…and we have the internet!

we’ve just moved house and we’ve been without the internet for an entire 22 days. what !! It’s not been an issue not having access to social media and the like, but as we have been reminded, most of life exists via the internet - banking; arranging household utilities; GP and School registrations; food shops and general ‘living’ activities like renewing library books!

I’ve lost count of the number of conversations that have gone something like this:

“did you not get the email we sent you? I’m sorry, we can’t help you until you’ve completed our online application. If you could just go online and log onto your account…” - anyhow, we’re very happy to be on the inter-web again. and then there’s Ravelry…

Okay, onto the knit…

I know I’m very late to the table with this particular shawl. It’s been a pattern I’ve wanted to knit for a while and simply haven’t gotten around to it. Anyhow, between packing up and moving, I managed to sit down long enough to complete this little shawl. I wanted simple, with some interest and a pattern my frazzled, move-brain could follow - this delivered!

What I’ve done:

I love the look of nupps, but I’m a lazy knitter truth be told and so I’ve opted for beads as a replacement - though there’s a little work with applying the beads. A fiddly job. Beads: I’ve used Toho size 6/0 beads in ‘trans rainforest smoky’ purchased from eBay and I’ve used less than 10g of these. The smoky, iridescent shade compliment the green-brown speckles within the Madelinetosh, I think. And, add a lovely weight to this light and airy shawl.

Whilst working the short rows, I’ve not decreased additionally. I’ve knitted my SR double stitches together, as you normally would but I haven’t added the decreases I.e. my stitch count has remained at 243 and not decreased to 185. This has altered the shape, ever so slightly.

Gauge: well, this is just off. I’ve worked with a 5mm needle and attained a fabric I like. I’ve ended up with a longer shawl (due to larger end stitch count) by about 16” - and so considerable. My depth is about 2” shy of pattern spec. I was without booking boards and so I’ve only managed a light block - I have a rolled edge and lace detail that I could probably stretch out a little. Still, to the untrained eye, it looks perfectly acceptable and I also lack the attention to detail, to really care about blocking precision.

Madelinetosh: a bit of a splurge for me. But, this year is all about trying new yarn bases and so I stretched to a single skein to test-out. A fellow knitter once told me that the Merino Madelinetosh tends to pill quite a bit, and I’m yet to experience this. Though, I can imagine how this would be the case as the garment ages. I think this particularly blend, is most suited to light-wear items.

I really like the speckled yarns. Again, I’m a little late to the table with this yarnie-phenomenon. They are really a pleasure to knit with, as you anticipate just how the fabric will knit-up.

I love this particular colourway - a natural green-yellow base with richer green and brown speckles and the odd-jewel splatter. It’s subtle and very pretty.

Overall: simple, effective and with the silky fabric, simple lace edging and beads - it’s a little bit special. My first finished FO in our new home. This is an occasion!

ps. how ace is our paisley wallpaper?! Had to show it off in the FO pics. I’m spoilt for backdrop choice, wth the yellow rapeseed fields behind our house and the beautiful paisley wonder inside.