Mistress Stash Enhancer

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07/26/2006

Charlotte's Web finished, in her glory

Finally after she was cast off on July 8, after her crochet edging was completed, after the a good bath and the blocking wires worked their magic I have a finished Charlotte's Web. (click on all pictures to embiggen them)

She has been finished since July 11, blocked since the 20th. My photographer had been unable to schedule a photo shoot do to scheduling difficulties (Corra was at her father's) until this past Sunday. And now its Tuesday night and I'm just now getting around to posting about this.

Let me tell you a little about this knit...

Pattern: Koigu Charlotte's Web shawl

Yarn: 5 different color ways, I have quite a bit left

over from the first 3 colors. Barely any of the last 2.

Needle's: size 8 inox

Time: Started: Memorial day weekend June 10 and finished July 11.  We had a bit of a false start before I got the hang of the pattern, and learned how to read in between the patterns lines. I also learned, I have to keep knitting a pattern and not put it down or it will never ever be finished.

My thought's: Anyone who has knit this pattern can tell you, the directions suck. There really is no nice way to sugar coat it, make it sound better than what it really is. The designer who wrote this pattern should be left on a deserted island with size 35 needles with fun fur and sticky ultra crappy acrylic yarn. Really, a partial chart? How about telling me what to do after row 53, huh what about that?! After contemplating the demise of Charlotte, I realized how she is a spider spinning me into her lovely web and I searched the internets for. hours. looking for anything that might help just a little bit. And in Becky's archives I found these gems

Between the Stitches Helpful Hints for Charlotte's Web and The amazing Charlotte's Web Spreadsheet which I believe is the only spreadsheet I will ever enjoy.  Once I realized it's only really the 8 stitch, 8 row pattern repeat, repeated twice its a full lace pattern, I could have smacked my forehead and screamed "DuH!", I used 40 stitch markers and a few extra sticky stick it notes to help me on my way.

Bev you should be proud of me, this time I didn't cop out this time!

I learned crochet! I was so easy this time! Take a lookie! I think it had something to do with my great teacher, thanks Mom!

Granted its only single crochet, but hey! I did it! By myself! I decided to forgot the fringy-ness, didn't work for me on this shawl. Overall, I love this shawl, yes it was a pain in arse in the beginning. But once I understood the pattern it was smooth sailing. Very easy lace pattern, I could knit while watching tv, supervising the kids, talking on the phone. The directions just suck and might discourage a beginning lace knitter.

I leave you with one more picture, I love the shadows in this one.

I would also like to thank you for your support, my Dad does read my blog occasionally. So hopefully he read the comments. Once I sat down, made a few lists, searched the internets, did Erin's relaxation technique and went to bed not thinking of everything I woke up with out the headache. I made it through today with out it coming back too! I found quite a few new games, and dropped some things off at Staples to be laminated (my kids walked out of staples with a great bag filled with free stuff! Yay Staples! Thanks!) The kids can't wait to leave, they know they have so much new stuff to play with once we are in the car but can't see till we get in the car! Thank you everyone. Knitters rock.

00:00 Posted in Finished Object , The Amazing Lace | Permalink | Comments (17) | Email this | Tags: knitting, knitting(ENGLISH)

Comments

oooohhhh....that is so lovely! when i first started knitting, i drooled over this pattern, and in all the excittement, i'd forgotten about it. must add it back to the list!

Posted by: kate | 07/26/2006

Beautiful!

Posted by: DianeMDianeM | 07/26/2006

Wow! Your Charlotte is beautiful! Congratulations on having defeated the evil designer and its incomplete pattern! ; ) Good luck on your trip, make sure you take regular and frequent stops just to relax a little.

Posted by: valerie | 07/26/2006

The shawl looks fantastic! Congrats on finishing up a beautiful project! And yay for learning the crochet. :)

Posted by: Amy Artisan | 07/26/2006

It looks great, I love how you combined the different colorways. And congratulations on figuring out an annoying pattern!

Posted by: Zarah | 07/26/2006

yeah! it's finished! it looks beautiful ... and just in time for your roadtrip :)
my friends and i joke that we'll be doomed to hell, to knit cheap acrylique yarn. hopefully we won't run into a knitter with the fun-fur and turkey basting needles.

Posted by: gray la gran | 07/26/2006

Congrats! It came out great :-) Koigu - yum!

Posted by: disentangled | 07/26/2006

Charlotte is gorgeous, you did a great job!

Posted by: Jenn | 07/26/2006

Oh my, it is JUST BEAUTIFUL! I love the colors. I'm so jealous - I want my Icarus to be done sooooo badly!

Posted by: lynda | 07/26/2006

It's GORGEOUS! You have enough leftovers to make another one if you buy a few more skeins of Koigu. Especially since you conquered the pattern. What edging did you do?

Posted by: monica | 07/26/2006

Hey girl. The shawl looks mucho lovely!!!!!!!! I knitted the charlotte once, but used icky yarn and mine wasn't nearly as nice as yours is! Yours is really pretty.

Posted by: Becky/ Knitting Interrupted | 07/26/2006

Fabulous! CW is one of my favorites. Enjoy yours!!

Posted by: margene | 07/26/2006

You've done a beautiful job with this shawl. It's really striking. And way to go with learning to crochet. I'm still resisting that next task!

Also, thanks for your encouraging comments on my blog; each comment means a lot to me, and makes me feel like I should keep on blogging.

PS: I hope you got the info you wanted on my Jaywalkers; I posted the yarn specs in next day's post.

Posted by: Kodachrome | 07/26/2006

Looks amazing--I love the colors.

Plus I am glad you got rid of your headache. :)

Posted by: Erin | 07/26/2006

The shawl looks beautiful! The colours are amazing. Hope you will enjoy your trip!

Posted by: Yuli | 07/28/2006

Amanda - your shawl is gorgeous! You're so right about the pattern..........it sucks. But totally worth the effort!

Have a great vacation!!!!!!

Posted by: christine | 07/28/2006

you are a better woman than i. my charlotte languishes.

Posted by: green-eyed grrl | 08/05/2006