FO: Ishbel (IV) for Mom

Eek! It's been so long since I updated. But I assure you there has been knitting going on. It's just so much harder now that my photographer is off at grad school to get FO pics. He always takes such care and is so patient with me knowing how much I care about getting the right pics to capture my FOs.

Starting the FO parade will be Ishbel IV. This went to my Mom for Chinese New Year's which was coincidentally also Valentine's Day this year.

Pattern: Ishbel by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in colorway Pearl Ten
Needles: US 6
Amount: ~ 1 ball with a little left over
Mods: Made a size medium by doing large stockinette and small lace

Holiday FOs

Pattern: Gretel by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in colorway Black Parade

Needles: US 5 and 7

Amount: less than 1 ball

Mods: None

I whipped this up for myself before heading north for my vacation. It came in handy too as it was pretty cold at home. The only thing I didn't like was that the yarn bled onto my needles, turning them black, before I even washed the FO! It's a beautiful yarn, but I don't think I will ever want to use it again. I always get sad when my bamboo needles get stained.

* Can you spot Audrey in the background?

* Miles of lace

Pattern: Ishbel by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in colorway Polar Morn

Needles: US 6

Amount: ~ 360 yards

Mods: None

This was made with the same yarn and size (small) as my first Ishbel, but somehow it came out bigger, especially the lace section. When I made the pink Ishbel for my Mom's Christmas gift, I had to sacrifice my US 6 circulars due to knitting too tightly and the stitches not being able to slip over the join where the needles meet the plastic. Ever since that experience, I have been paranoid about knitting more loosely and so I most likely overcompensated by knitting too loosely on this one. I think it actually "blooms" more with the open lace. Also, my bind-off was a bit too tight as I was unable to create much of the "points" with my blocking pins. But I still love this Ishbel as I feel like it gives off a different look/vibe than the first one. Isn't it strange that knitting can rarely be identical even when using the same materials as before?

In other knitting news, I am still chugging along on my second Gathered Pullover. I also bought more Malabrigo Lace last week from Little Knits when they finally had some shipments in of the darker shades such as Paris Night and Pearl Ten. I've never seen those colorways in person, but I really want to make my mom a dark-colored Ishbel that could go well with more of her outfits. I really should diversify my shawl knitting (maybe go for that infamous Swallowtail), but I can't seem to stop knitting Ishbels. :-D The thing I love most about Ishbel is the fact that it's wider than it is deep, making it easier to wear as a scarf. Can anybody recommend similar shawl patterns with that feature?

Christmas FO's!

And the FO parade continues...

First up, we have an Ishbel for my Mom. (I don't even know what to make my Dad yet!)


Pattern: Ishbel by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Colorway Pink Frost
Needles: US 6
Amount: ~ 395 yards
Mods: I decided to go for a medium-sized version with large stockinette and small lace.




* I haz wings

And a thick scarf for my bf's father...

Pattern: Shale Pleated Scarf by Kristen Hipsky

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Colorway Woodland Mix

Needles: US 9

Amount: 2 balls exactly

Mods: None

* Shale close-up

And finally a lace scarf for my bf's mother...

Pattern: Falling Water by Bonnie Sennott

Yarn: Misti Alpaca Lace in Colorway 8127

Needles: US 5

Amount: ~ 280 yards

Mods: None

FO: Ishbel

Remember this?


After a week of furious knitting, it has transformed into...Ishbel!



* Ishbel scarf

* Wingz...I haz them

* And we have lift off!


* Oooh, lace

* And for kicks, Babushka Ishbel!

* Finally, to amuse my photographer, Ninja Ishbel!

I never thought of myself as a shawl type of person, but Ishbel has really sold me on the idea. So much so that I will probably make many more in the future for both myself and as Christmas gifts. (Shh...I already ordered the yarn.) I am a huge fan of Ysolda's Gretel and this pattern was very clear, as always. She even goes so far as to create both written and chart directions. I went with the written directions in order to avoid misreading the charts. This is the second shawl I have ever knitted (first being the Textured Shawl for my mom), and the first shawl I have ever made for myself. I plan to make another one with some Misti Alpaca Lace that I picked up recently that was deeply discounted at WEBS. Only $6.02 (that's including the shipping) for another Ishbel!

The only problem I had with this FO had to do with the yarn. I have never worked with Malabrigo before although I keep hearing all these wonderful compliments about how heavenly it is. For me, it was a nightmare. I'm not sure if I simply got stuck with a bad skein or what, but it took me and bf 4.5 hours to wind it up. Actually, it was mostly bf doing the winding and untangling of knots. The yarn literally kept knotting upon itself and was really sticky. So much so that I still have about 100 yards left in knots that I'm going to have to throw away. But once I finished knitting up Ishbel and blocking it, the yarn was so soft and light that I might actually go through torture again for another one. I wound up one of my Misti Alpaca Lace skeins the other day and magically, it only took me 30 minutes! This time I was very careful to not use my swift, but to place it carefully around 2 chair backs and locate the ties before starting. :-) But the Alpaca Lace wasn't sticky at all, so I wonder if it really was Malabrigo's fault.


Pattern: Ishbel by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Amoroso, Colorway #157
Amount: Less than a ball, probably around 330 yards
Needles: US 6
Mods: None
Size: Pre-blocked = 37" wide by 13.5" deep, Post-blocked = 43" wide by 18" deep