Clue #5...the last clue. This MKAL (Ysolda's mystery follow your arrow knitalong) just flew by. I guess the proverbial .... eat an elephant, one bite at a time....sort of fits. The clues were never real long....and when you finished, there was no guilt putting it down and picking up something else. You had to. No choice. Until the next Monday rolled around ----and you got excited all over to see what choices you had.
This last clue was the border....the end....and for me it was a no-brainer. I love knitted on borders, and that was one of the choices. I didn't read ahead. I just lunged right in. (I never read ahead. I always just lunge right in.) Which was why I was just the teeniest bit worried when I got through the first chart (of 4) and discovered my yarn was getting eaten up at a furious rate. This was old stash yarn...no way could I match it up. Should I rip it out and go with the safer border?? I could just end several rows short; it might not look good, but it would certainly look better than a border that didn't span the whole length of the shawl. hmmmmm.
While I was debating this...naturally, I was knitting chart 2. And to my surprise, the deep border I started with was getting shorter. This pattern was written with my limited supply of yarn in mind! With each progressive chart, the border got shorted and shorter. Perfect. (I'd rather be lucky than good any day.) I even ended up with a little bit left over. No worries.
It was nice unblocked, but...
the magic is happening right now on the blocking board. The mystery (for me), though, remains unsolved. How in the world did Ysolda figure this out....there are 32 different possibilities. And, I bet they are all stunning.
Mr. Churchill's Secretary is my newest book....but as you can see, I just started it. And now I have to wait for it to dry out a bit. That was a really bad idea putting it face down on a wet shawl. (Hope the library isn't reading this.)
Just stunning!!!!!!!
Posted by: Wanda | 02/11/2014 at 07:31 PM
Oooo... the shawl is LOVELY, Steph! I've loved that color you've been working with all along. And it's amazing what a little blocking does. I'm not sure how well I'd do with a mystery project like that... the suspense would kill me... LOL! Happy Day ((HUGS))
Posted by: Tracy | 02/12/2014 at 02:49 AM
I never before realised how important blocking is. I think I now know why I have been dissatisfied with virtually everything I made in the past. Your shawl is gorgeous Steph!
Posted by: rusty duck | 02/12/2014 at 03:20 AM
SO pretty!
Posted by: Shannon | 02/12/2014 at 06:13 AM
beautiful!!! I love the color you knit with, not your usual pick which makes it even prettier :)
Posted by: karen | 02/12/2014 at 06:46 AM
LOL! It may have been a bad idea, but it made a great photo!!! LOL! Oh, that is a beautiful shawl, Steph!! Love it! blessings ~ tanna
Posted by: tanna | 02/12/2014 at 07:31 AM
It's beautiful!!
Posted by: Cloudberry | 02/12/2014 at 07:34 AM
It's beautiful you lucky woman you! Now I want to knit one.
Posted by: Tracey | 02/12/2014 at 08:09 AM
Wow! Blocking does wonderful things for our knits, but then, without skilled hands and a gifted pattern writer, there would be nothing to block, eh? Beautiful!
Posted by: Lisa @ HappyinDoleValley | 02/12/2014 at 08:45 AM
I LOVE it! So beautiful, Steph.
Posted by: Erin @ Wild Whispers | 02/12/2014 at 09:43 AM
Fantastic - it's beautiful. Glad you didn't run out of yarn.
It's a mystery to me too how on earth Ysolda figured all the different possibilities out!
I'm still not finished clue 4 yet!!
Posted by: Emma | 02/12/2014 at 01:47 PM
your mystery shawl turned out positively stunning! I never knew about blocking until about five years ago! I hope you like the book. There were times I thought the writing was off, but the general story line kept me entertained.
Posted by: Jennifer Miller | 02/12/2014 at 02:39 PM
it's lovely! I agree - Ysolda is immensely talented and clever working out 32 variations that will all work and look beautiful. I love the colour you've chosen - makes me think of hyacinths. I've not seen this book but I'm fascinated with english history, especially this period, will have to check it out.
Posted by: lily boot | 02/12/2014 at 04:36 PM
Your shawl is beautiful - I love seeing the difference blocking makes. It's stunning and the colour you've chosen is very pretty x
Posted by: Donna | 02/13/2014 at 11:54 AM
Oh, your yarn is lovely! I liked the second clue for the edging but in the end I chickened out & chose the first one. It is so much fun seeing how these all turn out! xo
Posted by: meghann | 02/18/2014 at 07:46 AM