As I mentioned earlier in the week, I finally got around to blocking my pile of finished projects. I've got two to share so far, one to show you now, and one for my YoP update on Sunday.
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| Forgive my appearance, I had just been for a swim! |
Project: Fairy Tale Beret
Pattern: Ishbel Beret by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Knit Picks Capretta in Fairy Tale
Needles: 3mm and 4mm circs, 4mm dpns
This beret has caused me an awful lot of trouble. I told you some of my troubles last Sunday... provisional cast on nightmares, misreading charts leading to increasing too much and then forgetting to move a stitch marker one critical stitch to the right.... fortunately, since making that last mistake I didn't make any others, and raced through the rest of the hat with joyful alacrity.
I cast off on Monday night, and as I had already set up the dining table for blocking, decided there was nothing else for it but to chuck it straight in the sink and get it blocking too. I wanted to wear it at once! It didn't actually look too bad unblocked:
but I wanted to get it to drape more effectively. It took me three goes before I found a plate that was probably the right size - in fact, I could have used a slightly bigger one, except that it was in the dishwasher!
I have nothing but love for this hat. It is a culmination of several people's generosity. You see, the pattern itself was gifted to me by the lovely Mattymouse, who I got chatting to after getting involved in a UK Swap group that she helps to run on Ravelry. She gave me the PDF for Whimsical Little Knits, as I really wanted to knit the Ishbel shawl.
The yarn was included in a swap parcel I received from Paula as part of the Blog Hub Swap on Ravelry. It was, I believe, a relatively new yarn in the Knit Picks line up at the time, and as such completely unavailable here in the UK. In fact, I've just checked, and the UK's only stockist of Knit Picks, Great British Yarns, still doesn't have it. Paula chose this gorgeous pink colourway called Fairy Tale, and it is perfect. It knits beautifully and blocked like a dream. The merino/cashmere makes it oh so soft, but the nylon should also make it fairly durable. I know this hat is going to get a lot of wear!
The great thing is, there is enough left over from the three balls I was given to knit an Ishbel shawl to match!
Oooohhhhh, shiny :) If I could pull off the whole "slouch hat" thing without looking like a horse's patoot, I'd so make that hat. However, I look odd in slouchy hats. Beanies all the way :)
ReplyDeleteHowever, on you (the intended recipient, I hope): gorgeous :)
It looks gorgeous, I love it :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love you for the use of the phrase "joyful alacrity". Just sayin' ;)
The beret is looking just gorgeous, the colour and drape are lovely and a matching shawl in the future will make for a gorgeous set
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! I've used the lace pattern you used in your hat a few times for other things, for a shawl & a scarf I think
ReplyDeleteHooray! I'm so glad you found a good use for the yarn! The hat is lovely and looks amazing on you. This is just like watching you open your swap parcels all over again -- so much fun! Enjoy, and happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteYour beret is gorgeous! It looks wonderful on you too.
ReplyDeleteI've been eyeing the Fairy Tale colorway for some time-- it looks great!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Gorgeous color and wonderful execution!
ReplyDeleteYippee! Tink, this beret is beautiful. I think of dragon scales or petals of a flower. How wonderful you have leftover yarn to make a matching shawl.
ReplyDelete