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March 09, 2006
Baltic Sea Stole
*UPDATED WITH BETTER PICTURES* (3/9/06 10:11PM)
I'm back.
I need to take pictures of an FO today so naturally, the sun is nowhere to be seen. :P I'll try to update this post with better pics when I can.
Pattern: Baltic Sea Stole by Faina M. Letoutchaia
Yarn: Anny Blatt Fine Kid in Rose Wine (discontinued)
Needles: US 8 straights (Susan Bates Silvalume)
For: My mom
So, I haven't talked about this thing in a long, long time. And now all of a sudden, BAM! All done. I seriously needed to finish this thing and go on with my life. I casted on for this stole last August, for pete's sake.
Well, what can I say? This lace pattern is hard-core. 32 row lace pattern. No purl rows. No memorizing here, folks. It wasn't difficult as it was completely mind-numbing. At least with a triangular shawl I have some shaping to look forward to. You know when you get half way through a scarf and get totally sick of doing the same effing thing over and over again and it's boring you to tears and makes you want to chuck that thing out the window and cast on for something, anything that isn't that stupid, long, rectangular scarf? Yeah, knitting this stole was just like that but a million, billion, trillion times worse.
I wanted to look all sullen for this photo but the boyfriend kept cracking me up. Oh, well.
I've seen a whole bunch of people strike this pose with their shawls so I thought I'd join in on the fun. For some reason, holding up the stole like this makes me feel like Batman (Is it just me?). Not quite sure if that's a good thing or bad thing just yet. It just felt weird, let's leave it at that.
However, I do think it was all worth it in the end. Quite pretty, no? My mother should be happy with it (She better be. *shakes fist threatingly* ;) ) Not bad for my first stole/shawl, I think.
Hot off the needles.
Blocked.
By the way, last Friday the Spiders and I went out to dinner to bid Sarah adieu (Oh, we miss you already!). Anyhoo, I was fretting about how I was going to block this darn stole. I asked Veronique and Marie for their advice. We decided that threading a piece of smooth, stiff cotton yarn through the edges and tying it to a nail or something was the best route.* Man, did I think we were ever clever. Turns out tho, it's totally been done. Oh well. We may not be the new pioneers in blocking lace but I still think we're clever.
*If you look in the comments, Veronique makes it clear that she mentioned at dinner that the whole string blocking idea was the Yarn Harlot's, not hers. I didn't hear her say that little bit. I guess that's what happens in the presence of alcohol.
Actually, now that I think about it I don't "guess". I know that's precisely what happens. We're still clever, by the way.
Posted by Sandra at March 9, 2006 08:27 AM
Comments
I love the stole! I was wondering when you'd post :-D I see your egg is growing! I went to Urban Outfitters and they're selling the eggs there. I picked up a mint one and mine just isn't growing :( I don't have a green thumb :(
Posted by: Iraida at March 9, 2006 08:52 AM
Sorry it was mind numbing, but at least it's really, really pretty!
Posted by: yahaira at March 9, 2006 09:23 AM
Sandra - the stole is AMAZING. What a beautiful gift for your mother!!
Posted by: Amanda at March 9, 2006 09:27 AM
It's simply beautiful, Sandra. I knew I loved that pattern but now I really REALLY love it.
Posted by: Michelle at March 9, 2006 09:32 AM
It's gorgeous! Worth the effort for sure... remind me to not attempt a deadline when knitting this for myself :)
Posted by: kaitlyn at March 9, 2006 09:38 AM
Figuring that tidbit out on your own is definitely clever! The stole is GORGEOUS. I can't imagine that your mom wouldn't love it.
Posted by: Chris at March 9, 2006 09:40 AM
it looks amazing, even if it numbed your mind. simply gorgeous.
Posted by: reesie at March 9, 2006 09:46 AM
That color is beautiful. And the knitting doesn't look so bad, either. ;) Seriously, you should be proud. Now, congratulate yourself by casting on for something short and sweet and just for you.
Posted by: Cara at March 9, 2006 09:48 AM
wow... wow. god, i'm speechless. it's so beauiful and HUGE. no wonder it was so mindnumbing. you deserve a medal (or a huge glass of wine anyway) for finishing that one. congrats!
so, what's next? :)
Posted by: gleek at March 9, 2006 09:58 AM
Simply gorgeous stole! I gotta knit me some lace.
Posted by: colleen at March 9, 2006 10:05 AM
It's gorgeous! I'm totally impressed.
Posted by: Amy at March 9, 2006 10:14 AM
The stole is wonderful! Nice job! I'm all about taking your time on a project, other things come up, that's ok...you always get back to whatever you were working on before.
Nice job.
Anny Blatt, too! nice FRENCH choice!
Posted by: Aimee at March 9, 2006 10:39 AM
Welcome back - the stole is gorgeous! I'm sure you're mother will LOVE it.
Posted by: Lisa at March 9, 2006 10:57 AM
Oh Sandra, it's gorgeous! How can your mom not appreciate it?!! She definitely will.
I think if a project is too tedious, it's best to set it aside. Then you can re-discover it later. Altough it seems that for this project it was tedious and boring from the first stitch... But it's worth it!
Posted by: Veronique at March 9, 2006 11:14 AM
What a beautiful and thoughtful gift! The shawl is amazingly nice. I'm sure it will be treasured.
Posted by: Latoya at March 9, 2006 11:16 AM
it's beautiful! totally worth all the boredom. your mother will be so pleased. or else! (shakes fist!)
Posted by: carrie m at March 9, 2006 11:38 AM
It looks awesome! Sounds totally grueling tho.. 32 rows, no purling? You get major props!
Posted by: Angela at March 9, 2006 11:39 AM
Wowie Zowie, that looks gorgeous, Sandra. I had thought, briefly, of tackling that pattern, but if it's mind-numbing, then nooooo waaay, Jose.
Posted by: Skylar at March 9, 2006 11:47 AM
It looks beautiful!
Posted by: Kate at March 9, 2006 12:51 PM
By the way, I didn't mean to imply that I had invented the thread blocking technique, rather, I was explaining what I had read on the Yarn Harlot's blog. I can't take the credit for that one!
Posted by: Veronique at March 9, 2006 03:06 PM
OMG - it is absolutely gorgeous! without a doubt a truely impressive shawl! congratulations!
Posted by: jacqueline at March 10, 2006 03:14 AM
maybe lace knitters need to make a light that we see at night when there's a knitting emergency
Posted by: yahaira at March 10, 2006 08:39 AM
What a gorgeous stole. Don't you hate how the boring projects often come out so beautiful and totally worth it?
Posted by: Liz K. at March 10, 2006 08:54 AM
oh, that is absolutely gorgeous!
Posted by: angel at March 10, 2006 12:00 PM
It was TOTALLY worth it! It looks fantastic! Great job!
Posted by: Kelly at March 11, 2006 08:02 AM
So very beautiful!
Posted by: jemadi at March 11, 2006 04:12 PM
Woo hoo - you go girl...congrats on finishing it!
Posted by: Marie at March 13, 2006 02:05 PM
It's abolutely beautiful - I'm sure your mom will love it!
Posted by: MeBeth at March 13, 2006 06:45 PM
What dedication! Most relationships don't last as long as that commitment!! I just love that color, too. Well done!
Posted by: Katy at March 14, 2006 02:30 PM
B E A U T I F U L !!!!
I know what you mean
never ending suffer of lace pattern reading!
aarrgg!!
but it is all worth it when you see
how awesome FO is
Posted by: eejayya at March 14, 2006 03:30 PM
That thing is stunning! Kudos!
Posted by: Mary at March 14, 2006 11:44 PM
GORGEOUS!! I looooove it!
Posted by: pam at March 15, 2006 03:08 PM
Welcome back from vacation - your stole is gorgeous! Really amazing. I hope you're feeling better after a bit of a blogging break.
Posted by: Elizabeth at March 16, 2006 10:04 AM
Your shawl is beautiful. I am sure that your Mother will love it. (anyone would!)
Posted by: Patty in Az at March 17, 2006 12:38 AM
Really beautiful shawl. All the hard work was worthwhile. I'm sure your mother will love it!
Posted by: li at March 17, 2006 03:56 PM
Wow... that stole/shawl looks AMAAAAZING. I am impressed, as always, with you. Damn you for being some good!!! :)
Posted by: joygoddess at March 18, 2006 04:13 PM
Woohoo, she's all done! I know, that pattern is stinking tedious hard work, right? I was bat-shit crazy enough to tackle it as my first lace project ever. My congratulations are all the more heart-felt because I know exactly what you went through! It looks totally, totally fabulous and I love the Batman rooftop pose. Your mom's a lucky lady!
Posted by: Sarah at March 23, 2006 09:24 PM