My Mystery Stole has been finished, washed, and blocked... and draped around cats (again!):
Here it is on me:
Mystery Stole 3 (Pink Lemon Twist)
Misti Alpaca Lace, "Sea Mist" color 7120 (437 yards per ball), 1.6 balls
US 3 24" addi-turbo circular needles
US 3 32" Knitpicks circular needles
US 11/12 (1.0 mm) steel crochet hook
size 8 beads
I had a lot of fun knitting Melanie's pattern (though it definitely would have been more of a mystery if I had kept up with the clues)! The yarn was also great -- soft and lovely, but strong (I didn't have any breaks).
I knit the pattern as written, but added my own bizarre twist by switching to the much pointier Knitpicks needles (which I had just received in the mail) in the midst of the second chart of Clue 4. Apparently I knit much looser with the Knitpicks needles... I could have blocked the last half much wider/longer than I did. Ah, well! I knew it was a risk, but it's not too horribly noticeable (as currently blocked) unless I point it out.
Here are a few more photos for you...
After blocking:
Some wing close-ups:
"wrong" side
"right" side
HEMLOCK RING BLANKET
Ever since I saw Jared's Hemlock Ring Blanket, I've been wanting to make one. Well, I've succombed!
I went to Webs on Wednesday evening to see Norah Gaughan (of Knitting Nature fame) talk about her new pattern book with Berroco (and I forgot my camera -- brilliant, no?). Norah was great, as were the sample garments, many of which I tried on (there are several more things I will be adding to my too long knitting queue). She showed us all how to knit a hexagon (Webs supplied the yarn -- they had warned us to bring needles). Fun stuff!
While I was there I picked up two giant skeins of Cascade Ecological Wool in a lovely chocolate brown color.
The version of the Hemlock Ring Doily pattern that Jared links to has a typo (the last repeat of Round 35 should end with a k1, not (k1, O) twice, as the pattern states). Also, rounds 35, 39, and 43 are written in such a way that I get easily confused. I learned through the KAL that this version
Here's my progress so far.
Bug was impressed with the size of the yarn ball created by one skein of the Eco Wool (I had to wind the last bit by hand, as my ball winder could no longer rotate with the huge ball in the way).
He thought the yarn smelled delicious, so tried to take a nip (don't worry, I didn't let him chew through it -- but, oh, how he wanted to):
Moana found the yarn ball intriguing, too. The yummy sheepy smell drew her in:
Ah, hah! Moana pounced the flatish-lacey sheep and inhaled deeply, maybe probed it a little with her sharp, pointy teeth:
52 comments:
Your Mystery Stole is stunning! I can't wait to see your Hemlock blanket when it is finished. I am thinking of making one someday, maybe in a tweedy heathery pink for Cashew...
Your stole is gorgeous!! Fantastic job :) This is the second Hemlock that I've seen and it looks so intriguing.... May have to find out more about it. I *love* the gratuitous kitty photos too, especially the third one from the top :) Thanks for sharing!
Your MS3 is SOOO pretty! Mine is gonna be so much smaller, more like a neck scarf than a stole. I'm finally on clue 6!!! I hope to finish it by tomorrow (doubtful) and move on to clue 7 next week.
I got the yarn for Hemlock Ring from Farmhouse sale and can't wait to start. I told myself that only one easy, one hard project on needles at once - learned it hard this summer, I couldn't keep up with ANYTHING! I can't wait to see yours!
Your Mystery Stole is stunning!! It's the first one I've seen modeled and it really helps me appreciate the unique design. You did a fabulous job!
Your stole is fab!
Re: the Hemlock. I didn't find any mistakes in the pattern -- maybe I wasn't paying enough attention! Check out the link to the pdf I made for the Hemlock on my blog. It puts everything in one document.
Your stole is fabulous! Doesn't it feel GOOD to be finished! Now you got me thinking about the hemlock....
The stole is breath taking! Looks great on you and the cats. :-)
I would love to make the Hemlock, but for now I will enjoy watching you make it. Too many baby knits I need to make and too little time.
Beautiful! Looks fab on, beautifully knit, and bravely draped on cats :D Joe has now shredded my DBs jumper just by sitting on him for a cuddle - don't think I'd dare let him snuggle in my lace!
Kitty Pix! Luv 'em :)
The MS3 came out so nicely - yours is the first FO pictures I've seen but then I'm not a "real lace weight" knitter.
Your MS is beautiful. Yours is the first I've seen finished, and I'm so impressed. Good job!
Oh wow wow WOW on the stole, the prettiest color I've yet to see!! Looking forward to the blanket progress, such a great project.
Your stole is gorgeous! It looks great on you :)
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful, stole! Thanks for the close-ups of the beads. I've heard a lot of talk among MS3 participants about whether or not to use beads, but I think yours is the first one to show where they're used, and I have to say I just love the effect.
This is so much goodness for one post! Your stole is beautiful, and if the finished blanket is as warm & fuzzy as the cat pictures, it will be loved indeed!
The cats look smashing in that stole! Seriously, that siamese + stole is the cutest thing I've seen in a while. The blanket is purty, too - I totally glossed over the fact that the pattern was available online. Hmmm, another one to throw in the big queue.
The stole is gorgeous! Fantastic job. Don't you love it??? That blanket is going to be great too. I am so tempted to make one!
The stole is lovely! And thanks for the link to that pattern, because that blanket is next on my queue for gift knitting!
The stole is gorgeous! Great job!
And I just bought some of the Eco-wool...maybe I'll have to make one of those blankets too...they're so gorgeous!
The stole is gorgeous. But, I'm afraid you may need to give it to the Siamese. It is spectacular with her eyes!
I love Jared's blanket too. I hope to get time to squeeze that one in soon.
your stole is stunning!!! its breath taking. I too have sucummed to the hemlock and am waiting for my yarn :(...can't wait to start.
Aw love your catty pics, always makes me giggle lol.
Think Bugs has his name on that stole.
Oh my gosh that is *beautiful*. I must knit that!
That stole is simply gorgeous! You did a fantastic job!
And yes, Jared's blanket is to-die-for. Good luck with that project.
Yuor mystery stole is stunning! It looks so gorgeous on you. And the Hemlock blanket is going to be great. That one is in my queue too.
Wow!! Your MS3 is gorgeous - I love the closeups of the wing, what a beautiful stitch pattern. I love it in that yarn. And your Hemlock Ring will be gorgeous too - if the kitty doesn't get it first ;)
Stole looks gorgeous. I like all the knitting 'helpers' you have too!
The stole is gorgeous-but how did you get your cat wrapped inside it? If I tried that with Laptop, I would have a shredded shawl.
Wow! Mystery Stole 3 is absolutely amazing!! Lace never ceases to amaze me! Good job! :-)
I finally got some time to read blogs and leave comments after all the stuff is going on in my life. Anyway.
I love your MS3, so pretty on you and your cats!! I am kind of far behind, still on clue 5, hopefully I can finish it before Christmas.
And the Hemlock Ring, nice color that you have picked. I am also interested in knitting one, but I just have too many projects in mind, right now, can't make up my mind. Plus, I am moving, all my yarns are in boxes...
Btw, your Fifi is so cute, makes me want to make one too!!!
Your stole is beautiful. And the cats look so stylish! I'm sure they're the talk of the neighborhood!
Your Mystery Shawl is breathtaking. I love the color and the drape and everything. Why exactly did not I sign up? What was I thinking? I hope the pattern is going to be for sale one day.
The evening with Norah Gaughan sounds like fun and trying on her designs? Oh, I am so jealous.
Your Mystery Stole is absolutely adorable! Great job! I had to laugh when I saw it draped around your kitties, they are such cuties!
Hemlock blanket looks very interesting, I can't wait to see it finished!
Moana seems to be like Smeagol: if it's knitting and it's there a cat needs to attack it ;)
I agree that the Hemlock is written in an archaic way. It's like knitting from Chaucer! It really should be rewritten using more up-to-date abbrevs and terminology, but I'm too lazy (or tired from knitting three of them in three weeks!). I'm on my last repeat on my third Hemlock...
Congrats on finishing your Mystery Stole - it's lovely! Not to mention- beautifully modeled. ;)
Well aren't you a busy bee? The mystery stole is a stunner. So fabulous on you.
Goodness, your mystery stole is so beautiful! Thanks for stopping by my blog! It's always nice to see a new face.
-- Jen in Chicago from wordswitsnwool.blogspot.comm
Congrats on finishing your MS3! Lovely job!
Moana and I are on the same page: we both love that yummy sheep smell of yarn. How about you?
the mystery stole is gorgeous and i'm LOVING the color for your hemlock ring blanket! that's on my list of to-knits, for sure!
The stole looks fab... love those pointy points. It was really helpful to see it all laid out to really "get" the transition from one section to another. Too cute kittens too (grin)!
Wow! Your stole is so beautiful! great job!
Your Mystery Stole is great. I love the asymmetry!
...and isn't the EcoWool skein humongous! I made something out of it a few years ago and handwound the skein into a ball bigger than my head!
Stopping by for my cat fix :) You are a great cat photographer! Really love how the "wing" section of the mystery Stole looks when you wear it... I think it's one of those garments that really becomes beautiful when in use.
Where to start? Your Mystery Stole is simply elegant and I can see the attraction to the Hemlock. His photographs are so gorgeous - almost makes me want to knit. You, however, make me want kitties again more than anything!! Thanks for the cat candy :)
Catching up again, you can probably guess why. [g] Man, what a beautiful job on the stole! Lovely. And good grief, I have to look up that Hemlock Ring. (Like I need any round blankets. Right. You betcha.)
As usual, fantastic pix, and-- You have Siamese yarn! On my monitor, the Sea Mist matches Bug's eyes exactly in pic #2 (which I swear, should be in a magazine somewhere), and the Eco Wool matches his fur! And Moana...well, I was giggling. Killed that Hemlock dead, she did! Too funny. Yet she looks sooo innocent wrapped in the shawl... (Um. You look gorgeous in it, too. [g])
Your kitties are so cute! I love how the shawl matches the one cats eyes and then the yarn for the blanket matches the other cats fur! Beautiful knits too, That hemlock blanket looks fun.
Beautiful mystery lace!! Nice work...
The photo of Moana attacking your knitting is going to give me nightmares! Augh!!!
Awesome Cat Pics, as always. Oh, and the knitting looks good, too! ;)
not that everyone else hasn't already said so, but, wow, yoiur mystery stole, is LOVELY! I love the drape of that wing, so elegant.
Good luck on the Hemlock ring - I've got it on my list too, don't know when I'll brave it, though!
;)
Beautiful, beautiful lacework there. And I'm smacking my forehead because your post just made me realize why we've been selling so much EcoWool online these last couple weeks! I saw Jared's post but never put two-and-two together until I saw your Hemlock Ring progress . . . :)
Your mystery stole is beautiful. The color is so lovely.
Your stole looks great! I still need to finish mine. I'm a sporadic knitter at best. ;) Love the Hemlock Ring blanket too! I queued it as soon as I seen it.
I love the second picture down... babushka cat!
Wow that stole is beautiful. Such an interesting pattern.
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