Maplewing

THE MAPLEWING

I really cannot tell you how excited I am about this project. It's my perfect project. My piece de resistance.

The Back Story.

I saw it in development on Anne's blog. As you know, I knit lace, but I'm not a Lace Knitter. Not because I can't do it, I just haven't made the leap. I made Anne's Ostrich Plume and a bunch of lace thingies, but never anything that I could really boast as Lace Knitting. I'm not even sure why I was over at Anne's blog. I'm a fan and if I'm looking for inspiration I check her pattern shop, but her blog isn't on my daily rounds. I happened upon this post and fell in love with the design. I found myself checking Anne's site to see when the pattern would be available. I had to make this shawl. When this post arrived, I pre-ordered the kit from the Woolen Rabbit in New England Red, naturally.

The Yarn.

I was SO excited for the yarn to arrive. I had read in the ravelry forums that Kim's yarns were pretty awesome. I even took a pic of the box the day it arrived. It's the one on the bottom.

Then I took a pic of the skein.

I took a pic of it on the ballwinder.

I took a pic of my materials before I started.

Are you getting the impression that I was excited? I WAS SO EXCITED! I'm never this compulsive. I just knew in my heart of hearts that this project was going to be freaking awesome.

Oh yeah, the yarn. 1. The skein is ginormous. My hand cramped while winding the ball. And I still have a good size ball left after finishing. 2. No knots. No weak spots. 3. Pure awesome lace yarn with a good twist. 4. The color. So. Spectacular.

The Pattern.

I have always heard great things about Anne's patterns. I fell in love with the Maplewing, but there was a part of me that wondered if I was ready for Lace Knitting. It's an intricate pattern, requiring a lot of yarn and intricate needlework, but I was confident that with Anne's awesome pattern I could do it.

Can we talk about Anne's patterns? Awesome. Charts AND written instructions. Very thorough. There was never a time when I found myself confused or shaking my fist and cursing. It was smooth sailing. The pattern is knit bottom up, which my friend Chrisie is convinced involves some sort of wizardry, but I just followed instructions very well.

I flew through the bottom, then got a bit sidetracked on the Hemlock Ring when my grandmother's health declined. May and June are flow knitting months for me, but I worked on it when I could.


The End Result.

Can you freaking stand it?

I've got nothing left to say. It's amazing, awesome, fabulous. Everything I could have wanted it to be. I could die tomorrow a very fulfilled knitter.

Pattern: Maplewing [Rav Link]
Source: Knitspot
Materials: Woolen Rabbit Merino Laceweight
Amount: 1 skein
Needles: US 6
Started: March 24, 2009

Finished: July 5, 2009

The Hemlock Ring

So there's a story about this blanket, but I don't really feel like telling it. I just don't really think I can do it justice. I've had this pattern on file for awhile. Brooklyntweed first adapted it. It's a vintage knitted doily pattern that he knit with worsted yarn and a big needle. His results were pretty gorgeous and I was just waiting for the right time to knit one myself.

On Easter Sunday, my grandmother had a stroke and her life was turned upside down. She is 94 years old and was living a completely independent life. A life that included crocheting doilies with thread and size 6 hooks. She made the most intricate things.

She's spent the last three months in a nursing home with some hospitals trips in between. She's endured several strokes, a fall that broke her hip and most recently a pace maker. Her communication is limited, but she's still there.

She's in Ohio and since I can't visit or talk with her on the phone, I sent her the Hemlock. I knew it would be functional as a blanket and something that she could look at, but mainly it's my big ol' doily made especially for her. So that's the story. There's a lot more, but that's really all there is to say.

Pattern: Hemlock Ring Blanket [Rav Link]
Materials: Cascade 220 Superwash
Amount: 3 skeins
Needles: US 9
Started: April 23, 2009

Finished: May 9, 2009

Hung out to dry

I haven't blogged. I know. There are many reasons, but it's mainly because I've focused my energy elsewhere. I've been trying my best to take pleasure in small things. Like my clothesline. Every Saturday, I rush to wash clothes and take advantage of the sunshine.