Friday, August 01, 2008

FO: Sticking To My Guns

Several weeks ago, I made myself a promise. Yes, I've made lots of them but this one I actually kept. I decreed that there would be no new projects until I finished this shawl. Only then might I even consider other suitors. Now that the hooks are put away and the steam iron's cool, I'd like to present my version of Eva's Shawl:

FO: Crochet Lace Shoulder Shawl

FO: Crochet Lace Shoulder Shawl
Back view, eyelet rows

Crochet lace shawlDetails and Modifications
450 yards bellamoden laceweight kid silk
450 yards malabrigo laceweight merino
Size H(5.0mm) and K(6.5mm) crochet hooks

I must've really had my stupid hat on the day I started this shawl. Aside from mentally making all the treble crochets (TC) into double crochets (DC), I had a devil of a time with the fact that 'Ch Sp incr' was not an instruction to chain 1, then work 2 DC into the same stitch. The designer meant something altogether different. Stupid hats are invisible, by the way.

I was into the eyelet row by the time I decided there was no way for me to fudge it any longer. Version one had to go and, as you know, ripping back fuzzy yarn has its downside.

Enter Take Two and my "aha!" moment. Once I paid closer attention to the pictures (thank the deities for those) and re-read the pattern from the beginning, a reasonable facsimile of Eva's Shawl started to take shape. Once you're beyond the foundation rows, just think "double crochet two rows, eyelet one row."

The only real addition I made was to the two-row border, which is essentially alternating chain stitch openwork. My third row adds a feminine frill of double crochet scallops. If you like the look, add the following instruction to the border:

Row 3: (optional) Ch 4, work 4 DC into next 'Ch Space' to end of row, finishing with a Ch 4; DC into turning Ch from previous row.

Enjoy your weekend. Chase butterflies like these two.

Was That A Butterfly?

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