You knew it was coming, right?
Pattern: Seraphim Shawl, by Mim Felton
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill fingering-weight silk, color Java, well into 2 hanks
Time elapsed: About a week for the swatch, about 2-2.5 weeks for the shawl itself
Modifications and Notes: No modifications this time–I knit it exactly as written.
Although the rows got a little tedious at the end (like with any shawl constructed from the center top outward, really), I thoroughly enjoyed knitting this shawl. The stockinette portion gives the shawl a nice weight and warmth, it fades gracefully into the lace portion, and the lace itself is fun and not too difficult. (By the end of the second chart, I was able to knit the shawl while reading and/or watching tv.)
I think this would be a very good first lace shawl. It’s easy to tell when you’ve made an error, the pattern is excellently written and clear, and there isn’t too much going on. It also seems to stand up well to handpainted yarns, at least if they’re fairly low-contrast.
I really think the color changes in the yarn worked well with the shawl pattern. This makes two in a row, so surely I’m headed for a big color disaster soon. 🙂 Seriously, though, the changing of the color helps define the stockinette portions and adds interest, while the combination of lace and muted color changes isn’t too busy. Definitely a nice choice for some lightly-variegated stash yarn.
Of course, if you’re going to buy yarn just to knit this shawl, you can do a lot worse than the CTH silk. It’s lustrous, it’s soft, and the colors are beautiful. It’s far too glamorous a yarn for my toddler-enhanced life, but I love it anyway.
Plus, it’s warm! I can actually wrap this shawl around me on these chilly Monterey days. All in all, three thumbs up for the pattern, yarn, and combination. Hooray!
(As always, for more pictures and silly commentary, visit the FO page.)
Amy Herzog Designs