Finished: Flower Basket Shawl

Pattern: Flower Basket Shawl
Designer: Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: 1.5 balls of Venezia Worsted by the brand Cascade
Needles: Addi Turbo 24″ circ. US# 9
Cast on date: March 17, 2010
Cast off date: March 20, 2010

I am completely smitten by this project! All the stars in my knitting heaven ligned up and the result is simply gorgeous...

The yarn: Venezia Worsted by Cascade

Hands down and bar none, this delicious merino/silk blend called Venezia worsted by the brand Cascade is my all time favorite yarn. It is absolutely a pleasure to knit with, but most importantly, it holds up so very well.

I have made many project with this yarn. Remember my Tubey sweater?

And how about my "Attitude Sweater"?

Need I rave more about this yarn? Nuff said, methinks, but just in case you missed that blogpost I dedicated to Venezia, read all about it here:  Cascade Venezia

The pattern: Flower Basket Shawl

This wonderfully written pattern is easy to read and easy to follow.

Besides lace charts, Evelyn A. Clark also provides the fully written instructions. This is especially convenient if charts are a bit of a challenge to read.

What I also love about this pattern, is how multiple gauges are given (lace -, fingering -, dk - and worsted weight). Also, one can choose what size to knit (shawlette, small shawl and large shawl).

I am so happy I chose this pattern for my very first triangular lace project. It was literally easy peasy cruisin'!

Blocking lace...sigh...

To see your knitted lace reveal its complete beauty once it is washed and blocked... dear knitter... this brings me infinite joy.

This part leaves me gasping for air, while my heart skips a bit or two...

Oh the beauty... I am not deserving of it...

Oh Nancy, stop being so dramatic. What's next?

Next up is a triangular shawl called Springtime Bandit, designed by the very talented Kate Gagnon Osborn.

I first learned about Kate's design talent, when my friend Elizabeth wore her Springtime Bandit Shawl:

I fell in love with it and for a year now, I have been wanting to knit this beautiful shawl. I even wrote an entire blogpost about it: Springtime Bandit.

A year ago, I could not find a suitable yarn in a suitable color.

But guess what...I found the perfect match:

Yet again Venezia worsted but now in a deep blue!

It goes so well with my new cherry bomb earrings. I am such a girly girl...

Thanks for reading and until the next entry!