I haven’t made much progress with my design work this month. I’ve been busy with gift knitting. Along with a few Bestie Beanies, I knitted Amy Miller’s Pendulum as a birthday gift for my mom (remember this one from my ‘I wish I had time to knit this‘ list?). I completely enjoyed working this pattern. It makes for perfect TV knitting – rows and rows of garter stitch, but interesting stripes done with short rows. I don’t usually like to knit to a deadline, but this was very enjoyable knitting! The beautiful Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light that I used for this shawl was also a delight.
Here’s my Ravelry project page. I read the many comments from other knitters about modifications that they made to the pattern. I did not make any modifications. I knit it exactly as written (that’s the designer in me – I trust the pattern instructions – and I want to keep it authentic). The increase edges were not too tight as many others experienced, but then I am not a tight knitter and I was careful to work the increases very loosely. This was my first experience with what I will call ‘real’ blocking. I stretched that top edge out as tightly as I could, all the while worrying that I was hurting it in some way, but it worked like magic. The shaping is beautiful.
I really should get back to work on the several designs I have on the go, but I loved working on the pendulum shawl so much that I’ve already started a second one! Maybe I’ll get back to work next week. We’ll see.
Michelle