Karen, a blogless friend from SLC - Stitch 'n Bitch, knit one of the most amazing pieces of knitting I have ever seen. She was kind enough to allow me to share it with you via this blog. The rich color of green just wouldn't show up in our usual setting of the mountains, so we took a trip to the Great Salt Lake Saturday afternoon. The colors of sand and water were a good backdrop for her exquisite accomplishment.
We couldn't stop there, so Sunday we made a trip up to Silver Lake and captured a couple more good photos (after breakfast, of course).
Karen wrote this about her experience of knitting this stole:
This stole is amazing. I look at it and am actually amazed that I knit it. When the pattern first came out, I was a relatively new knitter and thought, "Wow! I would love to be able to make this someday." After this accomplishment, I feel I can knit anything. The pattern is incredibly well written. I wish there were more patterns like it. I loved knitting Forest Path (with the minor exception of the semi-tedious bordersat the end).
The soft green reminds me of the woods in Michigan where I grew up. The delicate patterns kept me interested and entertained without being overly complicated. I learned a tremendous amount knitting this as well. I had never knit entrelac or used cobweb weight yarn. Now I don't want to knit lace with anything much thicker than cobweb. The effect is so ethereal, like wearing a wisp of cloud about your shoulders.
Pattern: Interweave Knits Summer 2003 - Forest Path Stole
Desinger: Faina Letoutchaia
Yarn: From the eBay store ColourMartUK, it is
100% cashmere lace weight (cobweb) in samphire. I
used a 1 pound cone and have a couple of hundred yards
left.
Needle: Size 3 US
Time to Knit: First of June to first week in August 2006
Karen is the creator of Sleeping Dragon Yarn and designed the Dancing Lady Socks in Knitty's Summer issue.
Beautiful pictures of Karen's exquisite knitting. Love the color and the pattern. Thanks for sharing Karen and her knitting.
Posted by: Chery | August 14, 2006 at 03:45 AM
Thank you for sharing these great pictures. Lovely knitting, lovely shawl and lovely presentation - really great!
Greetings from Southern Bavaria
Maria
Posted by: Maria | August 14, 2006 at 04:01 AM
That is one freakin awesome knit!!!
Fabulous job Karen, and very inspiring!
Posted by: Kelly | August 14, 2006 at 04:03 AM
wow. that's just beautiful.
Posted by: maryse | August 14, 2006 at 04:41 AM
Oh, that is gorgeous!
Posted by: Wendy | August 14, 2006 at 04:42 AM
That is a stunning FO! I'm totally impressed with the entrelac.
Posted by: Laurie | August 14, 2006 at 04:57 AM
It's amazing! And the photos of Karen are fantastic.
Posted by: Carole | August 14, 2006 at 05:14 AM
This is the most beatiful version ever! I'm from Michigan and recently ran into someone who mentioned Karen and Sleeping Dragon yarns as one of her closest friends with whom she had just visited. A small world. I'm saving these pics and specs for my future use.
Posted by: Janet | August 14, 2006 at 05:24 AM
That is SOOOO beautiful!!
Posted by: Helene | August 14, 2006 at 05:27 AM
That's a gorgeous shawl! Great job Karen!
Posted by: Kelly | August 14, 2006 at 05:29 AM
That IS a great pattern. And it has sucha nice flow!
Ok, this should be her first post in her new blog. tell her to get crackin'!
Posted by: Dave Daniels | August 14, 2006 at 05:30 AM
Stunning!
Posted by: Kathleen | August 14, 2006 at 05:51 AM
OMG, everything about that stole is luscious -- the color, the yarn, the PATTERN! (and need I remind you, I'm not even that fond of lace? But this is a RECTANGLE, not a triangle (triangle shawls often give me the willies) And the photography! It belongs in a magazine. A wonderful showcase of wonderful blogless Karen. :)
Posted by: Norma | August 14, 2006 at 06:01 AM
Gorgeous! Absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful. Congratulations to Karen! Looks like a very fun photo shoot, too. ; )
Posted by: Vicki | August 14, 2006 at 06:10 AM
Congratulations to Karen. That stole looks amazing. I love the color and the pattern.
Posted by: hillary | August 14, 2006 at 06:21 AM
Breathtakingly beautiful!!!! Great job Karen:D
Posted by: Lana | August 14, 2006 at 06:22 AM
Crap. Another pattern on my list. GORGEOUS! Thanks to Karen for sharing her knits, and you for presenting it to us.
Posted by: Cara | August 14, 2006 at 06:22 AM
Holy sh*t that is just jaw dropping-ly stunning. I have seen that pattern knit here and there, and it has always spoken to me, but not like this one does. Gorgeous!
Posted by: PumpkinMama | August 14, 2006 at 06:29 AM
By far, that is the most beautiful use of entrelac that I have ever see. Thanks for sharing it. Great photo essay.
Posted by: Judy | August 14, 2006 at 06:44 AM
Wait until I pick myself up from the floor and I'll tell you what I REALLY think about that shawl! Holy (insert word of choice)! Hmm, it is holey...but it is the most divine arrangement of holes I think I've ever seen. You need to send those pictures to someone...magazine, television, I don't know. And tell Karen I want to be her when I grow up.
Posted by: Marcia | August 14, 2006 at 06:50 AM
Fantastic, Karen. You two are even more beautiful in person! :)
Posted by: Stitch-n-Snitch | August 14, 2006 at 06:59 AM
I am in awe. That is some beautiful knitting.
Posted by: Liz K. | August 14, 2006 at 07:03 AM
Entrelac in cobweb laceweight. Oh. My. God. My brain is hurting just a little even contemplating something like that. But that's quite possibly the most beautiful stole I've ever seen.
Posted by: Rachel H | August 14, 2006 at 07:08 AM
I was just eyeing that pattern last week but the lace entralec part of it put me off.
Hmmm...might have to re-add it to my potential list again.
GORGEOUS.
Posted by: Sarah HB | August 14, 2006 at 07:20 AM
Entrelac lace? Brilliant! Freaking brilliant! And beautiful! freaking beautiful! Knitting, and photos both. Karen, get a blog and let us know. If I can blog, you can blog. Goddess knows you can KNIT!
Posted by: Roxie | August 14, 2006 at 07:22 AM