Aqueous Shawl 2 - Finished!

 

I finished this up last week.  It knitted up very quickly, about 5 days.  It helped that I had an unexpected Federal Holiday last weekend.  I was able to check my corrections and annotate the pattern, as well as verify my charts and additional notes.  I just need to go back through everything one last time and then I can send it off to the designer.  One of the things that amazes me about this yarn is the way the colors glow when you get them in natural light.  When I knit this the first time my skeins were actually overweight, so I was able to complete the shawl, with the errors that caused an extra stitch, with just those two skeins.  When I started this one I realized that I might have issues with running out of yarn.  Fortunately I had a full skein and most of a second skein of the Drops of Jupiter.  I did consider getting a second skein of the Sarah’s Violet, but I had already gotten a second skein of the Tupelo Honey when I was concerned about running out of yarn on the first one, so I used that for the last garter rows and the bind off.

The yarn has a marvelous drape and is very soft.  I have not made many shawls out of heavier weight yarns, but I really like these.  It blocks up beautifully, and the size and shape are just perfect.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl 2 - Art Deco Leaf Section Done

 

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, there were a number of errors in this pattern, but I want to make sure that my corrections are actually correct, so I’m knitting a second one to verify that.  As I complete each section I make annotations in the PDF of the pattern on the errors that I’ve found and what the correction should be.  Once I’m done I’ll send it back to the designer.  I’m also going to send her a Word file with my charts for the Dainty Chevron sections and the Art Deco Leaf section, along with my stitch count tables.  I am creating stitch count tables for the entire shawl, by section, that has the number of stitches on each side of the marker as well as the total for each row.  I started on this one on Friday, and have already made a lot of progress, despite having to spend a lot of time on the first Dainty Chevron chart to make sure that I figured out the error that resulted in the extra stitch at the end of that section.  Charting it was the only way, as there is a pattern to the increases and spotting the anomaly in the increase pattern was the key.  This was complicated by another variation on one of the rows that is driven by the nature of the lace pattern itself.  When I charted it for knitting the first time I had compressed both sides of the chart, but there were a couple of rows on the left side that I couldn’t compress, which made matching things up tricker when compared with the compressed rows.  In the end I expanded the left side back out, which allowed me to spot what was going on.

The colors for this one are Sarah’s Violet and Drops of Jupiter.  The Drops of Jupiter is from last year’s Camp Loopy.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Finished!

I finished this up last weekend.  I used up all by 1.5 grams of the Nightrain, and all but 4.1 grams of the Tupelo Honey.  The colors really glow in the natural light.  Now I need to update the pattern and test it with my other two colors so I can send it back to the designer and hope that she accepts it in the spirit it is intended.  It is a fun pattern.

Blocking was pretty straight forward.  With slip stitch edges I sometimes worry about the edges being too tight, but this one blocked pretty easily and without distortion.  I pinned out the top edge first and then the left edge (the bound off edge) and then worked may way back to the starting point.  I did have to do some adjustments, but not too much.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

 

Aqueous Shawl - Broken Arrow Section 2 Done

 

So, now I have worked through Garter Section 4, Broken Arrow Section 2 and Garter Section 5.  Starting with Garter Section 4 the stitch count of the shawl remains essentially constant (134 stitches on right side rows, 135 stitches on wrong side rows), with increases only on the section before the marker.  I have Dainty Chevrons Section 2 and Garter Section 6 left.  I was getting very nervous about having enough yarn, so I weighed my skeins to get yarn usage data during Garter Section 5 and I should just barely make it.  Remember how I have an extra stitch?  And how that extra stitch was on the section after the marker?  Well, when I worked the first pattern row in Broken Arrow Section 2 it worked.  No extra stitch.  Although there was an error in the pattern at the end of the row - it stated “repeat to 3 sts left, sl2 wyib, k2”.  It should have been sl1 wyib, k2 if you only have 3 stitches left.  I was fully expecting to have 4 stitches based upon where my extra stitch was, and was surprised when I didn’t.  So then I worked the wrong side row and discovered that my extra stitch was now in the section before the marker.  I have no idea how that could have happened as I have been extremely careful in the garter sections on where the increases occur.  I’ll be sending all of my notes as well as my charts to the designer when I’m done, so she can update the pattern.  I have charted the Dainty Chevrons Section 2 - much easier than charting the first one now that I know that lace pattern - and it is all set up in knitCompanion.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle: US 7 (4.5 mm) 

Aqueous Shawl - Garter Section 3 and Art Deco Leaf Section Done

 

I have now reached the maximum stitch count to the left of the marker, from now on that side will be decreasing.  Once again I charted the pattern from the written instructions.  Once I understood how the pattern worked it was pretty straight forward knitting.  I did learn the hard way to check my right side row before I worked the wrong side row.  Fortunately I made the mistake early on and only had to frog back 8 rows or so.  Trying to drop back stitches and fix it without tinking did not work.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Broken Arrow Mosaic Section 1 Done

 

I have finished Garter Section 2, Broken Arrow Section 1, and part of Garter Section 3.  I figured out that my extra stitch was on the second part, after the marker, which made working the mosaic section easy, I just had to take the extra stitch into account at the end of the right side rows and the beginning of the wrong side rows.  I marked up the pattern as I worked it.  I also figured out that the extra stitch is probably a pattern error, not mine.  I have the correct stitch count at row 16, and rows 18 and 20 both have 2 increases, so that gives you 72 stitches, which is what I have.  I’m making notes of all the errors I find and will pass them on to the designer.  I think I am the first person to knit this, other than the designer, as there are only 2 projects on Ravelry, including mine.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Dainty Chevron Section 1 Done

And the first lace section is completed.  So much easier with a chart, but not without a little challenge.  I had a mistake right near the end when I finished it last night.  I spotted it when I took a picture this morning.

See how the pattern is not quite symmetric on the spine at the top?  This is why having charts and being able to read your knitting is so important.  First I checked the chart to make sure I hadn’t messed something up there.  Nope, it wasn’t the chart that was wrong.  The stitch patterns were symmetric all along the spine.  So then I looked at my knitting and compared it to the chart.  It was pretty easy to see where I had gone wrong.  A yarn over in the wrong spot.  I tinked back two rows, which also allowed me to fix a weird yarn over on one of my CDD-P on the last row, fixed the yarn over and reknit.  All better.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Cast On & Garter Section 1 Done

 

It is time for Camp Loopy!  This year the theme is Circus Camp, and keeping with the three ring theme the project has to have three of something.  I went with three different stitch patterns.  This pattern has four different stitch patterns.  These are the original colors that I had picked:

Unfortunately there wasn’t enough contrast between the Nightrain (on the left) and Sarah’s Violet (on the right) so I ordered a skein of Tupelo Honey and it came in record time, so I was able to cast on last night.

The garter stitch section was pretty easy.  I got into the rhythm of the increases and didn’t count until the end and was delighted to find I had the correct stitch count.  After taking a picture I started on the next section, the Dainty Chevron section.  Lace.  Worked on both sides.  And no chart.  Ugh.  I struggled with the written directions last night and got about half way through when I set it aside after finding a couple of errors. This morning I put in one of my after-thought lifelines and ripped back.  Then I spent most of today charting the section.  It was pretty challenging at first, but once I figured out the pattern it went well.  I was even able to compress the chart with repeats and make everything line up.  The knitting went quickly, although I did find a couple of minor mistakes in my charting.  I did end up with one more stitch than the pattern.  But I’m not going to worry about it.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Calming the Storm - Finished!

As I was working my way through the first skein I thought I would never make it to the end of this project.  But by the time I got into the second skein things seemed to go faster and I cranked through the third skein in no time at all.  I finished this up this past Sunday, with the month only barely half over.  I used 816 yards, which gives me a little cushion on the 800 yards required for the third Camp Loopy project.  I really enjoyed camp this year, and I’m a little sorry to see it end.  While I’ve made a lot of shawls, I’ve only made two out of yarn that is heavier than fingering.  I like the heavier weight shawls.

Pattern:  Calming the Storm by Lisa Hannes

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK in Drops of Jupiter

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Calming the Storm - One Skein Done

I finished up the first skein this past weekend, and have been working the second skein.  I really like this yarn, but this color is coming off on my hands and my clothes, which is a bit annoying, especially when I’m wearing a white T-shirt that starts taking on a pink patina.  Fortunately it washes out of cloth easily enough, I’m not so sure about my fingernails and cuticles.  My first skein weighed 119.7 grams, which equates to 260 yards.  Only 540 more yards to go, minimum.

Pattern:  Calming the Storm by Lisa Hannes

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK in Drops of Jupiter

Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Calming the Storm - Making Progress

I neglected this project last week, instead working on my Adventurous Wrap, but I’m back on this one today and making progress.  I picked it up last night and made a mistake I couldn’t fix (lost a stitch somehow) and ended up frogging and restarting but I’m making progress now.  I’m on the chart that is the eight row repeat, so no more increases in the patterned part, just increases in the garter stitch part that is to the right of the stitch marker.  I like the texture and the Swanky DK is very nice to work with.

Pattern:  Calming the Storm by Lisa Hannes

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK in Drops of Jupiter

Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Calming the Storm - Cast On!

It is August 1, so time to cast on my August Camp Loopy Project.  This go around the options are Physical Sciences Lab, Earth Sciences Lab and Life Sciences Lab.  I’m in the Physical Sciences Lab. The pattern I picked is Calming the Storm and the yarn is Magpie Fibers Swanky DK in Drops of Jupiter.  Originally I was going to do a lace pullover called Venus by Martin Storey, but I was a little worried about making the yardage requirement, so this morning I went through my queue and found a shawl pattern that I could use the yarn for and I can just knit until I meet the yardage requirement.

Pattern:  Calming the Storm by Lisa Hannes
Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK in Drops of Jupiter
Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)