Blocking magic April 2, 2007
I don’t know about you, but I think blocking lace is magical.
  
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Even laid out on the bed it looks impossibly dark and thick. But then look what happened when I released it from bondage.
- Pattern: Melon pattern, Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby
- Yarn: Kidsilk Haze from Rowan, 4 balls, black
- Needles: One set 32-inch size 7 Susan Bates Silverado circulars, and two 8-inch size 6 bamboo double pointed from Crystal Palace
- Finished size: 22 x 74 inches
- Changes: none
- Notes: After this, I’m selling all my Silverado needles. I hate them. The cable is way too stiff, the tips are dull, they’re just awful. Knitting this with better needles would have taken away the sniggling needle frustrations, and made the entire experience more pleasurable. In spite of the horrid needles, I loved knitting this shawl. I’m glad, however, that I’d been warned I might need more yarn. I came within eight grams of using up four entire balls of KSH, when the pattern called for only three. The whole grafting thing was a bit of a challenge, since I hadn’t successfully done it before. Glad I am that I created a practice swatch in thick, light-colored yarn so I could see what I was doing. When I got to it, the grafting went well, over all… There’s a glitch where the yarn overs are at the inside edge of the border, but it’s not too bad; I can live with it.
The only real problem? I need more lace-weight yarn so I can knit another shawl!
Caroline April 2
Gorgeous! I don’t think I’m up to the challenge, but I can admire you!
Robin April 2
WOW, it turned out gorgeous Laura. Congrats on the grafting. I’m looking for a lace pattern to try my luck. Just something simple to make a valance for a window. Doing swatches as we “speak”.
–Deb April 2
It looks beautiful. There is NOTHING like the magic of blocking lace!
pamela wynne April 2
beautiful! the black KSH is really lovely.
Angela April 3
b e a u t i f u l !
Heather April 3
Your shawl is absolutely stunning in the black yarn! Was it difficult to knit lace with such a dark colored yarn? I just finished the same shawl and I loved knitting it. (And as a side note…you do not even need circular needles for knitting a rectangular shawl - I used straights for the body and DPNs for the edging.)
Good luck on your next shawl!
keri April 3
That is gorgeous!
Barbara-Kay April 3
Gave up the Silverados I tolerated for the good points, too. Went to Knit Picks - both their interchangable set and their circular needles are winners! Good, flexible cables, unnoticeable joins, good points. Happy knitter - NAYADAYADA.
Brenda April 3
Very beautiful! I think the border looks great! I have some of those same types of needles and I can’t stand them either. I’m slowly collecting better needles as I need them. Sometimes you get what you pay for.
Maureen April 3
It is beautiful, I am amazed that so many are using more yarn than called for on this and other shawls. I am planning on doing this shawl but I want it longer. Can you give me a guess how much (under 1 ball or over 1 ball) on just the edging?
Thanks for sharing makes my mouth water.
Jenna April 3
Oh … my … goodness! It’s gorgeous! Oh wow. Just incredible. Congratulations! Are you going to model it for us? :)
Ina April 3
Wow, wicked good!
elan April 4
Thanks for the heads up on the yarn amount, I’m thinking of making that shawl my next lace project. It’s lovely!
The Purloined Letter April 4
Absolutely lovely!
anne April 5
oooh, that melon scarf is just breathtaking. wow. how lovely!
~Kristie April 5
I really don’t have to tell you how beautiful this is because I already *gushed* over it when I saw it in person, but the photographs are perfect!!
Cheryl April 6
It’s so beautiful!! Isn’t blocking incredible? I’m surprised every time!
Anne April 7
I do love it in black and I do have three black balls of KSH but after reading your post on the KAL I am so glad I didn’t use it for that . Great pattern though isn’t it? and yes I totally agree blocking is amazing.
Now what do I use those three balls for in VLT……. ?
Eve April 16
That’s amazing! I am much in favour of rectangular shawls over triangular shawls, as they can double better as scarves. And yet, all the shawls I’m drooling over now are triangular. I know I’d never wear them, but I want them…. Figures :(