Tuesday 23 July 2013

I can knit, I can purl


Hello again
Do any of you remember when I purchased the above yarn {posted here}? It has 15% blue faced Leicester sheep's wool in it and was hand dyed by the seller. Well, it simply had to become another shawl now didn't it! My very first lacy shawl I knitted not particularly perfectly can be found here.

I chose to make the Holden Shawlette which you can download for free on Ravelry. I wanted to crank up my lace knitting skills another notch and build on my confidence with lace knitting. I can honestly say that I loved knitting this in the last 10 days despite the heat. It also came down to the beach with me for the odd row or two when I felt inspired.

Here it is unblocked last night... all curly and not very pretty, sorry the photo's are out of focus, I am getting my eye sight re-tested on Thursday!



And here it is all blocked and a lot prettier I think. Gosh, what a difference blocking makes with overnight drying in this Summer heat.



I must say that I am a little bit pleased with this pretty and have decided to give it to my mother-in-law for her 73rd birthday next week. She has blue eyes which I think will be enhanced with this electric blue yarn.



I still need to sew the two ends in, but simply couldn't wait to put it on my blog. I'm impatient like that :o)



I like all the little flecks of brown and beige and black in this yarn, adds to the texture I think.


I think I still have to pinch myself when I see the above picture. I have lusted and salivated after making a lacy shawl but NEVER thought I could do it. Believe me, if I can do this, any novice knitter can. It's a confidence thing and starting off simple and working your way up the ladder project by project and with a little help from my knit and natter friends, I've kind of got there. The world is my oyster, I can knit and I can purl and therefore I can make anything my heart desires. This is my new belief in myself! Lets hope it remains positive and onwards and upwards from here :o)


When we go to Barcelona, I am hoping to come away with some local Spanish yarn for making a memory shawl from our time there. I like to buy yarn from the places we go and to make something to remind me of the happy days spent there. I must do some internet searching for yarn shops I believe there are quite a few.
 
Thank you as always for visiting and your comments, always relished and appreciated!
See you all soon
xox
Penny

17 comments:

  1. Wow - that's AMAZING Penny! I am so impressed with your knitting skills - you know how you said my crochet stuff makes you feel that your crochet is going backward compared to your knitting, well your knitting makes me feel the same way about my knitting!!! I don't think I will ever be proficient enough to do something this fancy ... one will have to dream!
    Enjoy wearing your new addition to your wardrobe, it's the perfect item for a warm summers evening, Em xxx

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  2. Lovely, this is such a lovely pattern (have made it once for my sister at Christmas - definitely one to do again) and that blue yarn looks gorgeous made up :-)

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  3. Beautiful ... I love it ... you are a very proficient knitter :) ... Bee xx

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  4. Really, really lovely, Penny, you must be very proud of yourself. I remember that wool, I loved it in the ball and now...oh that beautiful shawl!!

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  5. This shawl is beautiful .... I also like your first one. You're a good knitter. xox

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  6. It's really beautiful. You did a great job and you're becoming an excellent knitter.

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  7. Wow, it's gorgeous - well done indeed! Those flecks really add to the appearance - your MIL should love it. I really like that top photo too - the yarn brings out the blue-grey in the pebbles, and the brown pebbles make the yarn flecks pop.

    I think your next project should be mohair.... :)

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  8. well done! love this shawl so much.


    http://the-malachite.blogspot.com/

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  9. It's just GORGEOUS Penny! Beautiful. But nope, I ain't gonna try...I'll leave it to clever clogs peeps like you. :)

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  10. Wow that is extremely beautiful :)

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  11. It's beautiful. I love the flecks breaking up the blue. Makes me wish I could knit, I do mean to try again one day. Very kind of you to give it away too.

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  12. That's beautiful. I would love to knit something more lacy but keep getting daunted by the charts that seem to accompany shawls - I need to start at something really basic and build up gradually. Thanks for the inspiration (and your mother in law is going to love it!) Jane x

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  13. Beautiful Pen - well done, I think it's perfect!

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  14. That is very beautiful, it's like a mermaid shawl (which is an excellent thing in my books!) Makes me wish I could knit!

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  15. Wow, you really CAN knit! That shawl is simply beautiful and what a wonderful gift for your mother in law. I love the idea of buying yarn from travels abroad and making a memory shawl - how lovely. xx

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  16. Lovely shawl! I'm adding the pattern to my library on Rav, thanks for the link.
    I've found your lovely blog through the link Emma gave on her Yarndale bunting post.

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