Friday, May 8, 2009

Hanami, finally


Finally, almost a year to the day of casting on, I have finished the Hanami Stole. I started it a few days before Mr Wriggly was born, thinking that I'd have a shot at finishing it because he was never ever going to come out. Ha. Boy, did he show me.

It was only two weeks ago that I felt mentally able to cope with the basket weave pattern again, which was a complete grind. The cherry blossom pattern just flew by though. I'm so pleased with how it turned out. The Sea Silk Handmaiden yarn is wonderful to knit with and the stitch definition is superb.


Here are the specs: two skeins of Sea Silk Handmaiden in Ebony. The idea for a Hanami in this yarn in this colour is totally ripped off from Splityarn. The skein used for the basket weave end was darker than the cherry blossom end. The cherry blossom skein had more copper highlights, and dare I say it, the odd undyed fleck. I beaded the ends with tiny, pinkish, glass beads, that are almost impossible to photograph. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have used larger beads as they have been mostly swallowed by the yarn. Of course, in searching for the link to Splityarn's Hanami, I just found her tutorial about how to do a beaded cast off. Hey ho.


Its destined to be the divine Ms N's birthday present. I'll try and get a shot of her modeling it.

I'm starting back at work on Monday, four days a week. The Knit Widower is going to be Mr Wriggly's primary parent. Its all a bit daunting really. I ran into Six and a Half Stitches in the newsagents this morning and she gave me some comforting words about managing the work-family-knitting-life balance. Thank you SaaHS! I'm sure once its all happening, it will all be ok.

6 comments:

Bells said...

oh well done!! It's so good to see it finished. It's long been on my to do list. Yours is simply lovely - and how good of you to be gifting it!

All the best this week.

Rose Red said...

I've also had this on my list for like ever! Love yours, looks fantastic!!

Good luck for the return to work.

Unknown said...

Good luck with work - I hope you LOVE it :) Try not to feel guilty, a happy parent is a much better parent than an unhappy one.

Madge said...

Sosososo pretty. Congrats on jumping back into the lace! And back into work. *hugs*

Queen of the Tea Cosies said...

A grind? But a beautiful result. Well done you. Gees I found my red lace socks a challenge. Your charcoal shawl will be a very treasured thing.

...as will that little's man's photo.

Unknown said...

I'm sure you're treading that work-life balance tight rope with ease - especially if you're wearing a pair of your fantastic socks!

Now, seriously: do you do commissions? Of course you'll have *lots* of time to knit me a red beanie now that you're a working mother.