Monday, April 9, 2007

Flutterby

Saturday night I finished Evelyn A. Clark's Swallowtail Shawl while watching The Ten Commandments for the umpteenth time. The shawl is pictured so freshly blocked that I hadn't yet trimmed the yarn tails. She's beating her wings against the storm door despite intermittent snow showers.

Swallowtail shawl against storm door

Sunday morning I woke up with a headache and fever; the room, while not spinning, began listing ever more noticeably. I'll spare gentle readers what happened next. Suffice to say the shawl is dressed, but has yet to make her public début.

Swallowtail blocked to pattern measurements, small shoulder shawl size. Before blocking she was decidedly rumpled; after blocking her graceful floral motifs opened up like a butterfly from a chrysalis. I especially like the way the texture of the top edge, nupps, and bind off form a visual counterpoint to the gossamer lace.

Before blocking   After blocking

Blocking also seems to have subdued the strange tensile quality of the Cherry Tree Hill Suri Alpaca while bringing out its soap bubble translucency. I'm tickled that most sets of nupps are different colors.

Detail of nupps

Today I'm feeling better and starting to plan for the Five Boro Bike Tour. (Sigh. Some years I've managed both the bike tour and MDS&W, but this year they conflict.) As long as I'm home today, I'm going to rummage through my old pix and put together a short guide to the Fiboro, the largest bicycle tour in the U.S.

12 comments:

Nancy said...

Your shawl is beautiful - love the multi-colored nupps :o)

Bee said...

its gorgeous!! must make a formal debut for it so it can be pet I mean admired more closely. ;)

Anonymous said...

It's just beautiful!!! I love it pictured in the window like that - you can really see the lace pattern.

Anonymous said...

Swallowtail is just so beautiful. The difference before and after blocking is just so dramatic. Wow! Sorry to hear you were sick on Easter.

Chrissy said...

Looks great! Perfect color for this time of year :)

knitseashore said...

That is so beautiful!! I can't believe you finished it in time, and then unfortunately were too sick to wear and enjoy it. Rats. I hope you are feeling much better now!

I am looking forward to your photos for the Five Boro. I don't know if you know Squid Knits, but she is planning to go too!

knittingnurse said...

Absolutely lovely shawl. Good for you and hope that you are still feeling ok after your tour.

Take care of yourself.

Melanie said...

Your Swallowtail came out beautifully! That's on my list of thing to knit, but its going to be a while before I get to it. You should be really proud of it!

clothesknit said...

It is absolutely stunning! Job well done :o)

--Deb said...

Oh, it looks beautiful!

And, I hope you're feeling better!

CrazyFiberLady said...

She's beautiful. I'm sorry she didn't get to make her planned debut. How terribly to be sick for the holiday. I hope you're feeling better.

Sweet Camden Lass said...

Glorious. Well done you! ~x~