knits, notes, etc.

OMG, I think I've sat on this FO post long enough. There's quite a bit that I want to write about that I've put on hold just because I didn't want to forget about this project, so here goes:

Retro Redux shrug, front close-up

Pattern Retro Redux shrug, by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark.
Source Lace Style, by P. Allen and A. Budd.
Yarn Malabrigo Worsted Merino, #606 Frost Gray, 2 skeins.
Needles Sizes 8 (5 mm), 9 (5.5 mm), 10 (6.0 mm), and 10.5 (6.5 mm).
Start-to-end Feb 24, 2008 - Mar 10, 2008.
Modifications I knitted the second size but added length to the sleeves because I wanted the ribbing to fall just below my elbows. I used a sewn bind-off because I wanted the ends to match. I picked up stitches equal to the number for the next size up (it just worked out that way) and added more short-rows for a wider shawl collar and to use up as much yarn as I could. It really worked out perfectly.

After seeing Craftoholic's lovely version of this shrug, I immediately tagged my two skeins of Malabrigo, that I had bought at Loop (Philadelphia, PA) last year, for this project. Of course, it wasn't until much later that I actually casted-on. I had a couple of false starts, like knitting too small a size and then knitting the lace completely wrong, but once those issues were corrected, this project just flew. Also, seeing Kerri's post about her shrug really motivated me to continue and put more thought into the fit of the garment.

Retro Redux shrug, back close-up

These pictures were taken while in my hotel room in Boston last week. I've worn it a couple of times (though, I actually haven't blocked it yet!) and I love it. I think it fits pretty well (considering its unblocked state). The sleeves are exactly the length I wanted. Though, I do need to block it and hope that the back stretches down a bit more, since I did want it to be just a little longer down my back.

The yarn is lovely, I don't know how else to describe it. The color, #606 Frost Gray, contains variations on lavender (light to dark) and white. For some reason, I've been drawn to the purple-ish colors lately. I actually have a tiny bit left over... A crocheted flower to pin on the shrug? (Updated 3/22/2008: I added a flower.)

And because, I was so inordinately pleased with this small accomplishment, here's a picture of the beginning and end of the shrug.

Cast-on. Cast-off. Can you tell the difference?