finished swallowtail

I finished my Swallow Tail! I apologize for not pointing you to the posts earlier. Here they are.

the makeover (October 16)
@#$! early bed times (October 11)

Here's another picture of my blocked swallowtail, with me holding it to give a sense of scale. I love it:

Here it is!

I added a set of repeats (recommended here), but it's still teeny. I blocked it pretty vigorously, but it's still kinda small. I'm glad I added the repeats!

I love the yarn--it's Malabrigo laceweight. The color variations are really pretty.

How to make Swallowtail larger?

I've read that one has to do 19 repeats of the Budding lace chart to make Swallowtail larger. What else is involved? Anything with the border and edging?

Are there links to this information?

Thanks

Freda

I finished! I think my grandma will love it. I really enjoyed this pattern - the repeats are easy to remember and easy to see when you're making a mistake early! It felt like it just flowed from my needles when I had time to work on it!

I want to warn those using Jaeggerspun zephyr in fuchsia that it bleeds:



Blocking pictures:

my swallowtail

It's going okay. I'm on repeat #12 or so of the budding lace detail. I went out and got some Lace Addis today and that really sped things up. I'm using Hand Maiden Sea Silk.

I wrote two previous posts about it on my blog, so if you really want to see them here they all
are. The only interesting part is that I did four repeats in Cherry Tree Alpaca silk before I ripped them out and switched to Sea Silk.

I can't wait for this to be done!

I'm obsessed!

I'm making my very first Swallowtail, and I love it. I did extra repeats to enlarge it, so I'm just now getting to the first Lily of the Valley border. I'm using Malabrigo laceweight, in a candy pink color. I hope the photo is okay--I took it in a rush this morning.

--Judy, aka Nerdy Knitter

I picked up my swallowtail again last week. I had brought it along on my vacation, but only did a few repeats on the airplane and then put it aside. I'm excited about working on it again and am almost through the budding lace chart. I thought I was through last night, but counted my stitches and still have one more repeat to go. It looks beautiful in the pink zephyrspun. And I'm very inspired by seeing everyone's swallowtails. What percent of the shawl is finished when you finish up lace pattern 2?

I'm almost there!

My Swallow Tail Shawl is currently soaking. I'm so excited to see my first lace project bloom into something even more beautiful than it currently is. Unfortunately, in my haste to get it to its bath ASAP, I didn't take a "before" photo! d'oh.

Swallowtail Inspired Baby Blankie

Patons Jet, Wool Alpaca Mix 10 Balls
6mm Knitpicks Options x 2

I started with a circular provisional cast on, and added extra stitches to double the pattern (make it square), and also to make each of the four "ribs" double instead of single knit stitches (just to make it easier to knit in the round.

It took me about 6 weeks, but I moved house in the middle of it, and just got around to blocking yesterday. iPod included for scale.  The edging is just moss stitch (seed stitch).  Knitted for my new neicephew, due in December '07.

I have the yarn to do this again, but following the edging charts too - for a much bigger blankie, for my baby, due in November.

Swallowtail in Golden Chai

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl
Yarn: Artfibers Golden Chai, 100 % golden tussah silk
Amount Used: Over 500 yards
Needles: KnitPicks Options circular 47-inch size 8
Pre-Block Dimensions: Length 27 1/2 ", Width 56"
Post-Block Dimensions: Length 34", Width 70"

Love this yarn! I really can't tell accurately how much I used, as I ran out with 5 rows left to go! I had to order more. I have more details on my blog: http://mymerinomantra.typepad.com

Sea Silk? We'll sea! (Har har)

I actually knit this last October over two weeks when I was between jobs, and I intended to give it to my Grandmother for Christmas after blocking it.

Sorry, Grandma.

I did finish the shawl (even though I took this picture before finishing the border), but I followed my usual procedure and immediately started knitting something else instead of just taking the last step and finishing the project. (Maybe I enjoy projects so much I never want them to end? Perhaps...) So, when I saw this KAL I thought I'd join it and it would induce me to finally block the dang shawl already.

This picture looks more like "Stingray Shawl" but it shows how the shawl knits up with Hand Maiden Sea Silk and size 4 needles...

As you can see, at this point I still had a lot of yarn left. I had a teeny little bit left over -- about the size of a silver dollar-- when I cast off the final stitch. If anyone is considering making this shawl with Sea Silk, one skein is exactly enough yarn for this project.

Here's a closeup of the rosebud lace:

I have read that the Sea Silk looses up quite a bit during blocking, so I am curious to see what happens. I'll post pictures. Personally, I don't think a person can ever go wrong with silk, so hopefully Grandma will have silky shoulders for Christmas this year-- finally!

WOOHOO I am now blocking

I can't believe it, I finally finished, this was the most intense knit I have completed to date.

Here are my before and during blocking pix


The top corners look a little weird...I know its not completely even, I tried my best, I don't have a T-square like Eunny Jang's example...but it will be flowy right.. so I think it will be okay

I have more pictures on my blog of the blocking progress and measurement before and after

I assume I will leave it like this until tomorrow so its fully set??

Learning to Design Lace

I am a big fan of Evelyn Clark's designs and am playing with trying to learn to design my own shawl. Does anyone have ideas on books to look at or websites? Or maybe some thoughts? I'm especially stuck on how to build up the edges on either side of the pattern repeat, so that when you start the next repeat, you have enough stitches/

I've been working on the Thistle Lace pattern from Barbara Walker's Teasury, volume 2. My goal is a triangular shawl with a symmetrical, small repeat, then a border, then a peaked edging. The Thistle leaf pattern is a 28-row repeat with purling on all even rows. Here's where I'm stuck:

1. does the border edge have to keep increasing in number of stitches, or can I increase to the number that I need for the repeat (11) and then do plain knit or repeat the same row on either edge until I get to the end of the 28 rows needed for the pattern repeat?
2. any ideas on how the border should mirror the pattern? can I just do a small part, or do I need to build up to the entire pattern as I get enough stitches on either side of the repeat?

My blog is at http://pegotty/blogspot.com if you'd rather leave a suggestion there. Any help would be welcomed! Thanks all.

progress half way there

I signed up in May but I dont believe I ever posted anything, here is where I am at now, I have been procrastinating about switching to circulars, but I dont think I can wait any longer

Im using Lacey Lamb 100% extrafine lambswool, everything else is in a foreign language



I have more info on my blog, but here is where I began some months ago

http://moosieknits.blogspot.com/2007/05/current-wip.html

Finished Swallowtail!

I finished my Swallowtail Shawl! I am so proud of it! I'm going to enter it in my state fair. Here it is in its entirety:

and here is a close up:

I'm thinking of blocking it again, but this time stretching it out a bit more. We'll see!

My Second Swallowail!

I just recently finished my second swallowtail, using Knit Picks Shimmer in Turquoise Splendor. It was a much quicker knit the second time around, and I loved every second of it!

More pictures and details on my blog. Happy Knitting!

First Lace Project!

I am so pleased with the Swallowtail thus far! It's my very first lace project. Here is the beginning of my progress. I pinned it down so you guys can see it, but it's obviously nowhere near done and therefore not blocked.
And here's a close up just to show the detail.
I'm knitting it using Colinette's Jitterbug, I love this yarn! I'm also glad I'm doing my first lace project in fingering weight yarn. Yesterday I casted on for a feather and fin scarf with lace weight and I'm really glad I didn't start with it!

Real Red completed

I finished this about two weeks ago--before starting the semi-insanity that is the Mystery Stole--but had misplaced the camera.

less than one ball Zephyr Wool-Silk in Real Red
size 4 Inox Express 24" circular plus a tapestry needle to aid in nupping (see my earlier post for info on this)

I am really proud of how this turned out; It's my first lace project and I love everything about it. Visit my blog for a few more details. :-) Thanks, all!

I've started a swallowtail! I made an Icarus shawl this year and am in love with lace. It turned out pretty huge and took me five months so a smaller project is looking good. I'm going to visit my grandma tomorrow and it'll be a gift for her when I finish. She loves deep hot pink so when I saw some halcyon yarn zephyr spun in fuchsia I knew it was perfect. I started this weekend and am looking forward to working on it on the airplane tomorrow.



Thanks to everyone on this knitalong whose advice and beautiful finished swallowtails are inspiring me!

my Swallowtail is finished...

Washed and blocked this morning and ready for her photo shoot late this afternoon, my Swallowtail. I'm not 100% pleased with the 3-stitch bobble substitution for the nupps. Next time around, I'll try some of the other variations I've been reading about. The color in the photos is a lot more eye-popping than the actual color of the yarn (Jade Sapphire's Cashmere and Silk laceweight in Blueblood Red) which is a warmer, pinky red. Working with this yarn was a luxurious treat. When I picked up one of my favorite merino wool sock yarns this morning, it took almost an hour not to feel as if I were knitting with baling wire after working with the cashmere and silk. :)

She's Flown the Nest

It was fun. I'd do it again. Here's a pic:
There's more pics on my blog - Something To Laugh About
Specs: Morehouse Merino Lace - 2 skeins in coral
Needles: Addi Turbo Lace Size 5 and for the last row and bind off I used Crystal Palace bamboo circulars Size 8
Some thoughts: I wasn't fond of the transition to the Lily of the Valley border. I ended up liking nups after the first 1 or two rows of them. Watching it grow and bloom when I blocked it was great!

Addicted to LACE

I just started knitting lace over the summer and I must say I LOVE it! I can't wait to get started on this shawl, tho I have to find my missing interweave that HAS this pattern in it...*sigh*

But you will be seeing this off my needles VERY soon!

nope to nupps

I'm in the home stretch, working the Peaked Edging now. I spent several evenings trying all kinds of permutations to achieve the 'nupps'. With the purl 5 together nigh on impossible for me to execute with my Inox greys, I started trying out different things. I finally settled on a 3-stitch bobble which, while not entirely to my satisfaction, is better than throwing down the knitting in complete frustration. ;)

New member and yardage

Hello! This will be my first major lace project (I've done a couple of small scarves and handkerchiefs) and I'm very excited! I ordered a back copy of the magazine, so I can't wait for it to come in to get started! I was wondering if someone could leave a comment with the yardage required for this project? I would like to go ahead and purchase the yarn so I'm ready when the magazine comes in! Thank you!

My 2nd Swallowtail Shawl

Knitting is addictive as it is, but knitting triangle shawls are even more so. I have more or less stopped knitting anything else!!

Here's my 2nd Swallowtail again, using the handpainted 100% wool lace yarn from Handpainted Yarn.

Even hubby was impressed!

Nupps?

Everyone who has finished a shawl is a true artist!! They are all beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!
I am trying to do the nupps on the first chart. I always come out with the wrong count. I've been doing the cheater method.
Could someone just tell me the sequence of the abbreviated 'real'ones? I don't understand the symbol.
Even with a broken arm I can knit for awhile, but I'm on the verge of packing all mt stuff away upstairs. Can someone help me? thanks so much.... Star

My Swallowtail So Far

Thanks Lois for inviting me. Here's a picture:
This is my first shawl. I'm a fairly new lace knitter, and I love it. I'm almost to the next section, and I can't wait to experience nupps! (I hear groans)
Yarn: Morehouse Merino Laceweight, in coral
Needles: Addi Lace Size 4

More shots at www.donnac368.blogspot.com

Getting started

I am loving my Swallow Tail Shawl. This is really the first substantial lace pattern I have attempted. While I am having some stupid moments *i don't understand why this row won't work out... OH i am trying to knit the wrong row...* I keep gently ripping to get back, I feel like I am accomplishing something wonderful. The yarn is Blue Sky Alpaca, which I bought years ago, before the Swallow Tail pattern graced the pages of Interweave Knits. I have intended to knit this yarn in this pattern for quite some time. I am also knitting on US 10.5's because the yarn is fairly thick, and I want a big shawl :) I also read a comment on some one else's post that stated that after the 14 repeat of the Budding Lace, 5 repeat sequences will make the Lily of the Valley charts work out correctly. Has anyone tried this and had it work successfully or unsuccessfully?
More details about this shawl's life posted on my blog.

my humble beginning

It's taken me months to get started, but I finally settled on a yarn for this project and have gotten underway. The yarn is Jade Sapphire cashmere and silk in Blueblood Red. I chose this yarn and started my knitting before I saw Dana's red in Zephyr! Gotta love the reds. :)

First Swallowtail

I love this pattern so much! And using Sea Silk didn't suck either. I took a few pictures of the finished shawl at the Missouri Botanical Garden and posted them on my blog. Now I want to do another one, but I can't decide what yarn to use. I'm so glad there is this KAL so I can see so many possibilities!

Nupp tip

Hello everyone! I am new to this KAL--I started the shawl a couple of weeks ago as my first lace project. I am using JaggerSpun Zephyr (silk/wool blend) in color Real Red on a size US4 Inox Express circular. I just completed row 6 of the first border and, whew--I'm kind of glad I started without reading this KAL--I think the nupps would have scared me off. Now that I'm there, though, it's exciting to learn a new skill. (You can read more on my blog should you be so inclined!)

I wanted to share the technique I'm using for the nupps just in case it helps anyone else in my situation.

After all the swearing and the poking and the feeling desperate, I discovered a method for nupping that is less painful and more efficient, for me at least. Each time I come to the p5tog, I carefully slip the five stitches onto a metal tapestry needle and hold it to the front, sort of like using a cable needle. I then purl the stitches together from the tapestry needle rather than the left knitting needle. The smaller diameter of the tapestry needle gives me the wiggle room I need to clear all five stitches, wrap the working yarn, and purl it through. It's still really fiddly, but the nupps look great. There are a couple I could have done better, but even my perfectionism balks at ripping back to my lifeline unless I really have to.

Nupp said.

Mine is finished too!!

Hi, everyone.

I also managed to finish my shawl some time ago. About a month or so. And yes, it did not take too long to knit even though I've been so busy lately that I did not knit as much as I would have liked and it has taken me even longer to find some time to blog about it and upload some pictures.

I used under one skein of lace wool from handpaintedyarn.com on 3.5mm needles and may make another one in the same dusty pink colour.

Finished!!!

I finished knitting Sunday evening, then overdyed & blocked it Monday and I love it..... You may remember I was not happy with the yarn colours, it wasn't so much the colours but the fact they fought against the lace pattern and won.... so the plan was to overdye the shawl once complete and I absolutely love the result.....

so we have gone from this....


to this...


and finally (the above photo reflects the true colous)...


There are more photos and details on my blog. But I would definitely do more of these in the future....

Nupps, Nupps & More Nupps....

I have now finally finished Lily Border 1 and have progressed to Lily border 2.... the Nupps are getting easier

Lily of the Valley Border 1

I finished working the Budding Lace on Tuesday and last night started the Lily of the Valley Border 1 last night..... The photograph doesn't really show anything too well. The yarn is beautiful to knit with, very soft but a lovely even yarn; no lumps or bumps. I have decided that once the shawl is finished I am definitely going to over-dye it in a pink as it's far too busy....

MMM Yummy Yellow

Hi all you lovely knitters! Your shawls are ALL beautiful!

I got the pattern from my LYS and some fabulous yellow yarn. I can't wait to start.

Last night I tried to cast on and was totally stumped.I'm a slow learner,so I will need lots of help, I just know it!

How do you decide what size needles to use? I see some of you have used really large needles and your shawls are soooooo pretty. Anyway love it , love it, love it !!!

My First Post....

I cast on yesterday afternoon and got a couple of repeats done of the main pattern. I love the colours in this yarn I dyed myself but don't think it works for lace, so I think when the shawl is finished I will over-dye it to unify the colours or I feel it will detract from the pattern......

The yarn is from Yarn Treehouse on ebay and is 100% wool, quite fine, so I have doubled the yarn before dying to give the correct weight for the pattern.... I am using KP Options 3.5mm

First Post Here

I joined this KAL quite a while ago, but I didn't start the actual knitting of the shawl until just last night. Here's a picture of what I've accomplished so far just to show that I'm really doing it! I actually started it the other day using Misti Alpaca like the pattern shows, but I wasn't falling in love with that yarn so last night I switched over to using some Elann's Peruvian Baby Silk in a really pretty pink that I had laying around in my stash, I really like that yarn! And I'm using some KnitPicks Options needles that I had too, they are pretty nice. I can't decide which I like better, those or the new Addi lace needles (I have already acquired several of those). This is a pretty easy pattern so far, I can't wait until I get to the dreaded nupps! I might do the bead thing instead, I think this pink would be really pretty with some beads. I'll have to think about it when I get there. I will probably post more about my progress on this over here on my blog.

Done

It's done, blocked, all that left to do is to weave in ends.

Please visit my blog for details.

New "Tail" in Town

Hello Everyone.
Just joined this talented group. I have finished the 14 repeats of the first chart and trying to get into the tormenting nupp's.
I had to rip rows 5, 6 & 7 because, obviouly, I made a mistake and nupp's did not line up properly. Ugh!
I am using the Shadow yarn (100% merino wool) in Grape Jelly from KnitPicks.
Will try to take a photo and post soon.

Help needed

Hi. I finally started my Swallowtail Shawl. I am using very thin yarn on 3mm needles and, although I am nearly done with the 14 reps of the Budding Lace 2 chart, the result is still ridiculously small. So I am planning to do more reps of this pattern before I start the Lily of the Valley border. I would like to know, from those that have already got so far, the approximate measures of your Budding lace sections. Thank you.

Christmas Swallowtail (a little late...)

I finished my swallowtail for grandma, which was supposed to be her christmas present! oops. i hope she'll like it anyway.
excuse the indoor shot; it's pouring rain here.

nupps:
i used knitpicks alpaca cloud and knitpicks options circs. they were both lovely to work with. even though it took awhile, i loved this pattern and i'll probably make another. more details and a blocking shot on my blog.

happy knitting!

I'm done!

I have finally finished my Swallowtail Shawl. Here's a couple of snaps:





It is my first ever 'proper' lace project and I love it. Even though it took me some time to knit (I am a slow knitter) I found the pattern very easy and didn't make too many mistakes - well none that are visible after blocking anyway!

Yarn Used: Jaggerspun Zephyr in teal
Needle size: 3.5mm
Size (after blocking): 41" wide, 16" long

Thanks for all your tips! The sl 3, p2tog, psso was definitely a lot easier than p5tog.

Laura x

Noro Kureyon for Swallowtail?

I have some Noro Kureyon that I'm thinking of using for the Swallowtail Shawl. Here's a picture:

The yarn is a worsted weight, and a mixture of wool, silk and angora. A bit rough to the hand, but beautiful. Do you think that it would work? And if not, does anyone have a suggestion for a shawl pattern for a worsted-weight yarn?

Thanks.

Finished and Done

She is finally blocked and ready for her debut. The size after blocking is 60" across and 28" edge to point. I'm very happy with the way it turned out. It's very drapey and next to the cheek soft. This will make a nice Christmas present and may be one of my entries for the county fair this year. Despite all the frogging that went on during this project I'm sure eventually I'll knit another one.

Done, With Baby Cashmere

Yarn: Elann's Baby Cashmere (60% alpaca, 30% merino, 10% cashmere)

Amount Used: 480 yards/440 meters/3.85 oz./110 grams

Needles: KnitPicks Options Interchangeable size 7 US (4.5mm)

Pre-Block Dimensions: Length - 22", Width - 49"

Post-Block Dimensions: Length - 30", Width - 63"


Such a wonderful pattern! The nupps slowed me down, but they were very easy to do. I had to frog a couple of rows at the beginning, and I had 2 dropped stitches toward the end, involving YO's, but I was easily able to pick them up again (don't ask me how!). It took me about 10 days to complete, and I did not knit for hours at a time. I will make this pattern again, as it was very satisfying. Thanks for this KAL!

More pics on blog:

http://mymerinomantra.typepad.com