Amimonogatari











{October 7, 2007}   Swan Lake

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.
swan-lake-5.jpg
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.
swan-lake.jpg
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.
swan-lake-1.jpg
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.
swan-lake-3.jpg
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.
swan-lake-6.jpg
In the end I found myself actually liking the wing better than the rest of the stole.
swan-lake-detail.jpg
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.
swan-lake-2.jpg
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



KelInCal says:

It looks great! Nice job!

Thanks for the modeling photos! I’ve been seeing these everywhere (obviously) and I just couldn’t wrap my head around the non-symmetrical aspect. NOW I get it – it looks great on you!



Hasbu says:

Looks great! I didn’t get the wing idea at first, but after seeing your modelled shots, it makes perfect sense.



Niina says:

Hieno huivi :-)
Mut hei, mä näin ihan sun väristä lankaa Sypressissä, se maitolanka. Se oli sellasta melkein unia, ruskeasävyistä. Sä tulit ihan mieleen kun sitä katsoin…



heidi says:

Minäkin tykkään juuri tuosta siipiosasta eniten. Jos osaisin, tekisin tuollaisen samanmuotoisen huivin pelkällä siipimallilla.



Midori says:

KellnCal & Hasbu, thank you! I didn’t get it at first, either, and to be honest, the wing put me off so much that I didn’t feel like finishing the stole at all. But I’m glad I did, even if it does make me look like a Sicilian widow…

Niina, kiitos vinkistä! Täytyy piipahtaa katsomassa. :-)

Heidi, malli on nyt myynnissä suunnittelijan blogissa, ja siinä on myös tuo tuplasiipivaihtoehto. Tosin siipien välissä on tuota cat’s paw -kuviota, joka ei musta sovi siihen, mutta ehkä siitä saisi muokattua jotain kivaa.



tiikeriankka says:

Hieno huivi! Mäkin tykkään töiden loppuun saattamisesta, vaikka ne ei ihan oliskaan oman tyylisiä. Annan ne sitten pois jollekin, jonka tyylisiä ne on :).



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