FO: Flutter of the Wings

This was my first shawl pattern in crescent shape without short rows. I know some people love crescent shape, and yet they feel hesitant to do short rows. So, this time I tried to design without one.

I made 3 samples for this pattern. The first one I made was using Rendezvous Cashmere Lace in Evil Stepsister (purple). Since this is a trial. I made the shawl only using 1 skein (200 yards / 50 gram) and without beads. Although it was only 50 gram skein, but it turned out quite a decent size and I really like how the shawl looked.

So, here the first Flutter of the Wings sample look like:

Pattern: Flutter of the Wings (Lace Weight - 4 Repeats)

Materials: Rendezvous Cashmere Lace 100% Cashmere (Evil Stepsister colorway)

Quantity: 1 skein (50g, 400 yards / skein)

Needles: 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle

Start Date: 16 July 2013

Finish Date: 28 July 2013

Finished Size on Blocking Board: : 110 cm (43.3") across top edge, 43 cm (16.9") depth.

Next, I knitted the DK weight version, because I have the same yarn in DK weight and I really wanted to know how it looks like in DK weight. This time I did the smallest size (3 Repeats) because I wanted to use only 2 skeins of DK weight. Also, I used beads. Before blocking, your hardly saw the beads on the right side, but you can clearly saw them on the wrong side. I tried several possible placement to make it more visible on the right side, but no luck. So, I just hoped that after blocking it would be more visible.

Pattern: Flutter of the Wings (DK Weight - 3 Repeats)

Materials: Rendezvous Cashmere DK 100% Cashmere (Rossetta colorway)

Quantity: 2 skeins (50g, 200 yards / skein)

Needles: 4.0 mm (US 6) circular needle

Start Date: 25 August 2013

Finish Date: 28 August 2013

Finished Size on Blocking Board: : 110 cm (43.3") across top edge, 43 cm (16.9") depth.

As you can see above photos, the beads were more visible after blocking. It turned out the same size as the lace weight, and as pretty as the lace weight. I decided that 2 samples should be enough to showcase the result of this pattern and move on to new design. However, after I published the first clue and saw the spoiler of other people, I had the urge to make another one, and this time I made bigger size using lace weight yarn. 

At first I planned to put beads, however, the hole of size 8 beads was too small for the 0.75 mm hook that I had. So, I decided not to use beads. I knitted until second clue, until I saw other people's result with beads in the spoiler thread. I was such in dilemma. Should I bought smaller hook and starting over, or should I continue without beads. I was not afraid of frogging. I just did not want to stop knitting while waiting for my new hook to arrive (yes, I ordered smaller hook online). In the end, my mother in law had a small hook that I wanted, so I borrowed it from her. I restarted my shawl with beads and I was a happy camper.

Pattern: Flutter of the Wings (Lace Weight - 7 Repeats)

Materials: Rendezvous Cashmere Lace 100% Cashmere (Fawn colorway)

Quantity: 2 skeins (50g, 400 yards / skein)

Needles: 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle

Start Date: 25 August 2013

Finish Date: 28 August 2013

Finished Size on Blocking Board: : 164 cm (64.6") across top edge, 58 cm (22.8") depth.

About the cashmere yarn, it is really soft and heaven to knit with. I really was enjoying knitting with it. The only problem with cashmere yarn is that they are very easy to break. During frogging, you really need to be careful not to snag the yarn. I didn't have a problem during blocking, though. 

I read somewhere that cashmere yarn use the fur on the neck or under belly part, which is very soft but it is also very short. That is why it is easy to break.