Shawls, Shawls, Shawls

First off, I present you with the finished Revontuli.

I am delighted with this piece and expect to get a lot of use out of it.

I knit it in Kauni on U.S. 9 needles. This yarn blooms a good bit during blocking, so the needle size, while seeming somewhat large as I worked, was just right.

If you look closely here, you’ll be able to see the one change I made to the pattern. At the top center (the bright apple green), I am working the double decreases as written: Sl1, K2tog, PSSO. This results in a leaf-like or woven-looking decrease A bit further down (the gold-green), I changed to my favorite double decrease: Slip 2 together, K1, Pass Slipped Stitches Over Together. This decrease gives a raised vertical stitch, with a straighter, more architectural look.

When I was a kid and my mother sewed clothes for us, she used to say that she really felt she’d gotten her money’s worth if she used a pattern twice. In that spirit (though money’s not an issue, as this was a free pattern), I’m knitting a second Revontuli in Noro Silver Thaw (on sale now at Little Knits!).

Because this is a heavier yarn, I used U.S. 10.5 needles and I knit 9 fewer rows than the chart calls for, which allows me to end with a set of eyelets, followed by a K row and the bind off as in the original. This version is done now except for that bind off—and my fingers are itching for the moment when I can leave work to head home and get it done.

I’m also done knitting the Wanda’s Flowers Shawl from Wrapped in Comfort, though I haven’t blocked it yet. (Melissa takes great delight in doing little cheerleader moves while chanting “Block that shawl! Block that shawl!”)

The colors are a bit washed out in this shot, so imagine rich forest hues as you look at the photo.

The leafy lace pattern goes perfectly with the Malabrigo.

I modified the pattern slightly, beginning a few rows in for a wider neck band and moving up several needle sizes to suit the yarn. I’ll write those changes up and post them soon with a picture of the blocked shawl.

Meanwhile, I am itching to try another shawl from Wrapped in Comfort.

I’m also thinking about using my Malabrigo in the Bergamota colorway to make this shawl. And I love this shrug (though I don’t know if I love it enough to justify buying a $15 pattern book). Yum!