Ah, the lace. I finally finished the Reed Shawl. I thought I finished it a few days ago but I hadn't. The pattern was from Morehouse Farm Merino Knits by Margrit Lohrer. I'd gotten the book from the library and once I had the pattern, returned it. I then thought it was to be about 60 inches long but really it was supposed to be 70. When I finished I was pretty jazzed - I blocked it and the magic happened - a full blossoming of the design arose from soaking in warm water and then I stretched it on my bed. However, it wasn't long enough. So, I picked up stitches from both sides and did a simplified border design. Ha! I wouldn't recommend this scatter-shot approach to lace-making but I am EXTREMELY happy with the results. I finished it last night, sewed in the new ends and blocked it this morning on my bed. Ah. I'm hooked on lace. How long did the project take? About 70 hours of knitting. Yes. So, if I sold it and gave myself minimum wage - it would cost someone over $700.00! But I'm not. Selling it that is. I like having and giving things that could not be purchased at their value. Just couldn't. No one would pay that for a simple shawl - yet to me it would be worth much more. If I were give $700 for it I would feel cheated. Sweet-Patootie has been experimenting with his bread-making. He made sour-dough this week and the loaves were soooooo beautiful that I took some photos of them for you-all. Here they are -
As to other aspects of my life? Gardening is a total bust this year - the flower garden (our front non-lawn) has gone berserk with weeds and the vegie patch is a joke. Ah well. The flock of chooks is thriving and we'll soon have to sort the cockerels from the pullets. Or to be more blunt - several of the dudes are going to Kenmore Kamp.
How are y'all?
8 comments:
I have never seen anything like that shawl and I'm sure the pictures don't do it justice.
The bread has made me hungry. Since there's nothing close to that in the house I guess i'll just drool for a while. :(
That shawl is amazing! And although it is priceless, I bet someone WOULD spend $700 on it! As for the bread...YUM! I've been pondering trying sourdough...but the whole starter thing kind of unnerves me. Someday though.
Mary - thank you so much! We still have one loaf of it left - shall I send it to you?
Liza - you think? I'm very happy with it - my first real lace. Now I'm hooked. Sourdough starter isn't a big whoop - just remember on the second day to put your bowl in a larger tray because it WILL Vesuvius.
The shawl is amazing! And you are very clever to create a way to get the added inches after blocking.
And sourdough....yes!!
what satisfaction comes from completing a major knit project!
Yum,
need to see shots close up so we can marvel at the pattern...
*sigh* Oh, you make the complicated simple life seem so easy! And nice and wonderful and I'll be visiting from tomorrow m'kay? At least I'd really really LIKE to, it looks divine! (Too bad I'm doing job interviews, small town/city readjustment, troublesome life in general stuff instead...)
How am I? I am envious of your lace-making and hungry for sour dough bread. You do seem to have a complicated life. Also an interesting one.
That shawl is beautiful. Nice job.
I can't knit worth a darn, but I crochet and enjoy doing shawls and afghans...that's about as complicated as I care to get.
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