I finally got my Oregon shawl blocked! It was my Amazing Lace project, and it's done, done, done! And it's HUGE. And I lurve it. Luuuurrrvvveeee it. For Rhonna and everyone else out there that's curious, here you go!
Here are the blocking photos. It was too big to block out on my full-size bed, even on my styrofoam panels.* So I had to move out onto my patio.
(The brown bits are packing tape that's helping to hold the styrofoam panels together.)
Another view:
Center detail:
It was mosquito city out there yesterday. I was being eaten alive. There was one little beetle type critter that I had to shoo away a couple of times. Guess he's just a lace fan:
Did I mention it was big?
In case you can't read the ruler, that's 80" wide. Jeezopete.
Off the blocking board:
My sorta-interpretation of the picture on the cover of the pattern:
Clothing is NOT optional in shawl poses in my back yard. I think my brown loafers with white socks really complete the look, don't you?
This is a wonderful pattern. I started on it back in May, I think, and knitted on it on and off since then. It's a boatload of knitting, but none of it is hard, and the patterns are easily memorized and not at all boring. That's saying a lot -- to have a reasonably easy pattern that doesn't bore you to tears. I found no errors in the pattern. I did take the option to omit a couple of rows after the trees in the corners are done because I only had 4 balls of Zephyr, and I really didn't want to get half way through the fourth side of the border and find out that I didn't have enough yarn. I had less than half a ball left when I was done.
It's a great project, and I recommend it. And I'm already at work on my next lace shawl, but I'm keeping mum about that one for now. Yes, I'm coy. But I'm okay with that. :)
*And let me just say that in my Ideal Knitting World, I would have a huge, sturdy blocking surface always available, and a place where I could just put it out and LEAVE it for whenever I wanted to access it.
Whhhoooooooooohooooooooooooo! (bounce bounce bounce) Janice, this is simply gorgeous! You know I've been sitting over here chewing on my fingernails waiting impatiently for photos, and checking almost hourly *just in case*. :-) Now I promise to quit nagging. (grin)
Hm. Didn't you tell me that Zephyr is finer than the weight/gauge the pattern actually calls for? If I'm remembering that right and not just having what my students call a "brain fart," then your shawl is actually smaller than if I match gauge? And if that's right . . . to borrow your own expression, jeezopete. If you got 80" with Zephyr, then can you imagine how large the thing would be if it were done in anything slightly heavier? Forget fingering weight for this one unless you want a bedspread! Whoof. But doggone it, I love it. :-)
Rhonna
Posted by: Rhonna | September 17, 2006 at 12:54 PM
Oh. My. Goodness. That is absolutely FABULOUS!! Can't wait to see it in "person."
Posted by: Jane | September 17, 2006 at 01:28 PM
Beautiful!!!
What a lovely piece of work...it is huge!
It looks absolutely magical.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Eloise at home | September 17, 2006 at 01:54 PM
Oh my! Your Oregon Shawl is just breathtaking. I know you are glad to have it finished. It's quite an undertaking. I love the color too. Thanks for showing it in all its glory. Glynda
Posted by: Glynda Black | September 17, 2006 at 03:49 PM
Well, the wait was worth it! It is so beautiful! Thank you for all the pictures.
Posted by: Esther | September 17, 2006 at 05:40 PM
It. Is. Gorgeous! I'm coming Wednesday, come h*** or high water. Please bring it if you come? Please? Please? PLEASE?
BTW, the loafers are HOT!
Posted by: Sandy | September 17, 2006 at 07:51 PM
Gorgeous! but are you sure its going to be big enough? hee hee..
Posted by: Mouse | September 17, 2006 at 09:14 PM
All I can say is that this is AWESOME -- and huge!! And I think that the shawl definitely enhances the brown loafers and white socks. :-) I am on the Knitted-Lace list with you -- thanks for sharing your photos.
Posted by: Barbara Collins | September 17, 2006 at 09:46 PM
Oh my - it is stunning! And (have you heard this before?) huge! That is indeed a lot of knitting. You did a wonderful job. Now, what's next? Come on, you know you want to tell us.
Posted by: Dorothy | September 17, 2006 at 10:03 PM
I don't have anything original to say, so I'll just say what I'm thinking...it's beautiful. Wow!
Do you use shawls much? Will it get to see some nice dinners out?
Posted by: Marnie | September 17, 2006 at 11:53 PM
That is STUNNING! Really marvelous piece of knitting. Isn't it satisfying to complete a really big one?!
Posted by: Jess | September 18, 2006 at 08:33 AM
What a wonderful way to dress up casual clothing, hehhehe... yes I love the shoes... try handknit socks next time? :)
Like the others have said: *gorgeous* shawl!
Cheers,
Jessica
Posted by: Jessica | September 18, 2006 at 10:46 AM
Beautiful! Wow, and freakin huge, too.
Posted by: Monica | September 18, 2006 at 11:53 AM
Isn't a project as amazing as this one supposed to be reserved for your magnum opus? How will you ever top it? The color, the design, the enormous size - it's beautiful!
Posted by: Beth | September 18, 2006 at 10:22 PM
Wow! What a gorgeous shawl-a singular achievement. I'm just in awe!
Posted by: Anita | September 18, 2006 at 10:38 PM
Oh my. How simply gorgeous! This is one of must do's in life. Congratulations on a huge success.
Best wishes,
Robyn
Posted by: Robyn Chambers | September 18, 2006 at 10:54 PM
That is a GORGEOUS-GORGEOUS-GORGEOUS shawl - blocking on the deck. WOW - it's huge! Nobody will look at the shoes - with that shawl ;-) Hope to see you sometime soon, busy bee ;-)
Posted by: Claudia | September 20, 2006 at 12:10 PM
Wow - wonderful! It is as big as the pictures I always see. Great color............and, the shoes do make the outfit!
Posted by: christine | September 20, 2006 at 12:50 PM
Wowie, wow, wow! It's gorgeous!
Posted by: Wendy | September 20, 2006 at 01:27 PM
I don't want to think about how long it took you to block that thing. Bravo!
Posted by: Melissa | September 20, 2006 at 04:39 PM