Over the weekend I picked up the Hidcote Garden Shawl again. I think this shawl will always hold some memories for me as I had started it the day Hawaii experienced one of the worst earthquakes our state has experienced in decades. I still give thanks to the fact that all my family experienced was a day without power.
I left off the shawl after working the 3rd chart. On Superbowl Sunday (Yay Colts!) I was able to work through the 4th chart. As you can see it’s hard to photograph the unblocked lace and it resembles nothing more then a bucket of ass.
I’m using Jaggerspun Zephyr in the colour Sage. The needles I’m using are size 3US Crystal Palace bamboo circulars. I really like the way the bamboo grips the stitches so they don’t go flying off the needles as they tend to do with metal needles. I’m not super enthusiastic about the points, but I think I’m always going to have to sacrifice a little something when it comes to needles. The bamboo is also very gentle on my hands, which is the main concern I have when knitting.
I have left out the use of stitch markers since they started to become more of a pain in the ass then a help with this particular pattern. Moving them around to make centered decreases made them more trouble then they were worth. Luckily, the pattern of the leaves are intuitive enough that the stitch markers aren’t really necessary.
Before I go, I thought I’d mention a contest that Kristen is having here. She’s asking for a haiku about anything and she’s not being particular about talent! The prize is a gorgeous set of stitch markers. Go! Go look and let that poet inside of you come screaming out!
