Sun Dappled Maples
It seems to be time for another finishing flurry. Thank you for your comments on EPS. It's one of my favorite sweaters ever and every one of you should try knitting a sweater with EZ as your guide. Now to on of the most beautiful shawls I've ever knit. This shawl certainly evokes the trees and groves of a forest; a beautiful forest of fall colored maples, with the sun dancing over the leaves, the roots diving deep to drink a last bit of water before heading into a long winters sleep.
The design and yarn color were perfectly suited for either the spring green of aspen leaves or the warm richness of red maples in fall (the two colorways available). Miriam is a genius when it comes to elegant lace and Anne is a goddess of beautiful yarn colorways. Together they created one of the most beautiful projects I've ever knit.
The first section is designed to mimic the leaves of trees as they dance in the sun. The lace patterning is knit on both sides of the fabric, which makes this the most complicated section of the shawl. It's worth the extra effort as the leaves are beautifully formed.
The second section evokes the trunks of the trees, complete with twists and knots. This section was easier to get into a rhythm, but a knitter must keep an eye out for the subtle changes as the trunks twist and the knots of branches form.
The final section shows the roots working their way through the soil to find needed nutrients. This was such a fun section to knit, but there was still the pitfall of knitting a row when one should be purling. The garter stitch is effective, but reading and checking the pattern on every row (to see if it should be a knit or purl row) will keep a knitter from a visit to the frog pond. (Doesn't every forest have a frog pond?)
Aspen Grove is a forest of beauty, of color and of exquisite lace.
Yarn/Pattern/Kit: Aspen Grove Shawl from Wooly Wonka
Colorway: Vermont Maples (Perfect for PS III)
Designed by: Miriam Felton
Time to Knit: February 10, 2008 – March 15, 2008
It's fabulous! I can't wait until we can wear them together. :-)
Posted by: Carole | March 19, 2008 at 05:04 AM
It's gorgeous. Simply gorgeous.
Posted by: Carol | March 19, 2008 at 05:14 AM
That, photographed against the smooth river stones, is beautiful.
Posted by: Laurie | March 19, 2008 at 05:43 AM
Lovely. Simply lovely.
Posted by: CindyCindy | March 19, 2008 at 05:44 AM
Blocked out, she is stunning! Well done Margene! I agree, Mim is a genius with lace!
Posted by: Kim | March 19, 2008 at 05:49 AM
That is truly magnificent..a work of art!..The color will suit you very nicely!
Posted by: Dianne | March 19, 2008 at 05:53 AM
You did beautiful work on this shawl! I also have this pattern and hope I can do as wonderful work as you did!
Posted by: Terry | March 19, 2008 at 06:05 AM
Wow.
Posted by: Chris | March 19, 2008 at 06:17 AM
It's too bad you didn't finish the shawl a couple weeks later since it reverts back to me on the 27th of this month! Then I'll be selling it separately as a download.
It's really lovely! I'm so jealous that I don't have the vermont maples colorway knit up :)
Posted by: Miriam | March 19, 2008 at 06:24 AM
It was especially gorgeous in person!! :)
Posted by: Stitch-n-Snitch | March 19, 2008 at 06:52 AM
You are on a roll! I love it, especially the tree trunk section in the middle. Brilliant. Wear it well.
Posted by: Teresa C | March 19, 2008 at 07:01 AM
color is simply gorgeous! I love when you get on a finishing roll. no pressure though.
Posted by: kathleen | March 19, 2008 at 07:16 AM
That's a beauty!
Posted by: Marcia Cooke | March 19, 2008 at 07:19 AM
Yessss! PERFECT PS III project. It came out beautifully and will (I think, but might be biased) be a perfect weight for spring. :)
Posted by: Anne | March 19, 2008 at 07:20 AM
WOW!!
Posted by: Robin in VA | March 19, 2008 at 07:23 AM
That is just so gorgeous. Lovely glamour shots against the river stones...
Posted by: Norma | March 19, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Tres magnifique!!
Posted by: Sherie | March 19, 2008 at 07:26 AM
It is very beautiful! Your patience and persistence really were worth it! Lovely photos too, which show off the lace quite well. And, the day got away from me yesterday, so I never commented how fabulous your EPS looks! The colors are really striking together, the fit looks great, and I know the silky wool will be light but warm - a perfect Spring and Fall sweater!
Posted by: Margaret | March 19, 2008 at 07:47 AM
So gorgeous - And people say not to use variegated yarns b/c the lace pattern doesn't show through? They haven't seen YOUR lace, I'd say! That's just the prettiest lace, I've seen in a long long time!
(((hugs)))
Posted by: Knitnana | March 19, 2008 at 08:04 AM
So pretty! The design is especially nice.
Posted by: Wool Winder | March 19, 2008 at 08:10 AM
You can really see the "trees" in your photos. It's beautiful!
Posted by: Cheryl S. | March 19, 2008 at 08:34 AM
That is gorgeous indeed, and I love the different sections and their meanings.
Posted by: Lucia | March 19, 2008 at 08:41 AM
That is so incredible!! One of these days I'll make the plunge into lace. I love seeing projects like this that just take your breath away. I can't wait to see what you knit up next!!!
Posted by: Stephanie | March 19, 2008 at 09:08 AM
Whenever I need some inspiration all I need to do is come to your blog. My Ravelry queue is far to large due to these visits!
Posted by: Siew | March 19, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Beautiful! You inspired me to order the kit, now I just have to have the patience to work on it. I'm thinking this one will be a challenge for me and I'll need some alone time.
Posted by: Stacey | March 19, 2008 at 09:18 AM
Exquisite!
Posted by: Rachel | March 19, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Absolutely stunning!
Posted by: Teri S. | March 19, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Gorgeous! It is a lovely pattern and you knit it so quickly. Congrats!
Posted by: Rosa | March 19, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Hi Margene!
What a pleasant surprise to find another finished project this morning...The Aspen Grove shawl is just amazing!! The pattern tells a beautiful story and you chose a yarn to compliment so well. I love the intricate but simple network of the shawl against the stones very zen :-)
As always, I am in awe that you could knit something so delicate in lace so quickly...
Thank you for inspiring...
Posted by: Debbie | March 19, 2008 at 12:10 PM
I can't believe you did that in a little over a month! And a sweater too! And who knows what else!!! Definitely inspiring.
Posted by: elizabeth | March 19, 2008 at 12:53 PM
It's just lovely. Well done, Margene!
Posted by: Cookie | March 19, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Your description has as much artistry as their pattern and yarn... are you listening grrls? Here's a copywriter that will work for yarn!! I can see that this gorgeous shawl will be one of your favorites:)
Posted by: Birdsong | March 19, 2008 at 02:46 PM
This came together beautifully. Truly, it's exquisite--no wonder you're proud, I sure would be. :-)
There is nothing so wonderfully satisfying as newly blocked lace, is there?
Posted by: Beth S. | March 19, 2008 at 04:31 PM
It's Beautiful!!! I dug my kit out over the weekend and found my needles. Now, I just have to finish the one on the needles and this one is going on.
Your EZ sweater looks great on you. I love the colors you chose.
Posted by: Suzanne | March 19, 2008 at 05:30 PM
That's really great. I need to pull my Hidcote Garden out and see if I can still do it.
Posted by: Tan | March 19, 2008 at 05:47 PM
Awesome!
Posted by: Dianna | March 19, 2008 at 06:34 PM
Lovely! Design, color and execution, a trifecta of lace perfection!
Posted by: Sunnyknitter | March 19, 2008 at 07:23 PM
Absolutely lovely design and beautiful colors that show off the yarn to its finest.
Posted by: Wanda | March 19, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Beautiful. I have lace envy now;) I love how the colors worked up.
Posted by: Barb | March 19, 2008 at 11:43 PM
I just half way doing this and seeing your lovely shawl is spurring me one. I am doing it in the green colourway though.
Posted by: Mona | March 20, 2008 at 01:52 AM
Gorgeous! Love that color!
Posted by: Manise | March 20, 2008 at 07:20 AM
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Jan | March 20, 2008 at 08:26 AM
Wow! That is a stunning shawl. The colors are lovely and I really can see the trees, leaves and roots. Very cool. Wear it well.
Posted by: Hillary | March 20, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Beautiful and what excellent colors!
Posted by: thegabbyknitter | March 20, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Just beautiful. And I know that having so many dear friends involved in the creation of this shawl makes it even more of a treasure. :)
Posted by: Laura | March 20, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Paula | March 29, 2008 at 04:22 PM