Swallowtail Shawl

Here she is in all her glory! I only used about half of the 600 yards I dyed so I’ve got enough left to make something else in my “Bryce Canyon” colourway.

Begun: December 20, 2006
Completed: December 30, 2006

Yarn: 2-ply merino-cashmere laceweight, unknown manufacturer from Birkeland Bros. Wool. I only used a small portion of the huge 8 oz skein. Dye-painted in the skein and colour set in the craft microwave.
Needles: 3.5 mm Clover Takumi bamboo 24” circular.

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave Knits, Fall 2006, p. 72.
Finished size: 45” across the top edge (hypotenuse) which is slightly smaller than the 49” of the pattern instructions. This yarn may be slightly finer than the Misti Alpaca Lace called for.

Comments: I dyed more yarn than I needed because I knew I couldn’t reproduce it if I ran out before the end. I needn’t have been so worried because although the pattern called for one 437 yd ball, it didn’t use all of it. Too bad they don’t tell you that. Here it is unblocked:



The knitting went very well, except for taking a few tries to get comfy with the nupps. It was so much fun I had trouble putting it down! Hence the reason why it only took about a week and a half to finish. When I washed the shawl prior to blocking, there was a little dye washout but the last rinse was clear. No noticeable change in the colour however. I had a flash of inspiration and got out the fine wires that are used when casting on on my knitting machine. After threading them through the eyelets at the long edge it was an easy matter to line everything up and pin. I had to improvise a larger foam blocking board because my usual one wasn’t quite big enough and the extra piece was thinner. I propped it up on a pair of hardcover books from the nearby shelf and it was fine.


The blocked shawl is just what I envisioned. It just covers my shoulders and is very soft but keeps the blocked shape well. This just inspires me to make something else lacey! Good thing I got a new book. More about that tomorrow when I have more time. Right now I have to head over to my MIL’s for yet another traditional family get-together, this time with the new baby attending. Happy New Year!