The birch has landed.
Pattern: Sharon Miller, Rowan #34.
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Haze, color 596, Marmalade - 2.5 balls or a little less.
Needles: 4mm/6 US, Aero circs
For the Claudia pose, click HERE .
These pictures show the birch hot off the needles - unblocked. I'm not sure if there's going to be any real blocking of this shawl. I like the size that it is pre-blocking. I may just steam/spray it to get the edges to flatten out a bit.
This is a very easy knit, and would make a great beginner lace project.
For anyone who asked, "the other bird" in Saturday's post is Moe (like one of the Three Stooges). He's a nine year old budgie who has lived with us for almost all of his life. He rarely stands still for a photograph, so there are fewer pictures of him than there are of Alice.
Next up on the needles? Remains to be seen. I've already started a sock from the sock yarn I bought on Thursday. I have plenty of UFOs to choose from, and then there's the Leaf Lace shawl, as enabled by Cari. Big needles. Big yarn. Small shawl. A seductively wearable finished object....
Oh, Cassie! Birch is beautiful!
I wonder if that is it's siren song I am hearing.
Nah! Can't be! :)
It is gorgeous against your white dress!
Posted by: sandy | 27 June 2005 at 07:07 AM
For all that birching, it is a beautiful piece of work. (Although I can't imagine posing with it in yesterday's heat.) I vote for Leaf Lace. You can lead the way.
Posted by: Laurie | 27 June 2005 at 07:33 AM
It looks beautiful! I say Leaf Lace, since I've googled that GEMS yarn about a hundred times this weekend.
Posted by: Cara | 27 June 2005 at 07:53 AM
Birch is beautiful, Cassie. And the color is fabulous.
You're looking for a new project? Did you finish the sw____r while I was gone!
Posted by: susan | 27 June 2005 at 07:55 AM
oh darn.... another project on the list. Birch is beautiful!!
Posted by: Judy | 27 June 2005 at 07:57 AM
Very pretty. Mine is still resting in the closet.
Posted by: Kathleen | 27 June 2005 at 07:58 AM
I love it! You have joined the Birch club!
Posted by: Teresa C | 27 June 2005 at 07:59 AM
Susan better duck! LOL
Birch is beautiful and the color is very rich. O la la, you look marvelous with her. Go with Leaf Lace. It's easy knitting, too and just the thing for the endless summer of lace.
Posted by: margene | 27 June 2005 at 08:00 AM
BEAUTIFUL!! Enjoy wearing it!
Posted by: Jackie | 27 June 2005 at 08:03 AM
It's so beautiful, wear it proudly.
Posted by: Nancy | 27 June 2005 at 08:19 AM
Cassie...it is lovely!!! How quickly you worked right thru Birch, I am impressed! I have to order my book, so hopefully by the time it gets here, the smoke ring will be finished and I can get right too it too :-).
The lace leaf is a nice choice.......very pretty!
Posted by: Kim | 27 June 2005 at 08:20 AM
Beautimous!
Posted by: Stacie | 27 June 2005 at 08:28 AM
Very nice. And I've found a good alternative use for self-striping sock yarn -- the Pine Cone Scarf (in the same issue of IK that the nattrojer is in) uses doubled sock-weight yarn. I used some self-striping stuff from the stash. The two strands were not quite at the same place when I started so although the stripes are obvious the changes are not too sharp.
that Leaf Lace shawl looks nice, too. One can't be knitting sweaters in this heat. That would involve having a large chunk of knitted wool sitting on your lap getting you too hot. There will be plenty of time for sweater UFOs in the fall.
Posted by: Jo in Ottawa | 27 June 2005 at 08:40 AM
Ahhhhh. Gorgeous. Or should I say GOWAHJUS!
Must. Cast. On.
So, does this mean no more birching from you? I hope not.
Posted by: mamacate | 27 June 2005 at 08:50 AM
Just perfect! Is that "The Claudia"? How'd I miss that?
Posted by: Norma | 27 June 2005 at 08:56 AM
Just beautiful. The color is unusual and perfect. Nice job!
Posted by: Julie | 27 June 2005 at 08:58 AM
Birch looks great, Cassie. Orange is a great color on you.
Posted by: Liz | 27 June 2005 at 09:03 AM
I LOVE your lily-white arms in this photograph...it is such an English garden thing.
Posted by: Johanna | 27 June 2005 at 09:20 AM
So vivid, so vibrant! Lovely, lovely wrap.
Posted by: mindy | 27 June 2005 at 09:20 AM
Absolutely lovely Cassie - the color really suits you.
Posted by: Jessica | 27 June 2005 at 09:33 AM
Yep. That's beautiful!
And, I never blocked mine, either--I kind of liked it the way it was.
Posted by: Deb | 27 June 2005 at 09:42 AM
I HIGHLY recommend knitting the Leaf Lace shawl. Perhaps that's because I'm almost finished with mine! I just started the edging rows yesterday at work, and I am so happy with how it is coming out. I started it last summer and then put it down for a good 9 months, but picked it up again 3 weeks ago and I've been on a mad dash to finish it. It is a beautiful knit, and easy to follow the pattern without being too easy. I'm using Koigu for it, and its just gorgeous! I should post some pictures of it soon... I have a personal deadline of Thursday though I'm not sure that's going to happen. I hope you make it as I'd love to see someone as skilled as you do it!
Posted by: Megann | 27 June 2005 at 09:42 AM
That is GORGEOUS. Congratulations!
Posted by: Em | 27 June 2005 at 09:54 AM
You finished! Oh my heavens! That was *fast*.
It's beautiful. The color, the size, the peekaboo pose, all of it.
What will you use for the Leaf Lace shawl? I have some Mountain Colors alpaca blend stashed away for that project, in the color Rosehip. Someday...
Posted by: Beth S. | 27 June 2005 at 09:54 AM
beautiful beautiful beautiful
(my marmalade ksh is now making hissing noises at me from the stash. thanks for that)
Posted by: cari | 27 June 2005 at 10:16 AM