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Naturally dyed Blue-Faced Leicester
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Woolen spun
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Fingering weight
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Size 6 needles
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5.5 ounces
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(The last photo was taken with a flash, which makes the orange look quite bright--but the entire effect is of the shawl is not bright at all--deep, autumnal. There's no one here right now to help me photograph this, so the sofa was called into play.)
How I Did It
I took 6 2-oz rovings that I had dyed a while ago with Earthues extracts. I split each roving in half. I then split one of the halves in half again. (So each 2-oz roving was split into a 1 oz piece and two half-ounce pieces.)
I arranged the rovings into a spectrum: light rose, dark rose, deep red-orange, medium red orange, lighter red orange, and tan.
I pulled out my Patrick Green drum carder and began carding and blending. First, pure light rose. Then the half-ounce light rose mixed with the half-ounce dark rose. Then the 1-oz dark rose. Then the remaining half-ounce dark rose with the half-ounce dark red-orange. Then the 1-oz dark orange. You get the picture....
I split each batt in half as carefully as I could and began spinning for a 2-ply fingering weight yarn. The resulting product was far from perfect, but I love it anyway. I then plied the two singles--the colors did not end and begin at exactly the same spot, but I was hoping for that to further blend the colors.
I chose two lace patterns from Knitting Lace Triangles by Evelyn A. Clark: Medallion and Leaf. The shawl knit up quickly, and for a time I thought of abandoning Fair Isle knitting for good and sticking with the immediate gratification that repetitive lace on large needles offers! I didn't know how large I wanted the shawl to be--and it started to look really huge on the needles, so I bound off with 1.5 ounces of yarn left (the lightest tan never appeared in the shawl). However, after it was blocked I began to think that I could have done a few more leaf repeats. The mojo of a finished item, though, is such that I think it is pretty damn unlikely that I will rip out the border and knit more!
I love it!
[Note: some very persistent spammers and some odd Typepad issues are making it hard for me to get your comments--and some of my responses have gone astray. So here's a hearty THANK YOU for all the lovely comments! Janine]
That is absolutely lovely, a terrific marriage of yarn and design. Congratulations on a stunning work of art!
Posted by: Anne | September 06, 2009 at 02:45 PM
Ooooo, pretty! Feral lace. Me like!
Posted by: Linda "K" | September 06, 2009 at 03:12 PM
"The shawl knit up quickly, and for a time I thought of abandoning Fair Isle knitting for good and sticking with the immediate gratification that repetitive lace on large needles offers!"
Bite your tongue, J!!! We need you in the Fair Isle realm. Gorgeous shawl -- a FO does feel nice now and again.
Posted by: Stephanie | September 06, 2009 at 03:49 PM
That is absolutely gorgeous! The color gradiation doesn't show up until its on the couch - just beautiful.
Posted by: Bullwinkle | September 07, 2009 at 03:22 AM
very very pretty!!!!
Posted by: Steph | September 07, 2009 at 09:31 AM
Very nice! Isn't it cool when something turns out as we intend...
Posted by: Caroline | September 07, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Beautiful, Janine! I hope you're feeling proud in the extreme!
Greg
Posted by: Greg | September 07, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Wow! Your shawl is absolutely breathtaking. I LOVE it! The whole shebang--the yarn, the pattern, everything!
Posted by: Lucy | September 07, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Beautiful project just in time for autumnal delights!
Posted by: Nancy | September 07, 2009 at 02:43 PM
Oh my! I am jealous! that is a gorgeous shawl, in gorgeous colors. I am impressed that the Earthues dyes are so vibrant, I had no idea. And i love the color gradation. It's like a glowing pink heart, the color of happy.
Posted by: janel | September 07, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Beautiful, Janine -- I wouldn't change a thing. The proportions are just right.
Beware -- Typepad comment reply has changed again. --syl
Posted by: Sylvia | September 07, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Brava, Janine! The shawl is beautiful...you are such a genius with color! I'm looking forward to seeing it in person in November!
Love to you and John...it's a hard time for him.
MvK
Posted by: Marilyn | September 08, 2009 at 07:06 AM
You finished! (and quickly!) Looks great! Better than great!
Posted by: Gwen | September 08, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Wow, it's awesome!
Posted by: AllyB | September 08, 2009 at 12:10 PM
That is absolutely incredible! I am stunned!
And thanks for the kind words about my blog post. I do so hate taking the photos!
Posted by: fleegle | September 09, 2009 at 09:47 AM
Very, very cool! I love it!
Posted by: june | September 09, 2009 at 06:02 PM
A fantastic idea well executed. Well done!
Posted by: pencraftco.wordpress.com | September 10, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Wowza! That's so gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Romi | September 17, 2009 at 06:00 PM
I've always loved pink and orange together -- this is gorgeous!
Posted by: Anne | September 22, 2009 at 06:35 AM
So very beautiful!
And thank you for sharing the technique for the yarn - very inspiring!
Posted by: gayle | September 28, 2009 at 08:47 PM