Seasons of Lace

Poor Swan Lake.

I started it last summer as Mystery Stole 3, actually as my first big lace project (so I could knit one before knitting my friend a wedding shawl) and it was going gangbusters! Until I got to the point where decisions had to be made.

First, there was a decision about length.  I was knitting the shawl in fingering weight rather than laceweight, and there was an option to shorten the shawl.  But it was not just stopping short of the end, it was taking a bunch of rows out of the middle of the end.  So, later, when I changed my mind and decided to make it as originally designed (yes, it’s going to turn out freakishly long, but the shape is more pleasing), I had to frog down to a strategically placed lifeline and then reknit.   Dang.

Second:  the decision about whether to knit The Wing or not.  When the clues got to this part, knitters went wild one way or the other.  And I was conflicted.  Asymmetry as such, I can handle (when I want to), and the wing itself was beautiful; but I really wasn’t sure about it.  Did I knit ahead and trust the designer, or did I knit the symmetric variation, knitting two ends like the beginning, which is gorgeous?  And how does one wear a one-winged shawl, anyway?  (I know how, but it does limit its use….)

I ended up putting it aside and knitting my friend’s Wedding Pi shawl for her early November wedding.  Then there was holiday knitting. Then assorted birthdays.  And it was just for me, anyway.  Things for me tend to drop down to the bottom of the list.

Well, it was too pretty just to be a UFO indefinitely.  So I resurrected it for Summer of Lace and Ravelympics (it was less than half done, because I had to rip back, and my plan was to knit a second half like the first, for the symmetrical variation).

I got a lot done:  but hampered by a bad thumb that really impeded knitting (particularly purling), I had to put this aside for the last couple weeks (leading to a No Purl Lace Project that I just posted!), otherwise I think it coulda been a contender for a FO!

Here’s Part Deux:

Below is an older picture of the first half, not quite ‘done’, but pinned out so you can see the gorgeous pattern and the beading.   Once Part Deux is the same length as Part Un, then there is a fancy connecting part and Swan Lake will finally be complete.  I just hope it’s this year still…..it’s a point of pride now!