2008 9:10 AM
It's amazing! It looks so etherreal and lovely. And what a great colour- who wouldn't love a blue triangular shawl?!
Posted by: Julie | January 29, 2008 9:54 AM
It's beautiful! And your mom is so cute. She has a great smile--I like the first picture where she's looking off to the side the best.
Posted by: seedless grape | January 29, 2008 10:04 AM
Lovely! And equally elegant as your Mother looks, I think! Great job!
Posted by: Stacey | January 29, 2008 10:05 AM
It's fabulous, Ellie! And seeing the shawl on your mom I can tell where you and your sisters got all of your beauty. Merry Christmas indeed!
Posted by: Julia | January 29, 2008 10:05 AM
This is really a lovely finish. Your mom seems to like it as well :)
Congrats on the finish.
Posted by: May | January 29, 2008 10:14 AM
Beautiful! It looks absolutely lovely on your mom!
Posted by: whitney | January 29, 2008 12:00 PM
Another gorgeous shawl! And I agree with you on the bigger is better theory when it comes to shawls- they should wrap and envelop, that's what I say!
Posted by: Nonnahs | January 29, 2008 1:06 PM
I agree! Lovely lovely lovely. Your lucky mum
Posted by: Philippa | January 29, 2008 2:02 PM
Wow another wonderful FO. This shawl turned out great!
Posted by: LizKnits | January 29, 2008 2:03 PM
The internet knitting world is officially conspiring to corrode my rational capacities and make me buy a great big load of yarn in Haida. Between your shawl and Domesticraft's Rambling Rose-in-progress, I can see that resistence to this stuff is futile. Show me the inky blue goodness, Blue Moon! I want to roll in it!
Posted by: Sarah | January 29, 2008 3:15 PM
It really *is* lovely. Glad to read you liked the silk thread--I'm eyeing some of my own, right now.
Posted by: Amy | January 29, 2008 3:20 PM
I've seen this shawl in so many different yarns or all different weights, but this one really stands out. It's lovely!
Posted by: Liz K. | January 29, 2008 6:55 PM
The shawl does look beautiful on your mum. I have also nominated you for You Make My Day award so please check my blog for details.
Posted by: Sue | January 29, 2008 8:12 PM
You and your momma AND the shawl are gorgeous!
Posted by: yaiAnn | January 30, 2008 12:53 AM
Dear Elli,
Thanks for the wonderful shawl. I wore it with grace and aplomb to the symphony and was the envy of all of Seattle society, or at least those in rows P and Q. Or at least the women there. It's lovely. Who knew that troublesome toddler would turn out to be such a terrific knitter?
Sincerely, She Who Bore You but Did Not Teach You to Knit. XXOO
Posted by: Mumsy | January 30, 2008 12:13 PM
That shawl is just gorgeous! It makes me consider getting the book just for that pattern.
Posted by: Opal | January 31, 2008 8:16 PM
It's gorgeous! I didn't notice anything funny with the yarn and you are right about this shawl, bigger is definitely better. Seems like E.Clark's shawls are always on the small side.
Ang
Posted by: angelarae | January 31, 2008 9:16 PM
Lovely shawl and beautiful yarn! =D
Also, you are among my ten "blogs that make my day"
Posted by: Sophy | February 1, 2008 1:09 PM
Just thought you should know that you make my day. Visit my blog to find out why!
Posted by: knittingphilistine | February 1, 2008 3:52 PM
How beautiful that is!
Posted by: domesticshorthair | February 1, 2008 4:14 PM
The shawl is beautiful, and the yarn/thread is intriguing. I feel like I need to find some. Now.
Posted by: nova | February 1, 2008 7:14 PM
The shawl is so beautiful! The combination of yarn, color, and pattern is amazing. It looks wispy and dreamlike--as if it came from a pre-Raphaelite-era painting.
Also, I really like the pom-pom mittens. :) I know I'm late on commenting on them, but I really like the pattern.
Posted by: Slauditory | February 3, 2008 10:26 AM
The shawls and sweater are beautiful. What very lucky recipients!
Posted by: erica | February 4, 2008 7:42 PM
Shawls are beautiful. I have been very ambivalent about triangular shawls, but on such lovely women, they don't look granny at all. Inspiring!
Posted by: knittyvritti | February 7, 2008 6:19 AM
hahahaha! I love Mom's comment. Also, very nice shawl. Beautiful knitting as usual. And thanks for the props on my bloggaboo.
Wuv.
Posted by: Rae | February 7, 2008 2:56 PM
You make my day!
Posted by: Eve | February 8, 2008 8:38 AM
Well hot damn, that is lovely!
Posted by: Annie | February 10, 2008 11:15 PM