Hoo boy! Lots of pictures today :)
All your wonderful suggestions for a little something-something to go with my black dress have been floating around in the back of my head (well, the front too, often enough) for several days now. I also received a suggestion Monday, and a link that hadn’t occurred to me - for a Moebius sort of thing. The caplet (scroll down a little) is quite attractive and would work nicely, I think.
I also found a crocheted pattern last night that I rather liked and decided to play with a little. No firm decisions have yet been made, but I have to get this show on the road sometime :) The Spring has Sprung Shawl is very delicate and pretty and has the advantage of being built from the bottom up so that worries about enough yarn are somewhat assuaged; Likely I’d be making a scarf version of this, thought it’s so pretty that a full version wouldn’t be out of the question at some point.
While I was perusing this pattern, I remembered some very fine rayon yarn that I’ve had for a long time.
Threads of flame
This is a Blue Heron, hand painted rayon yarn. It’s finer than sock yarn and, I imagine, was intended to go on a loom rather than knitting needles or a crochet hook. The colors range from a rich, brilliant copper to a saturated medium dark rose with tiny bits of medium silver blue and pale gold showing up now and again. It is the most beautiful set of colors I’ve ever seen - which is, of course, why I bought it.
So I sat down to wind some of this stuff off, scared stiff that I would make an irreparable snarl out of it. But I took it slowly and carefully and didn’t have too much difficulty. From about 1500 yards, I wound 2 balls of roughly 350 or so yards each and then put the rest away, fearful of tempting fate.
Ready to work with
I worked out the basic shawl pattern in acrylic first, just to make sure the pattern was clear and that I could follow it decently.
First draft
The pattern was very clear and nicely written - I had no difficulties either in understanding it or in following it. I was very pleased with the above sample and felt that the hand painted rayon would show this off very nicely - especially against the black dress :)
I should have stopped there, of course, and set things aside for the night, but you all know how that goes. When your head is percolating with ideas, you never want to stop :) So, naturally, this was next…
First 6 pattern rows
I used the yarn double and took my time. The rayon is somewhat fussy to work with so I have to go a bit carefully and watch what I’m doing. But the result looked very nice and so this pattern becomes a real possibility for the dress-up-the-black-dress competition :). If I can get a generously sized scarf out of what I have already wound, I should be able to indulge in some seriously lavish fringe with what’s left. I’m not usually a fringey person - but the beauty and the drape of the rayon - well, it would be a sin to waste it and I suppose I can survive the indulgence - just this once :).
However, the above noted moebius capelet has its charms as well - not the least of which is that it’s simple. And, in finding the above yarn, I also found this, from the same company and purchased on that same, long ago day :)
Coppery Chenille
I have tried working with this. Those of you who’ve been following along for a while may remember a temper tantrum I threw over this yarn some time ago. Sigh… But it is incredibly beautiful and extraordinarily lush and I’m going to try it again, I think. If not now, soon. It would make a beautiful little capelet if I can keep from tearing it up (can’t frog this stuff) and from tearing my hair out :)
Perhaps I’ll give it a try…
To quote Travis Tritt, “That’s right, sport. Wave that red flag in front of that bull…”
No trackbacks yet.
i think the yarns from blue heron show some of the most beautiful colorways available- *and* i am just very partial to both the shine of the rayons and the velvety feel of chenilles, so how can you go wrong with either of those pretty things-
sigh, you swatch and plan- i think i am a ‘headfirst knitter’ which might be why some of the things i dream up and then leap into just don’t work out- is it too late to make a new year’s resolution?
a rainy day here in the boondocks- would be a good one for sitting and knitting while the thunder rumbles and the rain pours down-
stay happy-
Barb - It may be that’s why you get more done (a lot more) than I do. There are things I will just jump into, but somethings I have to plan - especially if it involves a surpassingly beautiful but difficult yarn :)
We’re getting just a bit of sun here today, peeking in and out, but it’s enough :)
Being a neophyte knitter I was sorely disappointed when my mentor told me that the best way to bind off shoulders was to use the three needle bind-off method. This was, of course, after I had followed the pattern and bound off the stitches the ususal way. I then began my search for the instructions since she did not have time to show me. My How-To books failed me. Even Google failed me until I found it in your site. Thank you! It looks so easy it’s one of those head-slapping Aha!s. 
Wow, gorgeous yarn, and nice progress on the “spring shawlette”! Keep us posted…
OOOH i love that pattern. Go for it! btw, the blue heron is made just down the road from me (okay, 45 min., but that’s considered local when you’re in the boonies) I really like their cottons, too.
Marianne - I’m delighted you found the tutorial useful. Should you have any questions or problems, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line :)
Becca - Thanks! Don’t worry, I’ll keep y’all in the loop :)
Laura - I’m glad, then, that I don’t live where you do - I’d have no bank account at all! Cripes, living that close to all those sensuous, glorious colors - I’d hear them singing to me all the time. I’d never sleep again!
The moebius thing must be a in fashion right now, because I saw a photo of a lady wearing a moebius thing in the local (remember sunny, tropical here) newspaper, over a black top and it was gorgeous. It was a lacy knit (“holey”) in yellow and I think I need one too!
Erin - YOu’ve gotta love a piece of clothing that only has one side and only one edge :)
Hmmmmm…color overload…..hmmmmmmm…..
That will be beautiful over your black dress. Great choice!
I’m always so impressed with your plotting & planning - like Barb, I’m a knit-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type. When I grow up, I want to be you. 
Bron - That was an extrordinarily nice thing to say, thank you :) Just know I have spent a lot of time, pea-green with envy, at your ability to actually carry through on things. And your awesome speed - you are amazing!
