American Beauty, Take Six!

Thank you for waiting so patiently! I just returned from a little trip to heaven, and I feel fully restored. I hope to share my trip with you next week, along with a preview of all the things I worked on while traveling. In the mean time, we have some unfinished business! The photo above is the best one I have right now, but you can see how the project ends...

Here is the center/back, with my blocking suggestion. I ran a wire along the eyelets between the top edge of the shawl and the triangle. I pinned out each scallop along that top edge, and also each point along the two lower edges. I used a whole bunch of pins for the center back section.

And I pinned the fronts as above.

Special instructions are noted on the chart, which should be printed in "portrait" today. Pay attention to these notes. I used double yarn-overs before and after each heart bead, to be sure there was enough yarn for the bead to lay properly. On the return row I dropped one of the loops from each yarn-over. You should consider the size of your beads the the size of your needles and determine if this is what you should do too. Also, for those of you using beads that have a top and a bottom, be sure you put them on with the correct orientation! Upside down hearts might not be what you have in mind, eh?

Ha! I forgot to add the cast-off didn’t I? Thanks, Deb! I used the following:
Knit 2, return both to left-hand needle, knit 2 together through the back.
*Knit 1, return 2 to left-hand needle, knit 2 together through the back* repeat!

I am now off to do laundry, shop and otherwise prepare for my upcoming return to work on Monday. This will include going through all of my travel pictures and paying excessive attention to LucyFur and Cap'n Flint.

As usual I long for photos of your finished projects, so once you block your shawls please send pictures along if you will allow me to share them on the up-coming "wrap-up" blog post. Use the following format:
Your name:
Your Blog or website:
Yarn used:
Needle used:
Finished size across top and down center-back:
Comments:
Send an email in the format above, along with a jpg or two, to:
BadCatDesigns@verizon.net

Until next time, knit and be merry!

American Beauty, Take Five!

And another happy Friday to all of you! I hope your week was better than mine, but enough said...

Today's post brings us to very nearly the end of our project. I will have one more set of charts, but they only cover a few rows, plus our cast-off. Those few rows are important, but brief! The remaining "meat" of our project is here today. I trust each of you decided either yes or no on the extra Chart A row sequence repeats. After looking over our chart today, you can make a final choice on that front.

Chart C is broken into three parts. You must cover each of the three chart sections on each row. In other words, work the first row of the Right Edge, Center and Left Edge. This will take you across one row. Do not forget that we are still following the Edge Charts also. Please note that we no longer have that pesky center stitch. It is gone... Also note that on row 155, you will find a double yarn-over on either side of the Center Chart section. That is not an error. On the return row (156) you will purl into the first yarn-over, and knit into the second one. Enjoy!

Once again, if you are new to the party, please take the time to review all previous posts with the American Beauty tag. We are way into our process, but there is always time for you to join us.

I need some feedback. There is one final instruction post (after today) for this project. After that final instruction post, I will post finished photos (your photos and mine!) I can either post our final instructions one week from today or wait until April first. I am going away, so even if I post the final instructions, I won't be around to field questions. Do any of you have a strong need to see the end before April first? Post a comment and let me know. Until then, knit on!

American Beauty, Take Four!

Happy Friday! We are continuing on with our American Beauty project. If you are new to the party, please begin at the beginning, by following the "American Beauty" tag (see labels listed on left edge.) As you can see from my picture, we have one more week of rose buds. Chart B3 is the same as B2, but for the repeats, so pay special attention. You will work Chart B3 once through. After you finish, you can go back to Chart A and add repeats of rows 27-42 for a larger final piece. Note the row repeat section and the pattern repeat section. I can't tell you how many PATTERN (not ROW) repeats to do because I don't know how many ROW repeats you will do, so you have to make that determination yourself. After Chart B3, without extra Chart A row repeats, we will have a total of about 29 more charted rows (this is about 60 more total rows because only odd numbered rows are charted, eh?) You can measure your piece (down the spine) and see how many yarn-overs to the inch you are getting down the spine. Each yarn-over will stand for one charted row (or two rows.) This should help you decide if you want to do any Chart A row repeats.

So here you have Chart B3, and have a nice week knitting. If you are still not sure about adding extra chart A row repeats by the time you finish Chart B3, add a life-line so you can come back later. It is always good to keep your options open! Until next week, knit on!