Red Ruffles Shawl & Springtime Skirt

Finally I got some pictures of the completed shawl, today. Despite being fairly warm weather, it's cloudy and/or rainy, so the photos had to be taken indoors.

As with all lace shawls, this one is transformed once blocked; the lace pattern really opens up and the design is revealed. It is really light and airy, just barely there, since it's alpaca. The ruffle is flirty and girly and really does move when you move. You'll have to see it in person.


I ended up using just three skeins of the five skeins I bought -- now I have to think of something to do with the last two... or just give them away so I don't have to think about it. Funny thing -- the first two skeins got all the way through the lace portion of the shawl, and the third was used completely in the ruffle. Ah the ruffle, what a test of patience.


I also thought I'd take this chance to show off the white springy skirt I made this week. I've had this fabric for yonks (it was one of the ones I used for borders and backing on a quilt years ago) and finally cut it out and sewed it. I've used the pattern before, and like it because it's super simple to make but also flattering -- the skirt has a yoke which keeps it fairly fitted to the hip, and then flares out from there.

Meantime, I have gotten about three-quarters done a sock, as well, but realized that it's a smidge too big, so I will rip it back to the ankle and redo the heel and foot with a smaller needle. Photos soon.

The Monster

Though I am nearing the end of the Red Ruffle shawl, it is pretty slow-going, now. The lace portion is completed, and I am working on the ruffle, which requires several intense increase rows to start it. Having finished the increases, I'm left with slightly over 2200 stitches per row. Yikes. And it isn't even mindless stockingette at this point, but more like a K15-P15 ribbing, which requires some attention to keep from screwing it up. Enough attention that I can't drag it to the pub for Knit Night. My progress has been steady, but slow, since each row takes something just short of two hours. And I have many more rows to go.


I haven't been posting much progress on other projects, since I have been concentrating on getting the shawl off the needles, but rest assured that I have other things on the go. I have cut out a cottony springtime skirt that I've been meaning to make for ages, and I cut out all the triangles for another hexagon quilt (but we'll talk about that later), and I've even measured out a couple of warps for my next stashbusting weaving project. Things are happening behind the scenes at Chez Crafty, and patience will be rewarded.