More finished stuff

After I don't know how many years, I finally finished the Truly Tasha's Shawl.  I used all but about six inches of the dark purple Ballybrae yarn, and not quite one skein of the light purple.  The body of the shawl was the long slog... but the edging wasn't too bad once I memorized the pattern.

When I finished the darker body of this shawl, I tried it on... and found that it was going to be too small for me.  Somehow I forgot that I have wide shoulders, as if they suddenly just appeared out of nowhere.  It was as if I had never had problems finding sweaters and blouses that would fit across them, even when I was a Slim Young Thing.  Right.

So I put it aside for a few months.  Then, the Emperor and I found ourselves in need of a trip to Seattle, and I thought that my Dear Aunt might like this.  Once I had a deadline, the edging seemed to fly right by.  It was finished with plenty of time to spare, and Dear Aunt loved it.

If I were going to do this again (and I might), I'd probably use a heavier yarn and slightly larger needles.  I'd also count on this being one of those work-on-it-forever kinds of projects.  If I start one now, by the time I'm ready to retire and start pottering around in my craft workshop, I should be about finished with it... that gives me about twenty years.

Meanwhile, my attention has been drawn by the next shiny object.  I had been working on the Mythos Cardigan, but realized that my desire for it was born from my wish to look like the model that was wearing the original.  I looked on Ravelry, the great lifesaver, and saw what Mythos looked like on all kinds of bodies.  Reality set in.  Frogging commenced.

It was then that I realized that the yarn I had chosen for Mythos -- Berrocco Ultra Alpaca Fine, a heathered fingering-weight yarn with a light alpaca halo, in a nice russet brown -- would be perfect for the Dahlia Cardigan featured in Interweave Knits (Fall 2011).  I already have one of those hangy-down front cardigans in black, and it looks pretty good on me.  Subsequently, the Dahlia Cardi should look nice, too.  Plus those linebacker shoulders will show off the lace panel on the back -- no slouching there!  I started a swatch this morning and it looks like I'm going to get gauge with the recommended needles, but I'll save judgement until I've got a nice hunk of fabric and have washed it.

Next up: the Ubiquitous Windmill Bag.