What’s A Girl To Do?

Work has been very slow over the last couple of weeks, what with it being the height of summer and all, so I’ve had some time at home by myself (it’s back to work tomorrow… yay!). This week, I’ve been getting ready for our housewarming party, coming up on Saturday. The cooking’s done (2 pork shoulders have been slow roasted and frozen… pulled pork sandwiches on the menu), the baking is done (5-6 dozen mini spanakopita are ready for popping into the oven), the house is about as clean as it’s going to get (except for the corner that the ants keep invading…new hatches of pavement ants! Yuck!) and all that really needs doing now is the final touches. John will be hanging some pictures tonight. On Saturday morning, the house will get a final once over with the duster, some last minute shopping to do and then it’s all hands on deck to get everything set up.

Of course, being at home by oneself means that you have the entire day to do with as you will. And all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy… or in this case, makes Evelyn cranky. Even though the knitting will be put away for the bulk of the weekend, I’ve pulled it out now and then to knit a row or two. Because of that, the Haruni shawl is making progress, albeit slow progress. I’ve just finished six repeats of the pattern and I must say that I’m really liking how it’s knitting up. To be honest, in “person” it’s a little difficult to see the pattern, but having pinned it out as I did, and taking it’s picture, it’s much easier to really see how it’s working up.

 I have a feeling that this is going to be one lovely shawl. To date, I still haven’t decided how big I’d like it to be. I guess I’ll just have to wait until it’s bigger. Already I can see and feel the drape in the fabric; if this is what it’s like working with silk, I can see more of it in my future. Over the last couple of days, I’ve also been researching (not actively, but as I have time) how to properly block silk shawls. The sources I’ve found so far are conflicting; some say wet block, some say dry block. They do, however, agree that steam blocking isn’t suitable for lace. I’ll keep researching.

In answer to a couple of comments now:

Shirley, I have no idea who thought to block lace but I certainly am happy about it. Perhaps it was a happy accident, a shawl getting wet accidentally and it’s owner realizing how much prettier the wet, stretched fabric looked? It would be interesting to know, wouldn’t it? Who was the first person brave enough to dare eat an egg, I wonder? ;)

Sandi, thank you so much for your very kind words. The shawl was grafted exactly as you surmised, using the Kitchener stitch, but loosely. I didn’t want to tug too hard on it as there would likely have been an obvious line. As for teaching, I’ve done some of that and, as much as I enjoy it, unless I can do it my way, I won’t do it. If you’re learning from my blog entries, I’ve accomplished something. And I thank you for letting me know that.