Law of mohair #143 All mohair articles larger than 2 cubic inches knitted on metal circular needles will reject said needles when the article is in a resting state prior to completion.

Law of mohair #143 appendix a) articles larger than 2 cubic inches that have successfully rejected knitting needles in a resting state will spontaneously begin to unravel.

Further scientific study on the unique and often frustrating physical nature of mohair is required. The laws of mohair although baffling seem to be finite and immutable.

Am I just a freak of nature because I’m not bored by stockinette or garter stitch?

Or am I just so obsessed with composition that I think the eye should have a clear line to travel and a place to rest, before taking in the contrast of complexity?

This is something to consider when choosing a pattern.

What I like about the Flower Basket shawl is that it’s a complex all-over design on a small shawl, therefore it’s not overwhelming on a normal sized person (who hopefully will wear a dress or blouse under it that is a solid color with clean lines.) What I like about the Icarus is that the lace pattern is mature and clean and the large field of lines is quite flattering– that and it has feathers so I can pretend to fly around the front yard singing the theme song from “the Greatest American Hero”

What I don’t like to see are shawls that visually make no sense. Like the designers decide to throw in everything and the kitchen sink just to make an entertaining knit. Stop it dammit. Stop it. Don’t you know some misguided soul is going to knit your bastard child design in Koigu and destroy us all? Just stop it. Please.

Why do knitters fall into this? Is it just to avoid miles of ‘boring’ stockinette?

Is it for bragging rights?

Come on, think about like this; good accessories are like good makeup. Both should be clean, fresh, and artfully applied to frame and not distract.

See? I told you she could pull off wearing darker colors. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a peach in pink, but always wearing pastels when you are under 5 is not law.

It’s after 8 o’clock so the intended recipient is unavailable to model it. It’s past her bed time. Although it’s pretty heartening to hear, “That’s my beautiful shawl?” as I pin it to shape on the quilt. I think Lexi likes it.

The yarn is handspun Shetland laceweight, doubled as recommended in the pattern and knit 4 stitches to the inch on size 7 US needles.

It’s quite pretty, I know people don’t think of putting little girls in such dark colors– but Lexi has such a clear complexion she can pull it off.

As for knitting lace, the jury is still out. I think I’m giving it a fair trial, but truthfully there are parts of it that really just don’t make for a relaxing time of knitting. I’m definitely not in love with carrying around patterns or firing up the laptop everytime I want to knit. At least with socks and sweaters, cables– oh my beloved cables– I know where I’m going.

Here is a close up of it. I’ll bask in the glory of completion for a little while, before a good bout of Post Project Depression settles in. This is my first big lace project from a chart, it’s the first shawl I’ve ever knit from my own yarn, it’s the largest shawl I’ve ever knit, and it’s the only top down expanding from the middle triangle shawl I’ve ever knit. I deserve to bask in at least a little glory.I am so wearing this next time I go to the grocery store. I’m wearing it to the library. It’s big and it’s soft and it’s mine and I made it.

(This picture is the shawl length wise on my bed.)

Matt was kind enough to watch me cast off the last stitch and weave in the ends. He even gave me a patronizing kind of quiet golf clap. I honestly don’t think I’m getting enough attention from him to actually bask properly.

Maybe it’s the Post Project Depression setting in already.

Opal (aka the Akamai Knitter) made my whole family the most delightful scarves for Christmas, the box was here earlier but I have been sick so haven’t had a chance to photograph everything. I am still sick so I haven’t indulged in the chocolate yet, but I’m wearing the kickass scarf she made for me. I promise I’ll post pictures of the scarves and the children modelling them. Yes, there is yarn too, of course there is yarn– Opal is a goddess of yarny goodness.

The yarn: Moorit Shetland fiber I bought through Little Barn that I spun up.

I finally finished knitting Josey’s blanket and it’s waiting for me to seam the two panels together. I cast off the blanket in the wee hours of the morning and somehow managed to convince myself that I was too tired to sew up the blanket but not too tired to browse lace patterns. After sorting through patterns online the Icarus caught my eye– and lo! It is actually in one of the few Interweave Knits issues that I actually own.
I consider that a sign.

Okay, maybe not as impressive as a chorus of angels and a divine light cast down from heaven to illuminate the magazine. But a sign nonetheless.

The fact that I found the magazine, needles, and yarn in less than 10 minutes of looking only supports my faith that I am meant– destined to knit this shawl. Destiny cannot be ignored.