the blue blog archives: making waves

I have so many other things I want to knit right now. So many more practical things (seriously, when am I going to wear lace??). But I am so loving the colors and the yarns and the wave pattern in this feather and fan project that I find myself graviatating toward it every night. I reach right past my long-sleeved NBaT, right past katy, right past my design projects, right past the sockapal-2-za sock yarn, and grab this shrug.

The first time I posted about this project, many of you called it a scarf, but it's really going to be a shrug. It is knit like a scarf, but the sides will be sewn together for several inches at the "top" and "bottom" to make sleeves. After several nights of obsessive knitting, I progressed past "sleeve" length, and sewed up the cuff a little, so I could get a better sense of how it will look on.

I love that the stripes and the pattern repeats are random. (Well, I'm following a sequence of stripes and repeats and pattern variations, but the designer didn't make them according to some ratio or even symmetrical from one sleeve to the other.) It's so much fun to let go for once and simply watch something develop into whatever it's going to be. So many times, the goal of knitting is to reproduce a pattern perfectly - get all those beautiful cables in katy to look as crisp and neat as in the pattern picture, for example - but with this shrug, which doesn't have a "perfected" design and which I only saw once in person anyway, those sort of expectations just don't hold. Perhaps that's precisely why I'm so drawn to this project right now.

posted by alison at 10:05 am | in feather and fan

Comments

Oooo, a long sleeve NBaT. I like that idea. I'm finishing up my short sleeve T and soon will start on a sleevless version. I've really been enjoying the pattern and love the yarn.

Posted by: Dena at July 23, 2005 10:49 AM

Oooo, a long sleeve NBaT. I like that idea. I'm finishing up my short sleeve T and soon will start on a sleevless version. I've really been enjoying the pattern and love the yarn.

Posted by: Dena at July 23, 2005 10:49 AM

That's a great idea for an easy shrug. I love how it looks on your arm. So basically it's random without beign too random (as you are following a pattern)...Sounds like my kind of project haha

Posted by: Vicki at July 23, 2005 11:01 AM

WOW - so pretty :-) I've been feeling the "shrug bug" myself lately ... thought with temps in the 90s I dont' know why! Maybe just wishful thinking for fall and the "official" start of "knitting season" ? :-)

Best Wishes! (PS - So, what did you think of Harry Potter No. 6? Inquiring minds want to know LOL )

Posted by: Kara at July 23, 2005 11:27 AM

Goodbye comfort zone! This shrug will be perfect for the early fall days when a closed knit shrug would be too much. You're going to receive compliments every time you wear it and I'll bet your mom will want one and will even wear it.

Posted by: Leslie at July 23, 2005 12:24 PM

I love the lace, and the different colours is a great thing too!

Posted by: kira at July 23, 2005 12:41 PM

Looks great! I've been working on my Baltic Sea Stole, so I'm feeling rather wavy too.

Posted by: Kat with a K at July 23, 2005 1:22 PM

the shawl/stole/scarf thing is beautifl, love the waves.

Posted by: Wanda at July 23, 2005 3:28 PM

It's beautiful.

Posted by: Christie at July 23, 2005 4:00 PM

Oooh, pretty!

Posted by: Deb at July 23, 2005 6:02 PM

Maybe lace isn't so practical, but it is lovely to knit!

I have finished the back and sleeves of Jacob's Weasley sweater!! I am so excited, esp. since now I am hooked on the books (I read 1,2, and 3 last week!)

Posted by: patti at July 23, 2005 10:33 PM

It's just lovely Alison, can't wait to see it finished!

Posted by: Debi at July 23, 2005 11:11 PM

It's beautiful, lovely colors and will be stunning on you! wow. my colors.

Posted by: Barbara at July 24, 2005 1:57 AM

That is lovely! What pattern are you using for it?

Posted by: Barbara at July 24, 2005 8:52 AM

I've been away from a computer for at least two weeks. I've checked email, and then your blog. I must admit to looking more forward to your blog than my email. (two weeks of spam is no fun at all) You do a great job. I'm educated and entertained when I tune in. Thanks for always sharing!!!

Posted by: Ann at July 24, 2005 9:10 AM

it's looking sooo pretty! love it!

Posted by: rebecca at July 24, 2005 2:43 PM

I love the shrug. It deserves the extra attention. That will be so beautiful. And because it's beautiful, I'm sure you'll find lots of reasons and times to wear it.

Posted by: Diane at July 25, 2005 4:33 PM

that shrug is beautiful,I love the way the colours wave

Posted by: cara at July 25, 2005 8:36 PM

Ooh, that's a great idea for the constant freeze-thaw of summer air-conditioning! Will you post some guidelines for our own interpretations when you have it sorted out?

Posted by: Szarka at July 27, 2005 4:28 PM