Peppermint Kimono Scarf

Is it just me, or is there something very wrong with Blogger's picture-posting function? For the life of me, I can't get it to post more than 5 photos in one post. I know it isn't a file size issue - I checked. And I can't even use the "Blog This!" button in Picasa, because something is wrong with that, too!! I had all these pictures I wanted to put up but, with all the problems I've been encountering, I decided to show you some pictures of the lace scarf I just finished blocking today. (That's a picture of it pre-blocking, all scrunched-up looking.) I've always loved lace, but serious lace-envy caused by reading Eunny's blog is what motivated me to start knitting a lot of it. Now that Eunny is having her series on lace techniques, I couldn't resist blogging about some of mine.

Isn't it pretty? I used the stitch pattern from the Kimono Shawl designed by Cheryl Oberle (in the book Folk Shawls), but pretty much went my own way with how many horizontal and vertical repeats I did. I used almost every last single bit of one skein of KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud.

This is going to be for my aunt Jean. I bought Alpaca Cloud in pink and in blue, and ended up using the blue for a shawl as a Christmas present to my mom. Then I found out that my aunt wanted a pink scarf, and I was itching to start another lace project, et voila!


Pattern: Adapted from Kimono Shawl by Cheryl Oberle in Folk Shawls.
Start Date: 14 January, 2006
Finish Date: 20 March, 2006
Yarn: KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud (100% baby alpaca) in Peppermint
Yarn Source: KnitPicks
Cost: $3.99/skein, I used 1 skein. Gotta love KnitPicks!!
Needles: 3.25mm Pony circular, 80 cm
Finished measurements: 16" x 42"

About the pattern: This particular lace pattern was very easy to memorise. It wasn't difficult but, by the same token, it wasn't exciting knitting, either. But it was something pleasant to do and touch during my morning and evening commutes to and from work! I like the simplicity of the pattern. I'm thinking of knitting one in natural-coloured silk to send to my tea ceremony teacher in Japan.

About the yarn: This is my second project with Alpaca Cloud, and I do like working with it. There are several nice colours to choose from (my only beef with KnitPicks is that I think they should offer more yarns in less intense colours; I like pastels, tweeds and heathers!), and the price really can't be beat. It's feather-light, but very warm. My mom wore her shawl in New York in February, and she said she was sweating! I'm not sure whether to believe that or not, but it illustrates my point. ^_^

Anyone who knits lace will know the incredible change brought about by blocking. I think that's part of the magic of lace knitting. I have to say, though, that I'm not terribly fond of the smell of wet yarn!

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Posted by Lana to Bumbling Bees - Girls with Purls at 3/20/2006 08:33:00 PM