Letters
Chuffed: The Particular Joy of Finishing
Dear Kay,
This has been an interesting month with A Year of Techniques. We have all been leaning in to Bristol Ivy’s Brambling Shawl, and there has been a lot of sturdy, determined effort at the fine art of intarsia.
Most heartening is the number of folks who were game to give it a try. I, for one, put intarsia in the same category as wearing a two-piece swimsuit—until I watched Jen Arnall-Culliford’s quick video tutorial on intarsia. There is something about the way Jen talks. I need Jen to come talk to me on a daily basis. “No biggie. Just do this simple thing, and it will all work out.”
Which it did.
I finished this in a couple of weeks of steady knitting.
I did hit a snag, keeping track of the pattern. Lots of the row repeats have embedded repeats within the repeat. Or whatever. It requires attention to make sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing. I kept at it because I saw everybody else hanging in there and figuring how to proceed, over in the Year of Techniques Ravelry group and The Lounge. Thanks, y’all!
And if ever a second half of a project were easier than the first, it’s this shawl. I basically stopped paying much attention, knowing that decreasing every fourth row meant that eventually the shawl would just . . . end.
My greatest curiosity was to see how this shawl would block out. There were some seriously wonky stitches, given that I’d sized up to a size 8 needle rather than the size 6 specified in the pattern.
It turned out! The smoothness of the finished piece, the way all those warbly stitches began to behave—it’s what you hope will happen when you block a shawl. This Fyberspates Cumulus is alpaca and silk, almost weightless.
It feels pretty great to finish a project like this. My finished Brambling Shawl is a happy moment in my knitting efforts, and I’m weirdly proud of myself. It’s thanks to Jen and Jim, A Year of Techniques, and the encouragement of stalwart, good-looking knitters over in the forums.
I’m still not going to wear a two-piece swimsuit, don’t worry. Saving that for the next decade.
A Chat with Bristol Ivy
Before bidding fond farewell to this month’s project, be sure to read Jen’s conversation with Bristol Ivy. Quote of the month: “I would love to challenge everyone to take one technique that intimidates them and sit down for an afternoon and give it a try. Maybe it’ll take a group of friends cheering you on, maybe a class, maybe a large glass of gin, maybe just some quiet time, but I guarantee that it’ll be far less intimidating than originally expected. The knitting world then becomes your oyster!”
Tomorrow: Project 3 Begins!
And now for something comPLETEly different . . .
Come back tomorrow for the launch of A Year of Techniques Project 3 and Jen’s next video tutorial. Maybe you’re all experts at this technique, but I’d never even HEARD of it. I am dotty with curiosity about how it will go. If you want to order up yarn for this project (we keep using the word adorable when we talk about it), we have kits in the Shop in two colorways.
Love,
Ann
Wow, that looks PERFECT!
As a mostly-sock-knitter, I miss out on a lot of the Joy of Blocking; I only block socks if they are to be gifts. But vicarious blocking is a lot of fun!
The Before and After on this thing was profoundly satisfying, I have to say. Colorwash Shawl has a similar promise of prime blocking satisfaction.
Agree re blocking socks–my feets is what blocks ’em!
I absolutely LOVE the colors you chose for the shawl. I am smitten!
Thanks! I’m feeling a lot of teal love these days, which is unprecedented. Color in general seems to be grabbing me more than ever. I’m going to end up like Iris Apfel—I WISH! Love her.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Iris+Apfel&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjUwdyBvtHTAhXMPCYKHeucBMEQ_AUIBygC&biw=1204&bih=1163&dpr=2
Dotty? Could that be a hint? I do love dots.
Tune in tomorrow! ; )
wonderful! Also, re. 2-piece swimsuits – you can do it! The key is “tankini”. I even got one with shorts. Life changing, I tell you! Sort of like beautiful intarsia that doesn’t look anything like an 80’s sweater.
I basically put on a pup tent at this point and hope for the best!
So, if I start knitting now, and don’t stop until tomorrow, can I finish the second half before the next project is announced? 😉
Eight Ball says yes. Eight Ball also says to ditch work.
My Colorwash Scarf pushed Brambling right off my lap… but not far!! Excited to learn what’s new tomorrow.
I hope you like it! It’s supercute.
landsend has nice two piece cover ups. Kind of a tank top and skort bottom. Not bad.
You did such A great job! That yarn looks so lovely!!!!
You did this in two weeks???
I am so jealous!!!!
Once I got into the “S Town” podcast, I was a goner . . .
I also put intarsia in the same category as wearing a 2-piece swimsuit. I am reveling in the challenge of the year of techniques, but I am saving my intarsia outing for a bit. I have a wedding shawl to knit first. (Good heavens! Not for me!)
The shawl looks great, even in close-up! (As for the two-piece swimsuit, do you mean the kind with knee-length bloomers and a skirt?)
The shawl has turned out beautifully , blocking has left it blemish free – congratulations
How did you block it?
Soaked it for 20 minutes in cold water with Eucalan, rolled it in towels, then spread it out (it’s like ten feet long!), and decided not to pin it or use blocking wires. Was feeling lazy.