Snow Queen - Finished Shawl

Now that the final clue has gone out for Snow Queen I can finally reveal my finished shawl.  I really love how it came out.  Here is the obligatory blocking photo.

Posting photos has inspired me to get out the leftovers of start another one of my "color study" shawls.  Jazzberries and Lemon Drops was the last color study shawl that I finished.  I wasn't sure if I would do one with the leftovers from this shawl simply because I have so much yarn left over - there are a number of other shawl patterns that I could make - but I really like making something that just lets the colors of the yarn be the star.


Project:  Snow Queen by Janine le Cras
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Marici Fingering in Dusk on the Fjord
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Snow Queen - Clue 6

This is the penultimate (I love that word) clue of the Snow Queen shawl.  I did not add any extra beads to this clue, or to the final clue.  I've been plugging away at the second sleeve on my Burgundy pullover, and I received the yarn for a test knit yesterday.  I'll probably spend the weekend finishing up the pullover and getting started on the test knit.  I transitioned to my 5th skein towards the end of this clue - where the purple really starts to dominate.

Project:  Snow Queen by Janine le Cras
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Marici Fingering in Dusk on the Fjord
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Snow Queen - Clue 5

This picture really captures the colors.  I transitioned to the 4th skein towards the end of this clue, so the purple is starting to appear.

Project:  Snow Queen by Janine le Cras
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Marici Fingering in Dusk on the Fjord
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Snow Queen - Clue 4

Here is my Clue 4.  I transitioned to my third skein in this clue, so the pink is really starting to dominate.

I'm heading off to The Unique Sheep Retreat today at the Hawkesdene House down in Andrews North Carolina.  This is the first time I've done something like this.  I'm very excited to be meeting people that I only know from Ravelry and I know we're going to have a lot of fun.  We're going to do some dyeing and make chocolates and felt a Unique Sheep.  I'm taking my camera so I'll try to get some good pictures, but I probably won't do any blogging until I get back.


Project:  Snow Queen by Janine le Cras
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Marici Fingering in Dusk on the Fjord
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Snow Queen - Clue 3

This clue finishes up my use of the Crystal AB beads.  I used Pink Pearlized Crystal AB beads on the "arms" of the snow flake and Purple Lined Amethyst AB beads for the beads that are called for in the pattern.  I wore this shawl to work this past Tuesday, the silk is very warm and the cape version hangs nicely.  The bulk of the beads are on the shoulders in the star burst section so you really don't notice the weight.

Our weather is certainly appropriate for a Snow Queen.  We had about 6 inches of snow yesterday, including about a half inch of sleet.  We stayed home from work yesterday, and we'll have to dig out today.  Depending on when our road gets plowed we may or may not make it into work today.

Project:  Snow Queen by Janine le Cras
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Marici Fingering in Dusk on the Fjord
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Snow Queen - Clue 2

This is a much better picture of the shawl so far.  The picture of Clue 1 was taken very quickly and kind of late in the day, so it wasn't the best.  This one used all three colors of beads that I bought.  I am using the purple beads for the ones called for in the pattern.

I have finished up two of the three test knits, but I can't start the third one because I don't have the yarn yet.  I may take a look at the pattern this weekend, but I feel kind of lost.  I've been working on my Burgundy pullover, but it is not at all challenging, in fact it is pretty boring, but I'm not sure I want to jump into something else.  Maybe I'll work on something non-knitting, like beading or chainmail, or even sewing.  I suppose I could always do house work...

Project:  Snow Queen by Janine le Cras
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Marici Fingering in Dusk on the Fjord
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Snow Queen - Clue 1

The Snow Queen Mystery Knit Along started this past Friday, so I can finally begin to reveal my shawl.  I test knit this pattern using the yarn above - Dusk on the Fjord in Marici Fingering.  It was my first time using Marici Fingering, which is 100% silk.  I love the richness of the colors, and it is wonderful to knit with.  I received the pink beads with the yarn, but I had also purchased several other colors from Earthfaire and was delighted to discover that I had 3 colors that went with my yarn.  As part of the test knit we were provided a complete chart of the pattern, so I could see how all of the elements came together and that inspired me to go a bit crazy with the beads.  I ended up using most of those 6 packages of beads in the picture.  I started with the silver end and the Crystal AB beads.

As part of the test knit I created a cape modification - something that I have become known for in our Unique Sheep group - and this time the modification instructions are being included in the pattern, with appropriate attribution.

The placement of the extra beads is not included in the pattern, but I have been adding notes to my project page.  This is not the best picture, taken on a cloudy afternoon in late November, but the other pictures are better.

Project:  Snow Queen by Janine le Cras
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Marici Fingering in Dusk on the Fjord
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)