I fell in love. Mr. Etherknitter was not jealous.
It was Fog Lifter that did me in. While in Utah, I saw Margene's.
Yes. The Slowest Knitter on the Planet (SKP) agreed to try knitting this. I learned the value of knitterly monogamy. I practiced focus and monomaniacal knitting. Each row...longer...longer...more and more beautiful.
I read the cast-off. I moaned in psychic pain. Susan almost got an email begging for one that did NOT include crochet. Hook in hand, I swatched it one evening, and nailed it on the first go. It was the first time I had ever done something with a crochet hook other than swear at it.
I warned her it would take me a week to cast off. (It took three days. And I was overly pleased with myself.)
This is my first Faroese shape. The tails are inventive and functional. Kim's yarn (Oasis - 70%silk, 30% camel) is warm, crunchy, soft. I am impatient for cooler weather so I can flaunt my shawl and my tails.
Susan's directions were clear and concise. It was a wonderful knit.
Pattern: Fog Lifter (Susan Lawrence, I'm Knitting As Fast As I Can)
Needles: Knitpicks #7 Harmony circs, Knitpicks #3.5 crochet hook
Yarn: Woolen Rabbit Oasis, 1.75 skeins (375yds/skein), colorway Forever in Blue Jeans
Started/Finished: March 21, 2010 - April 21, 2010
Mods: For a slightly more demure cast off loop, I shortened the chain by one stitch.
I am SO proud of you! That's fantastic and the color is beautiful. But blue? I thought you didn't like blue. (ducks and runs)
Posted by: Carole | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 03:34 PM
Don't you just love it? You nailed crochet on the first try!? Good one. The shawl is beautiful. Your description of Kim's yarn as crunchy and soft is right on. You can do anything and your trepidation for being a test knitter, and tackling something new, was unfounded.
The FL Susan knit for me has been a constant companion. I'd like to knit the smaller version.
Posted by: margene | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 04:00 PM
I fell hard for this when I saw Kim's post this week. A kit with the red colorway is on its way. I had been doing so well with the yarn diet.
Posted by: pumpkinmama | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 05:30 PM
Oh, demure!!
Posted by: susan | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 05:41 PM
Beautiful, of course!
Posted by: --Deb | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 06:20 PM
It's more stunning in person! I have to knit one now. :-)
You're answering comments on the blog! Woo Hoo!
Posted by: Manise | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 08:31 PM
Well, that is just wonderful and you are SO not the SKP! I am. However, I do admit to being able to crochet, so there.
Posted by: Marcia | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 08:53 PM
Yay...you did an awesome job on it!!
Posted by: Kim | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 09:09 PM
It looks fabulous! Great job mastering the crochet.
Posted by: Cheryl S. | Tuesday, May 04, 2010 at 11:14 PM
SKP?? I think not....1 month start to finish is very fast! With monogamy, you are the FKP!
I feel so lucky to have seen/touched it in real life - GORGEOUS shawl Laurie!
Posted by: pat | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 08:09 AM
Seriously beautiful. Kim's colors are always gorgeous, but that one is absolutely stellar! FANTASTIC (and an FO to boot). :)
Posted by: Anne | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 08:10 AM
Gorgeous! I love the crochet cast off!
Posted by: Lorette | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 09:57 AM
I LOVE it, Laurie. So beautiful. I may need one for me too. ;-)
Posted by: Kathy | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 10:44 AM
Beautiful shawl! I just ordered the pattern because I've seen it on several blogs and it keeps calling to me. Your shawl pushed me over the edge!
Posted by: Diane | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 11:32 AM
You made it for me, right? I mean, it IS my color. (Let's not acknowledge the fact that MY colors are also YOUR colors.)
Posted by: Danielle | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 04:14 PM
The sun came out and the color seems like the perfect faded denim, even the texture sounds like the best kind of denim. Hooray for Foglifter!
Posted by: Melissa G | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 06:03 PM
It's beautiful! I will have to add this one to my list.
Posted by: Suzanne | Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 06:46 PM
I love the color and the long tails sure look like they help the shawl stay put.
Posted by: technikat | Thursday, May 06, 2010 at 01:50 PM
Your foglifter is lovely! I shall have to fave this as a denizen of the very foggy San Francisco :)
Posted by: sil | Monday, May 10, 2010 at 10:58 AM
oh my gosh - its gorgeous!!
Posted by: Teyani | Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 12:45 PM
I was sooo hoping to avoid another WIP. Alas, your rendition of this has pushed me (and my little Visa card) over the edge to get one of these heading my way. (sigh) Nice job, and you have encouraged another non-crochet person.
Posted by: Robby | Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 08:53 PM
I'm sooo not a fan of triangular shawls (my gi-normous butt needs no further highlight) but darned if this one isn't calling to me. Great job!
Posted by: Hillary | Friday, May 14, 2010 at 10:23 AM
That's altogether lovely, and I truly admire anyone who has the stick-to-it-ness to knit a shawl.
I don't.
I made one shawl in large yarn, and even that speed-knitting project turned me into a whiny bitch (am I done yet? Can I stop now?) with the ever-lengthening rows, and I knew I'd never do that again. Give me a sweater, give me socks, give me a skirt, even give me a swing coat and I'm a happy camper, but a shawl (or worse yet, a scarf)? No freakin' ways.
So - brava!
And because it's That Time: will you be at SOAR this year?
Posted by: Charlene | Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 08:37 AM