Misty Mountain Shawl

This is made from four tiny little mini skeins of Mobair lace weight, which I got from a rummage basket at a show in early September. Once I had them spliced together I had 38 grammes weight, but no idea how much length so had to choose a pattern that could be tweaked for size depending on how the yarn held out. I actually managed to complete the entire pattern as written, without running out of yarn. Though after I'd cast off, I measured the yarn that was left and I had just over two metres. So no waste there.

The photos don't do the thing justice. I can't capture the colours, which are soft greens and lilacs, like the countryside on a misty day, or a Monet painting. I am quite pleased with this and its just the right size to wear round my neck for a bit of colour. Despite coming out looking a little more green, and a little less lilac, than I had perhaps anticipated, it does still work with my colouring.

The pattern is Calais Shawl by Judy Marples, available on Ravelry. It was a very easy shawl to knit. Both the main body and the edging pattern are very easy to memorise. It would lend itself to beads on the edge pattern. However, I knit this whilst I had a bad cold and just did not feel like adding the beads, though I had bought a tube specially for it. I have another skein of yarn the beads will work with, so they won't be wasted.

I've already cast on my next project. Zephyr by Lachesis. This is a contiguous method cardigan with a vee neck, long sleeves and a fancy rib stitch button band. As its in aran weight, I foresee this being a reasonably quick knit. Indeed, I've got up to the sleeve caps already.

In sewing news; there isn't any. I can't decide what to sew next and in addition, am very frustrated in my search for trim for the almost completed SWAP jacket. I've been in every shop in Harrogate, and been over to Leeds to Bonds Haberdashers, today. Nothing suitable. Well, I did find a really lovely trim in Bonds. It was the exact shade of wine I wanted, a proper grosgrain type ribbon with the ability to be steamed around corners. However, it had a lime green line right down the center. It looked fabulous on the jacket and I was very tempted by it. However, I have nothing I can wear with a lime trimmed jacket. None of the other tops I have planned would play with a lime trim. Nothing in the existing wardrobe will work with a lime trim. The whole point of this SWAP is to have items that will work with more than four other wardrobe items. So regrettably, I had to leave it behind. I have got so frustrated with the trim search, that I've even turned out the stash cupboard in the hope of finding some fabric to make my own bias trim. Nothing. I am sure that some inspiration will strike eventually, meanwhile, I think I need to bite the bullet, cut out something else, and stop obsessing about this jacket trim. Or I could go through all my old sewing magazines to try and find something about making my own trim.