Finally, pictures of Mystery Stole 3, now called Swan Lake, that I finished a while ago. I had put it on hold in July when there was a two-week break in the clues, during which I went on a long holiday and started knitting something else. On top of that, I had to pull out the needles as I only had one pair of 3.25 mm needles (guess how many I have now…) and I needed them for my travel project. The stole did travel with me to the US and back but was on stitch holders the entire time.

The last three clues were all posted while I was away and only got to check my e-mails sporadically. Clue 5 revealed the theme as Swan Lake – and it also revealed that we would be knitting a wing. While I’d knitted the previous clues as soon as they came out, this time I waited until I was back at home, partly because I couldn’t get the clues printed on the road and partly because the idea of a wing sounded so weird that I wanted to see how it turns out before deciding whether to knit it or go for the no-wing option.

I agonised for a while over my decision and knitted other things – the wing looked so out of place, but the symmetrical option seemed too boring a solution, especially as it meant ripping back to the designer-instructed lifeline and knitting clues 1-4 all over again. Or, to be precise, the wing as such looked quite nice but the two halves were too different to my taste. It was like two completely different things stuck together. Like half horse, half armadillo.

Finally I decided to knit the wing, partly because it was the way the designer intended and partly because it actually looked good when worn.

To be honest, had I not knitted half the stole already I would never have started, but it made more sense to finish the stole than rip everything.

Luckily I enjoy knitting as a process and liked knitting the wing. It was also fast, so when I finally picked up my needles again, the stole was finished in no time.

In the end I found myself actually liking the wing better than the rest of the stole.

As a whole I quite like the stole and am glad I knitted the shorter version as the size is just perfect for me. I’m also glad I participated in this Mystery Stole.

Pattern: Mystery Stole 3 / Swan Lake
Designer: Melanie Gibbons
Yarn: Wetterhoff Silvia, black, 61 g
Needles: 3.25 mm bamboo straights / Addi Lace / Knit Picks Options Harmony
Finished size: 55 x 170 cm