The Bride's Shawl

The knitting started with a request from The Princess - she wanted a large - large round shawl.  We both trolled Ravelry trying to find a pattern and ultimately she settled on Girasole by Jared Flood.  Actually - let's back up - it all started because of that award winning shawl I knit for a bride last summer.  I honestly don't remember if The Princess was even engaged when I knit that shawl, but once engaged, once of the first things she asked for was a shawl.  Next - I reached out to my friend Gyspy Knits who is an amazing dyer, but isn't really dying yarn any longer and asked if she'd be interested in dying the yarn for the shawls.  She was and did.  We sent her a sample of the bridesmaids colors and asked for ghost colors.  GyspyKnits did an amazing job.

The Princess asked for a few things - she specified a pattern and asked that the shawl be huge.  I knit my shawl which was also round, to work out construction and bought the Elizabeth Zimmerman book to figure out Pi Shawl construction.  I also reached out to the Jared Flood team to see if there was a way to make it even bigger.  Oh and I stalked each and every girasole made on Ravelry and read the notes for everyone who made theirs bigger. 

 I knit the center exactly as written.  There really was no way to increase in the center.  I knit as many extra repeats of Chart E as I could, knit 3 repeats of Chart F, then I knit as many increases of Chart G as I could until I had to repeat again.  Then I knit 3 repeats of Chart H and honestly I was worried I was going to run out of yarn.  The Princess was home in late August and I had her choose between the edging pattern called for in the pattern, or the same edging used on all the bridesmaids' shawls.  She (of course) chose the matching edging - of course it was the more difficult and complex edging.  I think there was 1600 stitches around in the last 18 rounds.  The edging took 2 rows to bind off a single stitch.  I honestly thought I was going to the wedding nekkid because I did not start my dress until this shawl was finished!

Once the shawl was completely finished - the decision was made not to block it.  Blocking would open the lace up in the center a lot more, but as you can see when the shawl is draped over my coffee table - the sunflower in the center stands out.  The shawl is quite large without being blocked - The Princess is almost 5'11" and folded in half, the shawl stretches from finger tip to finger tip and hangs down past her knees.  What was done instead of blocking was the edging was just steamed out to open it up without really making it any bigger.  

I think The Princess liked it and it was exactly what she wanted.  I don't know how she'll use it from her on out - but I expect to someday get a photo of a baby wrapped in this shawl.

Long Time - No Post

It reaches a point when you haven't blogged in a while where you wonder - do I want to blog?  Do I start where I left off or start where I am now and just catch up or carry on?

Well - I do want to blog.  I miss being in this place.  I believe I'll just start with where I am now and maybe catch up - or maybe not.

I have been sewing - though not loads.  September and October were busy months with a visit from the kids (catch up post) and a wedding and vacation.

I made my mother of the bride dress.  I started it the first weekend in September and worked on it every moment I wasn't working the entire month.  I finished hemming it the night before we flew out.

I also knit 7 shawls - one for the bride, one for each bridesmaid and one for each of the mom's (mother of the bride, mother of the groom, and the bride's step-mom).

I did loads of things I've never done before when sewing.  I underlined the entire dress with organza, hand basting the organza to the silk dress with silk thread before cutting each piece from the silk.  I wish I had had more time, to do a test run of the techniques, because while I was comfortable in the dress, I don't think it's my best work.  And it's probably not surprising to any of you if I tell you the dress is too big for me.  I seem to consistently have issues with making a dress actually fit me.

The Musical One (Maid of Honor) with me pre-wedding

 There aren't any great photos of just me in the dress.  There are a few where you can see the dress better - but I don't like them, so you won't see them.

The dress is a Vogue Designer pattern by Kay Unger, #1392  If you click the link, you will notice my dress is different.  I fell in love with the pattern and had to make it.  I think my fabric was a bit too soft or fluid for this pattern, but I did it anyway.  The Princess (also known as the bride for this post) met up with Carolyn back in July and they went to Mood and bought silk, silk and more silk for my dress and it was mailed to me.

There are no construction photos of the dress.  I need to learn how to get them out of my phone.  Okay - I feel like this post is disjointed and bouncing all over the place - so I'll leave you with unofficial photos from the wedding.

the bride and her mom - post wedding.

JB and the Bride

my girls - The Princess and The Musical One

Congratulations are in Order

We spent the last 5 days on the Right Coast.  Because this happened.   We are very proud.

I'll share more about our trip later in the week.

Why Yes, I Did Fall Off the Face of the Earth

Those two (The Princess and The Boy) came to visit, there were birthdays, day trips and lots of running. 

Will catch up as soon as I recover. 

White Light

Today is a big day.  My friend Sissy is having surgery today.

Please send her lots of white light and good wishes.

It's also The Princess' (I'd link to her blog, but she claims to be too busy to update!)

25th birthday.  So write on her wall, send her an email, of load her blog withs comments.

Finally - The Musical One passed an important work test.

We are very proud.

Sheila

Last week The Princess got some blueberries out to thaw for Miss Sheila her hedgehog. Unfortunately, when they got up in the morning, Sheila had passed. The Princess decides 3+ years ago to get a hedgehog because it was different, they are interesting and very friendly once they get to know you. She was living in an apartment and couldn't have a dog at time. So - hedgehog it was. When she took a job clear across the country - she bought a second airline ticket to take Sheila with her. Both The Princess and Charlie are sad at Sheila's passing. Go wish her well.

Lookie What I Got!

Luna Moth Shawl

Knit by The Princess

Yarn: Road to China Light

It's was her first "real" lace project and it's lovely. Soft, beautiful, wonderful knitting.

Couldn't ask for a better gift - now if I could just get cool enough to wear it!!

23

The Princess is 23 today.

Don't tell her I said so, but she's a good kid. Go wish her a happy birthday. She most likely has a hangover today - so scream. I also know she has no plans for her birthday. So maybe she can update her blog as her birthday gift to us. Happy Birthday kiddo! We love you.

A Minute

It has been a whirlwind visit by The Princess. It truly feels like she's only been home for a minute. We have been very lucky this visit, first we knew she was coming. Second, in an attempt to save money, she spent most nights at home. Tonight we all went out to dinner. I bet you all thought I only had 2 daughters. Well unbeknown to me - we have three. That would be The Musical One, Miss L, and The Princess. Miss L is the one we call whenever the dogs need sitting. She is invited to all birthday dinners and makes and appearance on most holidays. She is the same age as The Musical One, but friends with both girls. So far, we have been required to take her out for her own birthday dinner.

Our waitress offered to take a photo of the whole family. That would be JB, me, The Princess, The Musical One, and Miss L. We will miss her when she goes back to The Littles, but it was nice to borrow her for a minute.

The Dog "Party"

The Princess is home visiting for a minute (well, 5 days really, but it feels like a minute). Yesterday she was hanging with her dad (not JB) and went to Three Dog Bakery. She brought home 4 little pupcakes for the a late birthday treat.

So, here are all the dogs lined up on beds and The Princess is holding all 4 pupcakes over their heads. They all had to do a trick before they got their treat. The trick was dependant upon the dogs ability.

Lucy spoke and then stood up to get hers. She put the entire cupcake in her mouth in one bite and I think she might has swallowed it whole.

Beau did off. He's really good at this- especially considering this is a tasty treat and there are other dogs in the house. His cake is between his front legs and he had to wait for two things - 1) for JB to take the photo; and 2) he has to look at the person who put him in "off" not the treat he's suppose to be ignoring. He does this well. There is no photo of Dudley getting his pupcake, but he's behind Beau eating it. Abby did dance. The poor girl really had to work this trick. Because the camera wasn't firing fast enough to get it. She would go down and the shot would take. But dance she did and then she got a cute little pupcake.

After filling the dogs with a sugar high ~ she left again. Not for good, just to go out with her friend. She goes home before dawn on Thursday morning - see, so really we only had her for a minute.

The Princess' Pink Christmas Gift

The Princess used to have just one winter coat and it was white. Then she moved to Connecticut. She started buying lots and lots of Winter coats. Go figure! I will never understand these girls who have to have 15 winter coats. Thankfully, her pretty pink set matches more than one. Anyway, sometime in October I decided that I would make her a pair of fetchings to have handy for slipping on when she ran Little Ann out to the bus. Of course, when you live in New England in the winter you need to keep your ears warm too. Being a little bit obsessive, the cables on the hat had to match the cables on the mitts. Don't ask why, just know that they do. Also, they have to flow to the end of the hat, they can't just end and leave you with some stitch that wasn't there before.

So knowing this, I cast on for the hat using one size larger needles than I had for the mitts. I cast on enough stitches that the cables where in pairs, with 2 going left then the next 2 going right around the hat. I have no idea how many stitches that was - I didn't write anything down. I knit along for awhile and then dropped a needle size to shart shaping the hat. Then I did a couple of decrease rows taking out one of the cable pairs, went down another needle size, and so on until I had enough stitches left to pull the yarn through and bind off.

I don't know if she actually wears this set, but I made it and it's lovely. It's a beautiful pink merino wool. Sitting in the basement at the computer, I wish that I had made some for myself! It's 50+ degrees outside with the sunshining, but really cold downstairs. No Fair!

Black Shoes

I did finally manage to get out and go shopping for basic boring black pumps. I found both pairs at Payless and they really are basic, boring black pumps. The pair on the right has a 2.5" heel and a strap across the high instep - just under the ankle - but not around.

This pair (besides being really hard to photograph) has a higher heel and a little patent trim and bow on the front. They carry both of these style in a very nice brown, but had neither in my size - darn it!

On a side note - all weekend while composing this post (it was hard and took a ton of energy - you don't know!) I keep hearing the girls Girl Scout Song "Black Socks" running through my head. It's meant to be sung in rounds and goes like this:

Black Socks

They Never Get Dirty

The Longer You Wear Them

The Stronger They Get

Sometimes

I Think I Should Wash Them

But Something Inside Me

Tells Me Not Yet, Not Yet, Not Yet

The last year that both The Musical One and The Princess went to Girl Scout camp together they sang that song the entire drive home. I have never forgotten it. Scary, huh?

Whacha Think?

When I make handknit socks for myself, which isn't often, I have 3 pairs and I felted one pair and gave it away! Anyway, when I make my own socks I like a really firm knit fabric. I like a sock that really hugs my foot. I really like knitting on little tiny US size 0 needles - either double points (my preferred method) or magic looping them. I really like sharp, pointy knitting needles. Okay, so here's where I'm looking for opinions. I making these lace socks from Favorite Knits for The Princess. She picked out the pattern and I've had the wool for sometime. I'm knitting them according to the pattern on US0s. I knit 7 repeats of the leg, then the heel and so far I have knit 1 1/2 repeats on the foot.

Recently, I tried them on. They are a little snug going over the heel. To my eye the knitting looks like it's stretched to capacity. I'm thinking I should rip them and start over on 1s or maybe even 2s. I worry about going up to far in needle sizes because I don't want a loose sloppy sock, but I think these are too tight. I think the top two photos show better how stretched the sock is when it's on a foot. So, Whacha Think? Rip and go up a needle size or two - or just keep going and hope she can put them on?

Sock Progress

This is a progress shot of the Merino Lace Socks from Favorite Knit Socks. The Princess picked a couple of patterns from the book while she was home and I started knitting away. The yarn is Filature Di Grosa Maxime in white with pink specks. It's a little splitty, but overall pleasant to work with. I am working this pair both socks at the same time, from the cuff down. Since I'm not a huge fan of ribbing, I stopped the ribbing after only about an inch. The pattern calls for 6 repeats of the main lace panel - which I have completed so far. I'm thinking about doing 7 or 8 so the sock is longer. Frankly - I like the way the side lacy bits look much better than the center lace panel. I think I will make another pair of socks using the two different lace panels from myself. I'm thinking about some orange yarn from the sock yarn bouquet. Hopefully, The Princess will like these socks. Since she has such freakin huge feet (sorry kiddo) they won't really fit anyone else if she doesn't like them.

The Princess Turns 22!