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November 28, 2005
River
Oh yeah, she's done!
First off...a public apology to all those I took down with me on this one. Oh my, this was a boring knit. Yes it was a very long repeat...but guess what? Every row was pretty much the same -- just off by a stitch at a time. Ugh!
The results, though, I'm quite happy with.
Specs
Pattern River by Sharon Miller in Rowan 38
Yarn KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud 100% Baby Alpaca in Tidepool. Approx 350 yards.
Needles 5mm (US 8) Bryspun circs
Mods & Thoughts
- The needles -- I wanted to like them, I really did. The cord is amazing. I could sit and play with the cord, bending it this way and that. It's a great tactile experience. I even really like the way the needles feel in my hand. Their points are nice -- not too sharp, not too dull. But, I don't like their lack of weight. Would I use them again? Probably not.
- Number of repeats I did 14 or 15 repeats instead of 11. I could have done 1 or 2 more but I just wanted this thing to be over!
- Yarn This is very nice yarn, and for the price this is amazing yarn. It gets a tad fuzzy -- sorta like a mohair halo -- and is wonderfully soft.
- Blocking This was so quick to block! It went from a big puddle of yarn (pic on the left) to a lovely undulating lacy thing (pic on the right) in just a couple hours. The hardest part was finding a place to pin it out that had a fan and could be Isabella-free until it dried. In the end a spray bottle of water ensured the latter. poor Isabella
I sub'd a non-mohair yarn because I wanted to make something that I could wear everyday. I think I succeeded. In the pic above I'm wearing it with my denim jacket. I know you don't see the intricacies of the lace but I'm OK with that. I'm not a traditional lace-wearing sorta girl. I like knitting lace though, so this is a perfect compromise. I get to knit it and wear it.
I could have picked a color with more contrast (maybe one of the light blue shades?) but green is my favorite color.
I finished this thing just in time. This weekend is was windy and in the 30s, and my lacy alpaca scarf was just the ticket to keeping me warm without feeling like a bundled up kid during the first snowstorm of the season.
KALers -- how ya doin?
I stopped the weekly posts because the progress slowed down a lot. Drop me a line or leave me a comment when you're done and I'll link to you in a post!
November 28, 2005 in River Along | Permalink
Comments
That's a great color! I really wanted to make it but according to you and others, it sounds like a "snoozer" of a project.. but the results are so nice. Maybe I'll eventually break down.
Posted by: Angela | Nov 28, 2005 9:56:22 PM
I know many bloggers have knitted this River. And I like yr leaf lace shawls posted earlier. It is great that u teach lace knitting.
Posted by: handknit168 | Nov 28, 2005 9:58:04 PM
gorgeousness! I love the color on you!
I feel asleep one too many times knitting the darn thing. What a snore! That, combined with the fact that I need to rip a row has contributed to the semi-permanent demise of River. I haven't officially called it quits on the project, but I've moved on to other things. Ah, well.
Posted by: liz | Nov 28, 2005 9:59:54 PM
looks fantastic. love it with the denim. i think i'll be rockin' my lace like you if i can ever finish one. i think i'll pick up my orange lace thingy and give it a go again. great pics. i really like the contrast of that preblock/postblock and boy i have to go there about your hair. its such a brilliant cut! i know i've probably missed the fan fare over your fabulous do and cool glasses, but i just had to acknowledge that.
take care!
Posted by: froggy | Nov 29, 2005 3:46:18 AM
i love it! and i cant believe you have finished it. i am still procrastinating about picking mine up again.
it looks just fantastic jody.
Posted by: jacqueline | Nov 29, 2005 4:52:19 AM
Looks great !!!! I am now thinking about making it for my scarf exchange pal...
Love your haircut too!!!
Cheers Eva
Posted by: Eva | Nov 29, 2005 5:02:42 AM
It looks great jody, it really suits you. I like it with the denim a lot
Posted by: Dani | Nov 29, 2005 5:37:17 AM
Looks great. Can't wait to see it in person.
Posted by: Christy | Nov 29, 2005 7:30:25 AM
Jodi - it looks awesome. I love this pattern. I wish you could buy it as a single, as it is the only thing I like from the book it is in.
Posted by: lisa | Nov 29, 2005 7:50:04 AM
That's the way to do it, wear it how you want. I took mine away on holiday and used it as a lacy coverup for those late evenings, yet it still looks great wrapped inside my jacket to keep me as snug as a bug. Yours is such a pretty colour too.
Posted by: Tracy | Nov 29, 2005 8:10:09 AM
your river is beautiful! everyone's been complaining about how boring a knit this is, so i'd decided not to make it, but ever time i see i finished one i change my mind again... i love how it looks in alpaca cloud!
Posted by: kris | Nov 29, 2005 8:46:01 AM
wow, looks great, jody! i started mine, then, i really didn't like the look of garter stitches on this thicker, zephyr yarn so i kind of stopped proceeding. now i'm not sure if zephyr is a good yarn for it. but i really like yours.
Posted by: blossom | Nov 29, 2005 9:03:18 AM
Hi Jody, Your River looks great! I finally finished mine back in the beginning of October. It was a gift for my aunt. I used Kidsilk Haze in a camel color. I thought about making one for myself but (yawn) that pattern was so (yawn) boring (yawn) that I don't think I could stand to make another one!
Ericka
Posted by: Ericka | Nov 29, 2005 9:09:37 AM
Fabulous job! What a great colorway. I'm happy to hear that the Knitpicks alpaca is a good mohair sub. Would you knit other shawls with it?
Posted by: Colleen | Nov 29, 2005 9:32:00 AM
It looks great, even if it was a boring knit! I love the color :D
Posted by: Shana | Nov 29, 2005 9:57:49 AM
Your River is gorgeous! The yarn and colorway you used was one that I was seriously considering for mine.
I'm still working on mine, I figure I'm about halfway done. I have 10 1/2 repeats done, but because I'm using smaller needles (US size 8) than called for, it's only measuring 28 inches so far. There's a progress picture on the 11/21 entry on my blog, if anyone is interested.
Posted by: KatieLiz | Nov 29, 2005 10:19:52 AM
looks fabulous! i'm glad to see i'm not the only one who got bored!
Posted by: kim | Nov 29, 2005 10:38:07 AM
Sorry for the boring knit but it looks fab!
Posted by: Kate | Nov 29, 2005 10:39:38 AM
Your river looks wonderful, but more importantly, you look great! I think you lost some weight, missy. Congrats! (I know it can be tough. I gained 16 lbs. between Feb and Apr of this year, and it took me until last month to lose it all. Notice there are no body shots on my blog between Asana and Clementine - it's not an accident!)
My River has slowed, and except for airline knitting will probably not pick up until after the holidays. It's driving me nuts, but I know the result will be worth it. Enjoy your new, chic wrap.
Posted by: Julia | Nov 29, 2005 11:00:24 AM
Congratulations on your completed River! It looks gorgeous on you!
Oh, how I wish mine was done. However, it is one of those projects that got sidelined when real life interfered, and I just can't seem to pick it up again. I do want to finish it, I really do.
Posted by: Kristy | Nov 29, 2005 11:10:02 AM
Beautiful, Jodi! The colour is gorgeous. And I totally agree -- to be able to knit lace AND wear it? Priceless.
Posted by: Felicia from sweetgeorgia | Nov 29, 2005 11:32:42 AM
Looks great, and I, too, would wear a lace anything with denim. I'm not really a fluffy girl.
Posted by: Lee Ann | Nov 29, 2005 11:47:06 AM
I have some of the Tidepool that was destined to be a Butterfly Tank, but a lace scarf is a better idea. Yours is so pretty!
Posted by: Christie | Nov 29, 2005 12:06:32 PM
Stunning. It looks great and snuggly too. I hate knitting scarf type items but oh, how I love to wear them. Looks great with the jean jacket. :)
Posted by: marnie | Nov 29, 2005 12:14:02 PM
Your River looks lovely in that colour. I am just about to order some Knitpicks yarn for lacy scarves and Alpaca Cloud Tidepool was one of my choices. Its great to see it knitted up.
Posted by: Kira | Nov 29, 2005 1:19:25 PM
I'm stuck! frogged my River twice. I'm thinking I'll never understand the pattern.
Posted by: Renata | Nov 29, 2005 1:22:05 PM
A perfect yarn sub. Yours turned out beautiful, and I like how your wearing it, too!
I don't enjoy knitting or wearing traditional lace, either, but was giving River the eye for next year. It never even occured to me to sub with Alpaca Cloud, of which I have a couple lovely skeins in the stash. I got it before I realized what knitting with real laceweight would be like. I don't have the patience. But it's SO pretty and I've been a bit dejected that I can't figure out what to do with it. But this would be a good mindless in front of the TV knit. I think I'll do the same.
Thanks for the inspiration and Happy Knitting!!
Posted by: jillian | Nov 29, 2005 1:31:08 PM
It may have been boring (process...thank process!) but you'll enjoy wearing it. Looks great!
Posted by: margene | Nov 29, 2005 1:33:38 PM
I've put mine to one side because I'm busy with Christmas knitting right now but I will get back to it because I do want to finish it. I agree that it's a boring knit though. I'm thinking of buying some bamboo needles to see if that helps since I keep hearing that KSH works much better on bamboo.
Posted by: Kirsty | Nov 29, 2005 2:31:49 PM
It's gorgeous! I haven't even started mine:( After the christmas knitting!
Posted by: Carolyn | Nov 29, 2005 4:36:13 PM
How do you manage to stay awake throughout all those boring repeats? Your patience is wonderful, I wish I could do that.
Posted by: Pioggia | Nov 29, 2005 7:10:57 PM
It looks great, and I love you detailed, honest post about it. If the wind ever whispers "River", I will know where to get the details...
Posted by: Mary Beth | Nov 29, 2005 8:27:04 PM
Beautiful. Love that color. ;-) Glad you slogged through...
Posted by: Jenny | Nov 29, 2005 8:58:14 PM
I haven't touched mine...but yours looks great!!
Posted by: Kathleen | Nov 29, 2005 9:03:29 PM
It's lovely Jody! Pefect color for you!
Posted by: Debi | Nov 29, 2005 9:10:25 PM
Your River looks great! I'm having a hard time feeling the love for this pattern, but it's a gift for mom and I've got to finish it. I've got to force myself to work on it this week.
Posted by: tine | Nov 30, 2005 12:27:28 AM
Congratulations on finishing River, it looks great on you.
Bet you get loads of compliments when you go out wrapped up in it. Its freezing here in the UK, so I'm permanently wrapped up in my River at the moment.
Posted by: Estee | Nov 30, 2005 8:27:17 AM
Oh Jody, it's beautiful! Love the lace w/denim idea, too. So.cute.
Congratulations.
Posted by: Kellee | Nov 30, 2005 10:29:20 AM
I wasn't in on the KAL, but started a river when the book came out, did a couple repeats and it sits now. Glad to hear I am not the only one bored with it. But the end result really is pretty! Yours looks great :)
Posted by: Tammie | Nov 30, 2005 5:18:48 PM
Great! I adore the choice, and that's how I would wear it too, since that's the way the birch goes.
Posted by: julia fc | Dec 2, 2005 3:41:51 PM
So worth the effort though! I love the results
Posted by: Rebecca | Dec 4, 2005 7:21:53 PM
Your river looks great! I haven't finished, but I have started, which I think is a step in the right direction!
Posted by: Katie | Dec 5, 2005 9:46:26 AM
I'm so glad someone else felt the way I did about this one! That being said, it looks great. Thanks for the KAL.
Posted by: anmiryam | Dec 5, 2005 12:33:08 PM
River looks great on you and the denim goes well with it! Like your glasses too!
Posted by: Michelle | Dec 5, 2005 7:28:03 PM
I need to pick up my River again...spent too much wasted time on the craft fair that sucked and now I'm finishing a sweater for my godson. Maybe after that, lol...I would like to finish it!!! Or at least get through one repeat, lol...
Posted by: Eklectika | Dec 12, 2005 12:31:33 AM
Your River is BEAUTIFUL!!!
You're right, though, the pattern is a complete snooze. I have so many papers to write and so much work to do that I think I'm going to give mine an RIP and turn it into a project I actually like to work on. Would you mind removing me from the knit-along? I guess I don't knit well with others. :)
Posted by: Chrissy | Dec 12, 2005 9:35:25 PM
