I eagerly woke on Friday with excitement tingling in my fingertips. Can you guess why? I’ll just tell you, I can’t keep things like this to myself anyway. The first clue for the Mystery Stole 3 was released.
I quickly went about my morning chores so I could hop onto the computer and get that pattern printed. Once I did, I showed remarkable restraint and did not start right away. Instead I finished up a pair of socks, which was in itself a rather harrowing experience.
With that finished I rewarded myself with the start of this special project. I cast on with some black Jaggerspun Zephyr, which I received in a swap with Barb, on a pair of Addi Lace size 4US/3.5mm needles.
The one thing that really attracted me to this project was the fact that we’d be adding beads. I had dug into my stash of seed beads and came up with some silvery grey size 8/0 beads that seemed to go well with the black. I have to admit that I was a little intimidated at the thought of juggling with the crochet hook, a size 10, my knitting needles, and the beads.
Once I got started though I couldn’t stop. I love everything about this project. Melanie’s charts are perfect. I love the size of her graph and the way she numbers the rows. I love the yarn and the needles. Most of all, I love adding beads to my knitting.
I kept knitting to get to the next beaded row, which made the first 100 rows fly by. I was able to finish the first clue that day, which completely surprised me.
Now it’s back to the Forest Path Stole, but I’m afraid that it’s just a poor substitute for the black beauty that waits for the next clue to be released.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:21 am
Your stole is beautiful so far. No wonder you knit it all up so fast, I wouldn’t have been able to put it down either.
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:23 am
Love your MS3! It looks stunning in the black. I finished up my Clue #1 this morning. Gotta get a pic for the blog …
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:23 am
Wow, that is stunning in black!!! Your beads look gorgeous, too! I can’t wait for Friday…. :-)
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:35 am
OMG - is that fabulous or what? The beads are going to be a spectacular addition!
Cripes, no wonder you couldn’t wait to get started. I admire your restraint regarding finishing the socks. If it had been me, they would have sat, half-done, in my work basket, blithely abandoned for the loveliness of lace.
You’re a better woman than I am :)
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:35 am
It looks lovely. I am also going to knit this shawl- Don’t get too far ahead!!! I do not have any beads that will work so I ordered several different colors last night and will wait for their arrival. I have some hand dyed 50/50 Merino/Tussah Silk dyed by Perchance to Knit in the Midnight Rainbow colorway. I really cannot describe this colorway adequately and I don’t think it will photograph well. You’ll just have to wait to see.
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Gorgeous!!! I’m in the process of finishing up mine too. I too had to finish my socks and I’ve only been knitting a little each day to save it till the next clue. It’s so beautiful though I can hardly wait for friday!!
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:05 pm
dang, woman. your needles are on FIRE! like mcqueen on cars! (my nephew is a huge fan of that particular movie.)
i’d say my needles are more like…mater. heh. :P
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Isn’t beading fun?? Not scary at all, see? :)
July 2nd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Shazaam! You’re flying on your Mystery Stole and, naturally, it’s just beautiful! The silvery beads are the perfect complement.
July 2nd, 2007 at 2:26 pm
that is absolutally goregous. i love the idea for a mystery pattern. that’s just fantastic!
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Wow - I am impressed- Hope to get mine done soon, Yours looks lovely!
Now what are you doing till Friday??
July 2nd, 2007 at 5:08 pm
That Mystery Shawl looks wonderful! I’ve never tried to partcipate in one of those knit-alongs but I think you are doing a great job. It looks very very pretty. Very graceful! I think it’s going to be a really lovely shawl. Good Luck!
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:26 pm
the mystery stole looks very antique-ish, especially in black and with the silvery beads - can’t wait to see your progress!
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:40 pm
It looks beautiful - the pattern is going to be fabulous! Love the yarn choice too.
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:04 am
I have said it before, I will say it again. You are a knitting demon. Lovely work.
How do you find working with Zephyr? My weaving experiences with it have not been entirely pleasant, though I did like the finished objects it produced.
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:46 am
It’s beautiful, Opal! I finished the first clue, too, and I am very happy with my stole so far. I’m really enjoying the beading, too! The only problem is that Elvis, the 20 pound ball of fur, has wanted to sit on my lap…not really conducive to beading. Now I’m back to the pink thing and the red gloves.
That black Zephyr is really nice, and the beads are beautiful with it!
hugggggggggggggggggggsssssssssss
mm
July 3rd, 2007 at 5:06 am
I’m also doing MS3, though I’m not knitting on it nearly as fast as you, it seems! I have no printer, so I just knit a few rows whenever I sit down to do anything at my computer. I suspect I’ll be knitting quite a bit over the next couple of days, which I have off work. Hopefully I’ll actually have the first clue finished by the time the second one comes out. :p
July 3rd, 2007 at 7:08 am
Opal, you’re killing me. I swore I was NOT going to sign up for another KAL this summer.
AND
I have three shawls (including Lily) already on the needles.
BUT
that stole is fa-bu-lous!!!
You do know how to tempt a girl, don’t you?
Blessings!
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:06 pm
It’s gorgeous so far. I like the idea of a mystery project. Maybe the next go around.
July 4th, 2007 at 1:59 am
You can already tell that it is a gorgeous pattern. I can see why you’re impatient for the next clue!
July 4th, 2007 at 2:20 am
Opal, you put me to shame! I have done nothing towards getting the yarn or beads, and here you are, right on schedule after some mad, mad knitting!!! I’m inspired by seeing yours–I better get started!!! :)
July 4th, 2007 at 4:29 am
The photos look like spiders that suddenly morph into a lovely lace piece in the last one!
July 4th, 2007 at 7:42 am
Hey, Opal! Once again I think your stole so far is wonderful, but I’m really just testing out my new email addy on you. Happy 4th to you, mom and the cat family.
many hugggggggggggggggggssssssss
from me and my cat family
July 4th, 2007 at 11:07 am
I didn’t sign up for this as I thought I had too many other projects but your beautiful photos were too inspiring and I did sign up. This is gorgeous!