This actually is much prettier than the pictures show.  Alas.  It is in 100% silk, a pale, luminescent blue, and sparkly silver-lined crystal beads.  I wish I could show it off better.  The pattern was called "Illumine" and it is just lovely.  If it calls to you, do let me know.  As I said, it is actually even prettier in real life.











 

To quote from my Ravelry page:  

05-24-2017, In which I pick a fight with my own brain

It’s all Steven Be’s fault. Really. I went in to try several different types of interchangeable needles, so that I can tell my girlfriend what to buy me for my birthday. They were terribly, terribly nice, and let me try things with some waste yarn. So, after, I looked around for something to buy, and saw this lovely gold/smoke/purple ombre lace weight mohair silk blend. I’ve never worked with mohair. “How hard can it be?” thought I. So, seriously, I don’t know why I bother thinking. Not only does it not help, but encourages me to do stupid things.

Mohair. It’s a lotta damn trouble. Ok, you experienced, skilled knitters, I’m sure it’s not trouble for _you_. Me? It’s trouble. Also, although moss stitch is about as easy as you can get, bar garter, I still had to frog three times to get properly started. I mean, seriously, brain, what is your point? You don’t keep me out of trouble, and then you create needless errors just so I can’t start a project clean. It’s all very well to look wise and say, “It’s my process,” but that’s for the rubes. In point of fact, it’s stupid and annoying and I wish you’d just cut it out.

On the other hand, it did turn out really pretty.  It is also quite warm.  Mohair and silk.  

I think I'm keeping this, but if it really really speaks to you, I could probably be persuaded to part with it.  I kind of have a sufficiency of shawls, just at the moment.






 

If I recall, correctly, this was a stop-gap project to fill in the time until I could get the materials for an interim project which I had started because I was waiting for materials to finish the project I was working on.  This was pretty easy, and it's an odd, interesting shape.  I am not happy with the bind-off, but it's not too horrible.  It is in a navy yarn, a mixture of alpaca and silk.  Relatively nice to the touch, but although there's silk, it's very matte and not shiny.  Will give away on the usual terms.  Tell me where you are, an I'll drive it by or mail it to you.










I promise, you will not look as fat as I do in this shawl.  That fat, it's all me.  

I don't swatch.  Since I don't do things that are fitted, I can usually get away with this.  This time, not so much.  It is significantly smaller than it should be.  It was really fun to make, but in the end, the size is a problem.  I may try the same pattern again, with larger needles.  The yarn is a lovely woolen blend, great colors.  If anyone knows a child who would like a lovely blue shawl with cables, I would be happy to give it to them.

This lace, woolen shawl would need to be re-blocked if you ever washed it.  Which is do-able, but a bit irritating.  My general advice is, don't wash it.  

Here are pics.  












As you can see, it's too small for me.  It is circular, and about 35" in diameter.  But it's actually really pretty.  So, interesting experiment.  One of these days, I'll start swatching.  Also, pigs will fly and horses will talk.

 

I haven't posted pictures, lately, because, well, I'm not used to Dreamwidth, and also lazy, and also other things.  So many things.  But here is a shawl I gave to Pamela.  It's me wearing it, it looks better on Pamela.  The pictures don't really show the nice, celery beads as well as I'd like.  <cut>





Sorry for the size of the image, not sure how to make it smaller.  Also, the cut tag is just not working, and I do not know why.
</cut>


The yarn is a lovely, ombre handspan by Beth Friedman.  At her suggestion, I entered it into the Minnesota State Fair.  Here's the result of that:

<img src='https://lydy.dreamwidth.org/file/635.jpg' alt='' title='2017 State Fair Ribbon' />

(Arghhh.  That's supposed to be a DW hosted image of my 3rd place Ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair, but DW is not cooperating, in much the same way it is not honoring my cut tag.  If anyone knows why it's behaving badly, do let me know.)

So, I'm rather inordinately proud of myself, which may be silly, but true.

More craft posts to follow.  Like you do.