Wednesday 20 July 2011

WIP Wednesday 50: Stack 'Em High










I can't believe it's almost a year of WIP Wednesdays already ! Thanks to
Tami for hosting. The time is just whizzing by ! And end of term for Destructo Boy tomorrow, and Mini Diva on Friday: I can't wait.

My friend Ania was good enough to send me the chart for the Tree of Light shawl she suggested, as my printer wasn't working at the time ... here is my progress so far:


Yep, that's right - it's in a Time Out already. Five times so far, people. So I am sulking at it right now. And look at the size of the print on that chart ....

Instead I have started this:


It is Tracy's Shawl, a free pattern by Wendy D. Johnson, who has some beautiful patterns available. I am using 3 skeins of Artesano 100% Alpaca 4ply in the colorway 'Anemone'. I wonder why it's called that: it looks nothing like the colors of the flower, or the sea anemone. Anyway. I picked these up for a bargain price as they were on offer when I visited Wibbling Wools in Bury St.Edmunds recently.

The shop itself is tiny, with a comfy sofa and coffee table so you could sit and browse the posh pattern books that complement the standard posh yarns (Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Sublime). Yarns pretty much fill up every space - cubbyholes, baskets, boxes, corners .... The owner was having a long - long - conversation with a friend about the friend's childminder, her childcare issues over the summer, and how they'd been resolved. I know this because I was ignored until this conversation was over. We English are far too tolerant of this kind of behavior. It was a nice shop, but not worth the trip for me when I have Twist much closer.

OK, after that little digression into one of my pet peeves (poor customer service), here is the progress on the Candleflame Shawl:

I'm really liking the effect of the beads, although not the faff of the actuality of beading.

And I have picked up some lovely everyday Stylecraft for my youngest niece's Xmas sweater, for which I will use this old pattern I found in one of our local charity shops. Yes, I said the X-word in July ....

13 comments:

  1. I love the colour of Tracy's shawl, it's beautiful!

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  2. I'm sorry you had to put a shawl into time out. At least Wendy's will be a great knit! Looks like it's bottom up, so it will go really fast toward the end. :)

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  3. Whatever it's based on, the Anemone colour is pretty. I can't help but notice it also matches your blog! ;)

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  4. I love your candleflame shawl. I love the green one as well. As for the StyleCraft Life yarn, I personally don't like it, I don't think it knits like double knit at all. In saying that I love the colour and the colourways it comes in. I have 18 balls of it in my stash and very unsure what to do with it. I hope it works out well for you.

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  5. I'm impressed that you are working on 3 different lace patterns at the same time. The Tracy's Shawl looks very pretty.

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  6. Calophi - I cast on 309 stitches, so I hope it's top down ! :-)
    Leah - it *is* a nice color, I didn't notice the match til you pointed it out though :-)
    Rugby Mad ....hmm. Will let you know; tho' I'm sure it can't be the 1st time I've used it, will check ....

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  7. Mmm "FAFF", I think that's my word for today. The whole sentence is great actually; I laughed out loud when I read it.

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  8. Beautiful colours (especially the candle flame, I love orange!) Sorry you've got something in time out, but it's better than it going wrong over and over!

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  9. So sorry about the Tree of Light, but Tracy's shawl looks like it is lovely....and the the yarn you are using is such a pretty color!!

    I probably would have just ignored being ignored. I don't have the chutzpah to demand good customer service. I'm a real wimp. :-(

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  10. I just saw your quit smoking counter. Congratulations. My husband quit a 2 pack a day habit on 9/2/2010, cold turkey. He is doing so well. In the past few months he has become a walking addict! Today he went to our local Y to see about joining! Veery proud of him.

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  11. I love the fire-red shawl and the anemone one is a really pretty colour as well. I can't wait to see then finished. I hope that you take that other shawl out of time-out soon. It is so frustrating when a project is misbehaving.

    Enjoy the rest of your day.

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  12. I'm a big stickler about yarn shop customer service. I have such little yarn moneys that if the vibe is off I can't spend any money. Beautiful yarn and projects!

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Thanks ! I love comments :-)