FO Friday

Finally, a finished object to show!

A few months ago, I was browsing ravelry and came across Stripe Study Shawl, and knew I wanted to knit it.  As with so many patterns, I was at a loss to what yarn I could use.  Then I saw it.  

I bought Kauni 8/2 Effektgarn in EQ, and the solid in undyed (off-white), and in the stash box they sat waiting for the timing to be just right.  A knitalong was started in April, and I knew that time had come.

I was sure it would take me a couple of weeks at least to knit such a large shawl, and one which has very little else going on that knit stitch and some increases.  Oh, and many many short rows.  I'm not the greatest at sticking to boring projects, so it was with great surprise I finished this in a week!  I found myself really getting into the groove and zoning in on the knitting, getting faster and faster, eager to get to the next colour, the next white row.

I don't know how many stitches I had before casting off, but it was a lot.  Not as many as it should have been as I only did 11 colour stripes - I could tell it was going to be big enough, and didn't want it to be too big.

Excuse the leggings, I had just finished crawling round the floor ;)

I won't lie, the border rows were long, however, I kept on knitting just 2 more rows.  I don't know how many time's I said I was done only to keep knitting.  The border was done over the course of a day (an hour during the day, a couple at night), and I cast-off the next evening.  I washed and laid out to dry, no stretching or pinning down required.

Project Page: Stripe Study Shawl
Yarn: Kauni Wool 8/2 Effektgarn EQ and Kauni Wool 8/2 Solid natural.
Needles: 4mm for main section, 5mm for cast-off.

Isn't it glorious?  This is by far the most satisfying knit I've done in a while.  I love the mittens I have done recently, but when I can't wear an FO straight away, I temporarily fall out of love with it.  This pattern has given me a new appreciation for large shawls, and I'm now kicking myself for not buying more than 1 skein of sock yarn at a time.

The Kauni was everything I had read.  The colour changes were so subtle you didn't realise you were in a new colour until you were there!  The yarn was thin and weird looking before washing, but certainly fulled out post-washing when the spinning oils were removed.

As usual, I am joining in with Tamis Amis on FO Friday