Swallowtail
The ribbed lace scarf is three-quarters done, but I was itching to get a real lace project started and I've been wanting to knit Hyrna Herbogar from the Icelandic shawl book: Three-cornered and Long Shawls. Armed with the book and some good information from various blogs, I thought I was ready to try my hand at it. Ha! Was I wrong.
Despite the suggestions of a friend who can knit Hyrna Herbogar in her sleep and even created a photo tutorial of the cast-on for my benefit, I ended up starting and frogging four times and so frustrated that there was really no point in trying again. Not yet at least. I couldn't get past the 12th row without mistakes. Instead, I followed the advice of a couple of lace knitters on Ravelry (thank you girls!), and looked for a simpler triangular shawl. One of the things that was throwing me off was the triangular shape, new to me, so getting my feet wet with a less demanding triangular pattern seemed a good idea. After considering various patterns, I chose Swallowtail, from the Fall 2006 issue of Interweave Knits.
The pattern calls for Misti Alpaca, a thin laceweight that is probably not the best choice for a beginner, but after seeing a finished shawl at my LYS I really wanted to try that yarn. I cast on and frogged once, then started again and this time I'm using lifelines. After I had a few repeats in place, I spotted a mistake at the beginning of the shawl, but I am not frogging again. If it doesn't come out perfect, I'll put it down to learning experience.
So this is my first Swallowtail, with nine repeats. I am learning a lot with this little shawl: triangular construction, using lifelines, trying out different stitch markers, and once I get to the outer patterns, also nupps.
Another thing I am learning is how wonderful the knitting blog community is (as if I didn't know already). In the past few days I have received an incredible amount of help and encouragement from many knitters. Ravelry is amazing in that respect because you can get feedback from so many knitters so quickly. Special thanks to Beadlizard and Lacefreak for being very generous with their time and giving me lots of useful suggestions.
Look ma, lifelines!
Comments
True confessions time: I can't make lifelines work. Yours look perfect!
How did you get so much Swallowtail knit already? Speedy.
Beth S. and I are talking about doing Fina next...
Posted by: Sylvia | July 29, 2007 12:31 PM
Your Swallowtail Shawl looks wonderful! I think it's a really good one to learn on and gives a spectacular result once it's done. I've seen it made with additional repeats to try to make it into a larger shawl but I think the scale is actually for this small version and I'm not as fond of it with more repeats. Excellent Work! You've got that persistence in the face of adversity thing going for you and you're not afraid to try something. Wedding Ring Shawl was the first bit of lace that I have done that has pattern on both sides. It was torture at first and it's not perfect, but I've learned a huge amount from knitting it (like what yarn NOT to use next time!) I'm very impressed with your efforts. Bravo!
Posted by: Jane | July 29, 2007 1:47 PM
Misti Alpaca looks great, I bet it's really soft. It looks lovely.
Posted by: Briana @ Horse Hound Knit Spin | July 29, 2007 1:52 PM
I have tried to knit swallowtail but kept messing up, i've knit the Forest Canopy Shawl (in sock weight) and i'm now working on the MS3. Your Swallowtail is looking great! Well Done. I think i may have another go at it when MS3 is done, that or Spring Things.
Posted by: lyndsey-jane | July 29, 2007 3:11 PM
It looks fantastic. I hope it goes better this time!
Posted by: Barbp | July 29, 2007 3:18 PM
It looks beautiful! I wish I had learned about lifelines earlier, can't wait to see your nupps!
Posted by: Bea | July 29, 2007 3:26 PM
Your swallowtail is coming out beautifully! It's a good pattern choice I think, even I was able to knit it without more than one mistake.
Posted by: Maud | July 29, 2007 10:32 PM
Lo Swallowtail Shawl e' il mio preferito triangolare. Mi piace anche la Tua versione. Aspetto come te la cavi con i nupps. :-)
Posted by: Zita | July 30, 2007 7:41 AM
Swallowtail is beautiful - I'm also thinking of making it as my first triangular shawl. It's nice to know you find it an accessible beginner pattern too.
Posted by: rhiannon | July 30, 2007 9:33 AM
Rhiannon,
I haven't gotten to the outer patterns yet, but so far I think it's easy enough. What I find difficult is seeing the work as it progresses because it spreads less easily than rectangular shawls, or so it seems. I messed up a couple of times already and had to frog back to a lifeline in one case and tink back a couple or rows in two others, but it's because I wasn't careful enough while knitting it. The pattern itself is easy. I am also using a yarn that I should have left for later, when I am more experienced. :)
Posted by: Francesca | July 30, 2007 9:38 AM
Lovely shawl! Misti Alpaca is so amazingly soft that it is one of my favorites for shawls--you will love it when you are done, I am sure. That said, I often knit with 2 strands at a time, which makes it easier to work with. In fact, I am doing a Flower Basket shawl in a double strand of Misti right now, for some fairly mindless knitting. You'll get the knack of all this in a snap, because you are such a great knitter! Best of luck, and I'm looking forward to seeing your completed Swallowtail.
Posted by: Beth | July 30, 2007 10:04 AM
What a fabulous pattern and yarn combination! Happy knitting (and nupping).
Posted by: rosie | July 30, 2007 10:38 AM
I just finished another Swallotail Shawl with exactly the same yarn and exactly the same color! It's a good color if you knit the shawl the first time. I had made another one before in "Merlot" and although the pattern once you get the hang of it is not difficult the dark color made it somewhat more challenging.
Posted by: projektleiterin | July 30, 2007 1:33 PM
Mmmmm! I just want to rub that shawl on my cheek!
Posted by: Sachi | July 30, 2007 1:49 PM
Swallowtail is looking good so far! I've also got my first triangular shawl (and first lace) on the needles, also in Misti Alpaca. I love that yarn. But yes, quite the learning experience. I ripped that thing many times, and then put it down for many months. I just picked it up again yesterday!
Posted by: Nonnahs | July 30, 2007 5:02 PM
That's coming along nicely! I've never heard of lifelines in knitting before. How interesting!
Posted by: domesticshorthair | July 30, 2007 10:48 PM
Did she also design Madli's shawl? They both incorporate the nupp stitch, but I think it's put to much better use on Swallowtail. (They're a pain, but look great on the right pattern).
Nice color choice for the shawl.
Posted by: Debra | July 31, 2007 1:56 PM
Yeah another lace project. I really want to make a project out of the Three-cornered and Long Shawls book but to be honest the book really terrifies me. Maybe it is the sketch english translation. Thought I picked up Knitted lace by Sonja Esbensen and Anna Rasmussen and there instruction on how to read the older European charts really helped.
Your life lines look beautiful.. Way to go.
Posted by: kitty kitty | July 31, 2007 9:11 PM
That Swallowtail is looking beautiful. I'm only on the third pattern repeat on mine, having sidestepped to finish Pomatomus, but I'll catch up with you soon, hopefully. Haven't tried lifelines yet - dicing with danger, I know!
Posted by: Jo | August 4, 2007 7:28 AM