So Very Peacock!
Well, here she is! My Peacock Feathers shawl, laid out in all her glory.
I’m sure you’ll notice right away that it’s not on the bed. There was just no way that shawl was going to fit. I spread it out and the corners weren’t just hanging over the edge, they were dragging on the floor. There was no way I could block it like that.
As it is, the shawl didn’t even fit on the comforter cover I put underneath it, but we did our best. And the important thing is that she is stretched out and resting comfortably.
I’m really happy with the color. I used, you’ll remember the KnitPicks Shimmer, in Turquoise Splendor. I’m not always a fan of variegated yarns, especially for lace, but I like the way this came out. I like how, since it’s not a solid color, it mimics all those stunning shades in a real Peacock’s tail, and yet (now that it’s blocked) does not take away from the lace.
I suppose that a solid color might be marginally better because it wouldn’t detract from the lace even a little, but I have absolutely no regrets for picking this over a solid color. None. The yarn was a delight to work with, incredibly soft, and I didn’t find a single knot. I’ll definitely recommend it to anyone.
So, what did I learn making this shawl?
- You can never have too much yarn. I had to dip into my fourth skein for about 2 yards’ worth of yarn, but I was so, so grateful that I had it in the house when I needed it, instead of needing to buy more!
- You can never have too many T-pins. Because blocking this required a lot of them. I used up ever T-pin I had, and then every quilt pin, and then a handful of old, sewing pins that haven’t been out of my sewing basket in years.
- Stitch markers are a girl’s best friend–especially where complicated lace patterns are concerned. They were absolutely invaluable for this pattern, with so many repeats, but whose main, lace pattern changed from row to row.
- Counting the number of stitches between markers while purling the back side of the pattern is invaluable. If you come up with 23 stitches instead of 24, you can catch whatever error you made now rather than while you’re knitting the lace on the next row. It’s easy, at that point, to add in a YO or to slip one stitch over another in the correct place so that everything is where it should be.
- Patterns which require you to move the stitch markers to the right or left as you knit are evil.
- Moving the markers while on the purl-backs (wrong side) of the previous row in said patterns, so that when it came to knitting the lace rows, the makers were already in the correct place, is a sanity-saver.
- Noting whether l/r means to move the markers inward toward the center or outward toward the edge makes this much easier while on the flip side, than trying to figure out, “If it should be moved to the right on the front, since I’m on the back, that means move it to the left, right?”
- Fiddlesticks patterns are as much fun as they are beautiful!
Yay!
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Tannenbaum.
House Calls
Congratulations — your shawl is beautiful!! And thank you for the helpful hints — will be great as I start my shawl.
gorgeous!! I love it! Great job!
How very beautiful! Good job!
Really lovely! I knit that same shawl last fall, and I’m still thrilled with it. Since then, I’ve done the Lotus Blossom (very easy!) and I’m working on Tina. Fiddlesticks is fabulous.
Absolutly amazing. It is gorgeous! How long did it take you to make this?
I hope you post more pictures after all the blocking and pins are removed so we can see what it looks like with you in it.
Congratulations!
Sandra
Oh wow!! Absolutely gorgeous. Makes me want to learn how to knit lace.
wonderful,truly stunning! I just bought some of the shimmer in the same colour for the paisley shawl.
You did a awesome job
beautimous!
i’ll bet you can hardly wait til it’s dry :o)
This is gorgeous, and I bought the same yarn to use on it. However, I have a question, and am a bit concerned. How large is your bed? We have a queen, and an extra queen upstairs, that I was planning to block mine on. I’m a little worried about your dipping into the 4th skein, though. I usually end up with extra when I knit a given pattern, and I usually use the swatch yarn in the garment itself. Would this change things? I mean, do you normally run right along with the pattern requirements or need more, and do you normally save your swatch? Thanks!
Ranee
Your shawl is so gorgeous!! Have you whirled around the room with it yet?
S.
It is BEAUTIFUL! The colorway is perfect for the pattern. You will love that shawl forever!!
Simply stunning. Great job.
Stunning! I knew I liked it when I saw Stephanie’s version but I like it that much more now.
wow! that looks amazing!
That turned out simply wonderful.
The colorway suits it quite nicely.
It is truly gorgeous. I keep thinking of knitting that pattern, I have the yarn, have the pattern, just haven’t casted it on yet, maybe soon because your is truly diving. I was also going to use Knit PIcks but Alpaca Cloud int he color Tidal Pool.
absolutely gorgeous
Positively stunning! Thank you for sharing pictures - I have considered the Shimmer yarns for lace, and wondered if they would be too distracting! (In this case, absolutely not!)
I’m about to start my first lace project and I have to say - your shawl is amazing. It so reminds me of a peacock too! Excellent work. I’m a little scared, but if I can come just a little bit close to this I will be so happy.
Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful. Isn’t lace fun?
The shawl is beautiful,I have the same yarn and have wondered what it would look best as. Now I am pretty sure it is your peacock. Hope to show mine when I finally get the pattern.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Fantastic.
OH! It is gorgeous! The color is perfect for the pattern! Great job!
Are you through HP number 1 yet??
Wow, it’s beautiful! Congrats!
Wow! I love it! Congratulations on finishing! Beautiful!
[I love the way the shimmer feels; I need to get more of it.]
Gorgeous! Fabulous! Beautiful!
I am all full up of the superlatives today…
Looking forward to seeing what’s next on the docket.
Oh my, what a beautiful shawl! Almost makes me want to pick up some of the laceweight I have laying around the house…
Stunning. It takes my breath away.
Beautiful! I just started my first Fiddlesticks pattern, Lily of the Valley and am finding the directions excellent. I also love the Alpaca Cloud, cousin to the Shimmer. I think I will order the Peacock Shawl pattern and some Shimmer for my next project. Enjoy your summer of lace!
It is absolutely gorgeous! The color goes SO well with the design… What an heirloom! I love Dorothy’s patterns, too! This one may have to go on my wish list!
Like everyone else, I think your shawl is gorgeous, beautiful, amazing, fabulous, and I could go on and on. You should really be proud of your handiwork, you did a great job!
i’m breathless
I finally got here….and now I’m speechless. A peacock it certainly is, beautiful.
Deb, this is Just So Beautiful. It is a FO of magnitude. It is a magnum opus. A tour de force. You do wonderful work. Congratulations!
That is just fantastic! I have looked at the pattern several times on their website and wondered about it, I think it is now on my must have list. Thanks for the tips as well, the stitch marker tips especially, I am knitting Kiri at the moment and don’t need stitch markers but for a more complicated pattern, especially one that travels, they will be really useful.
Stunning! Absolutely beautiful Deb!
I need to get cracking on mine again.
Beautimous! Thanks for the fabulous tips too.
stunning!!!
Gorgeous. I so want to try one of their patterns now. It’s on my must have list. You did a fantastic job.
WOW!! It is just beautiful…as a peacock should be. I’d love to see a modeling shot after the blocking is done!
That looks amazing. Well done!
Totally gorgeous! Congratulations on finishing it…
Wow… that’s so.. intricate. And I was invisioning something completely different when I heard “Peacock feathers!” lol! but this was a pleasant suprise!
It’s really beautiful Deb! I love to see what that yarn looks like knit up too. It is hard to picture some of the Knit Picks yarns in a project.
Spectacular! That is just gorgeous!
Your shawl is absolutely beautiful. You should be very proud. It is really gorgeous!!!!
Peacock is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous! Great job, you should be very proud. Carolyn H
Wow. THAT is one fine piece of work. I never, ever would have thought of Shimmer so thank you for THAT idea as well.
Helen
Simply stunning…a work of art!
I am thinking of doing this pattern for the knitting olympics. I know that it may be crazy but am I certifiable to try and do this in 16 straight days of knitting. How long did it take you?