11.18.2007

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark
Magazine: Interweave Knits, Fall 2006
For: Nadine's Grandmum
Yarn: .76 skeins of Misti International Laceweight Baby Alpaca in Sea Mist (left over from my lace gloves)
Needles: US size 5 Knit Picks Options
Timeline: started 10.09.2007; finished 11.11.2007

Well, what can I say about this one? As of this post, there are already 495 finished Swallowtails in Ravelry, not counting mine. The pattern is fabulous and well-written. I went up to size 5s partially because my 4s are already in use on my Mystery Stole, but mostly because I wanted to see if I could make it a teensy bit bigger.

As you can see, it's still pretty small. If this were for me, I would have extended the budding lace portion quite a few more repeats and/or used a thicker yarn and bigger needles. Luckily, this is for a petite British woman, so I think it's going to work out really well.

This was my first time making a full item in laceweight. (For the gloves I mentioned above, I doubled the yarn.) It was pretty interesting not really "feeling" what I was knitting. However, I think it turned out beautifully and I can't wait until it is received. I didn't even have to do anything to make the nupps easier to do. The Knit Picks Options were fabulous because they are so pointy. I love the nupps!