May Flowers

Title: Flower Basket Shawl, Interweave Knits Fall 2004
Author: Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: Elann Peruvian Collection Baby Silk, 6 balls of 2132 Mocha Cream
Fibre Content: 80% baby alpaca/ 20% silk
Gauge: 28 st/4 inches (fingering)

Notes

My younger sister Melody turns thirty in May, and she's planning a birthday concert to celebrate the music of her life (let's just say she's very appropriately named! All those piano lessons were worth it.) Since I won't be able to drive to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the special event, I decided to make something to send in my stead.

I got the idea for making the Flower Basket Shawl from Peruvian Collection Baby Silk from Amy at Indigirl (scroll down to March 16), who posted some gorgeous shots of hers in navy blue. I really enjoyed doing alpaca lace after so much worsted cabling for the Must Have Cardie, and the shawl only took me two weeks from cast-on to wrapping paper.

That's the shawl soaking in Eucalan before blocking.

And here it is pinned out on the guest bed.

Successes

• Colour: I wouldn't wear Mocha Cream, but it's a staple in Melody's wardrobe and looks great on her. Funny that it turned out to be the same colour as the magazine photo!
• Length: I did the specified number of repeats (7) and I like the fact that the shawl is not enormous--just hugs the shoulders. That'll keep it off the keyboard when Melody's performing!
• Fibre: The alpaca makes this piece beautifully soft and drapey.
• Needles: I used 80" 4.5 mm bamboo circulars, which would have been long enough to do even more repeats.

Revisions

None! A great project all around!