Thursday, July 17, 2014

The Olive Twist Shawl in gray

I have been talking a lot about my love for the Olive Twist Shawl by my lovely friend Sue Perez, in the Summer 2014 addition of Love of Crochet magazine.  Remember I made the whole shawl incorrectly at first because I am a bit daft and did not read the instructions correctly.  Every odd row there is an  increase in the middle of the shawl.  Now mind you the directions are right there, plain and simple, but apparently my mind was not there.  It was well worth frogging and starting over.  This is one of the most beautiful shawls I have ever made, and believe me I have made a few.  Remember my Elise Shawl obsession.  I made five of them for friends and I loved every stitch, but this shawl, OH MY!!!!!!  Here take a peek for yourself.






Really I can not say enough about this brilliant pattern by Sue.  I think this is by far one of the loveliest things I have ever made.  And even though I am trying to be stern with myself about completing a pink sweater or two, I just want to grab my hook and some yarn and start this pattern again.  My mind keeps wandering to how it might look in another yarn, maybe a slightly variegated yarn, nothing with too much color change.  Okay Meredith, snap out of it and get one of those Berroco sweaters finished!


I used three hanks of Canyon Mountain Top yarn by Classic Elite Yarns (from stash, thank you very much).  It is made from 85% pima cotton and 15% alpaca, and it is GORGEOUS to work with.  Smooth and soft, the yarn just flows over your hook and hands.  This is all I have left of my 450 yards, this teeny, tiny amount.  I actually did an extra hdc border along the top of the shawl to use up as much of this lovely yarn as I could, and I made the shawl a wee bit bigger.  You hardly notice the difference and it used up almost every inch of yarn.  I also used a size I crochet hook to complete the project.  It blocked beautifully with a steam iron.  This one is for me to add to my incredibly increasing shawl collection.  You see I love to make shawls but rarely wear them.  What is up with that?  This beauty is a keeper.  I intend to break the lack of shawl wearing cycle, and wrap it around my neck just as soon as I can wrestle it off Caroline the Dress Form, she is quite enchanted with it.

I hope you run as fast as you can to the nearest store to buy a copy of this magazine so you too can get busy on this shawl.  Sue of Mr Micawber's Recipe for Happiness also has another pattern in that very same magazine, the Honeydew Scarf.  Can you even imagine being that talented?  I fully admit I am not a designer, a great design follower maybe, but a designer, no.  Well done Sue, you are amazing.  Okay, I will stop gushing now.
 

This lovely lady and I almost ran into each other on my walk early Sunday morning.  I rounded the corner and almost walked smack dab into her.  She was as startled to see me as I as to see her.  Maybe she was so engrossed in eating leaves and grass she did not hear my footsteps.  She looked at me, and I slowly backed away from her so she would not get spooked.  I took out my phone and took this picture of her.  Then I looked down and made a wide circle around her so she did not feel threatened. She was gone upon my return, isn't she just gorgeous?  The deer we have in Florida are smaller than what you would normally think of, but they still seem to eat a ton, especially all of my flowers.  Oh well, I am just glad that in this very busy area I live in, I get to see this.  Thank you lovely deer.

Hope you are having a great day.

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lovely to see you out walking and what a treat to find your self sharing your steps with such a beautiful creature.... As for the shawl. It is awesom but I could never follow a pattern to that degree. I hope you are feeling reenergised and refreshed xx

Anonymous said...

That shawl is just gorgeous. It looks so elegant.

Okay ...I have to say. I am NOT enamored of the deer this year. Apparently they had just a wonderful time in our garden last night. :-( They made a mess of the pepper plants. Thing is .....they don't EAT the peppers, but they destroy the plant so the peppers end up dying.

Sooooooo...my afternoon was spent hauling the pepper pots to the porch. Hopefully, they will do okay there.

I will admit though....you picture is great!

Lucie said...

Magnifique! j'avais bien hâte de voir le résultat.
gorgeous! I can not wait to see the result!

kathyinozarks said...

Meredith I really love your shawl too-beautiful lacy pattern-sometimes when a pattern is fresh in your pattern-good time to repeat it-thinking of doing that with my weaving pattern that I love-as I just got the "hang" of it good and it was done-lol
I so enjoy viewing our wildlife too-our deer ate all my lilies-not a one left-they do love flowers

mamasmercantile said...

Wow, I have fallen in love, that shawl is a real delight in every way a real feast for the eyes.

CJ said...

The shawl is truly lovely, and you've done a wonderful job of it. The yarn is beautiful, but you're right, it would be interesting to see what it would look like in say, a couple of other ones... Love the deer picture, well done for managing to snap it. I hope you guys all have a good weekend. CJ xx

Home Meadows said...

Your shawl is lovely and the stitch is very unique. Sounds like you really enjoyed working on it. I saw a deer on my walk this morning. It's fun to see nature up close. Have a wonderful evening. Heather

Mrs. C said...

Hi Meredith! Your shawl is beautiful! I attempted the pattern last week but kept screwing up the twist and stopped in frustration and the lack of the ability to concentrate! I am definitely giving it another go! It's such a pretty pattern! :)

Bridget said...

Oh that shawl is absolutely lovely! Wear it in good health!

Gracie Saylor said...

Sue is gifted! Not only are her patterns and tutorials lovely, but she takes wonderful photos as well, has a good sense of humor, and is a wonderfully caring and interesting person who I am enjoying knowing through her blog. I am so glad you introduced her talent to others in this post. The shawl you made is truly elegant, Meredith. Please hug yourself in it and enjoy it! xx ps The photo you snapped of the deer is dear :)

Betsy said...

Beautiful-the shawl and the deer. :-). I've been watching for that magazine but haven't found it around here lately. I'll have to keep watching I guess. Your shawl is amazingly gorgeous. Caroline seems to really like it too so you may have a battle on your hands to get it off of her.
Blessings,
Betsy

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Meredith what a gorgeous shawl. I'm definitely going to buy that magazine! I love it in that color! What's your next color? xoRobin

Acorn to Oak said...

This shawl is gorgeous! I love the pattern and you did a wonderful job! I've added it to my faves in Ravelry and my queue. Now, to find the magazine! I can't wait to make one!

Chris said...

Meredith your shawl is beautiful ! I love the colour and the yarn looks so nice . I think I had better learn to crochet! I have knit lots of shawls but seldom wear them too. I think one just has to get in the habit of doing it. It's funny isn't it? We have a lot of Bambi's in our neighbourhood and they are snacking on the flowers and veggies. They have become urban dwellers now. Have a good weekend ! Chris

Neighborhood Watch said...

That is a fabulous shawl! I will have to put it in my ever growing "to make" list.
I love to make shawls too, though don't really wear them that often.

Jennifer Hays said...

Your shawl is so beautiful! You get so much done with a toddler around, I'm really impressed. I don't think I knew there were deer in FL but how silly of me, of course there would be. You got a great photo of her!

Suzan said...

Lovely shawl and awesome deer!

Taci simmons said...

Wow my dear friend .... This is a gorgeous... I mean... GORGEOUS shawl. You are so very talented and I'm going to visit sue's blog and see her patterns.
We also have so many deers around here where we live. She is so very cute... I love when I see one of them in person... Nature is so beautiful .
Hope you have a wonderful weekend my dear friend :)

Teresa Kasner said...

Hi Mere.. that shawl is SO beautiful! Caroline the dress form looks positively stunning with it on.. I'd love to see it on your gorgeous model's form. :-) I have 2 shawl WIPs.. must finish them. Love the pretty doe.. sweet. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Jo said...

AAAGGGHHH! Something else to add to my list! It is beautiful Meredith particularly because I am a teeny bit in love with grey at the moment. Jo x

Amy at love made my home said...

Your shawl is beautiful and I love how you made sure that you used as much of the yarn as you possibly could!! Caroline looks as though she is very happy wearing it until you are ready to take it out and show it off! xx

gaia said...

Such a lovely shawl! Great colour too...

Joy said...

Dear Meredith, that shawl is the most beautiful thing, and the colour is wonderful for it - well, yes, you may fancy making one in a different colour and it would be beautiful too but this one would go well with everything and just looks PERFECT!
How delightful to come face to face with that beautiful creature, she really is a delight; I certainly wouldn't want to get up close and comfortable with one of our kangaroos!!!
Enjoy your weekend lovely,
Blessings and hugs, Joyxo

millefeuilles said...

Hello dear Meredith!

I am not a crochet (yet) but I can still recognise a fabulous shawl when I see one. And that shawl, the combination of Sue's (we all love her, right?) pattern artistry and your beautiful execution is stunning! I can imagine how much you would like to make several...

What a pity one needs to sleep. All those 'wasted' hours!

Stephanie

Vera said...

Gorgeous shawl Meredith! I'm tempted to learn to crochet, but I'm sure it would take FOREVER to master a pattern like that! And, too, I have so many other projects/things in the "works." Sweet little deer. Love them even though they do damage to gardens.

kristieinbc said...

The shawl is stunning, Meredith! I think you should immediately cast on for another one. I know, I'm an enabler. Ha!

Jay said...

Glad you got out for a walk in the fresh air :-)
The shawl is stunning, I'm a great fan of shawls and pashminas.
Love the little visitor too, we have a lot of Muntjac deer here in the east of England.

Lynne said...

This is beautiful Meredith. I just pinned it to my crochet board. I hope they have that magazine at Joann's, because I'm going there today.
Have a great weekend!
Lynne

Ana BC said...

your shawl is SO lovely, Meredith :-)

kathy b said...

Oh uh. Her ears are down and she looks defensive. Glad you paths crossed safely!!

elns said...

I remember the Elise shawl obsession! They were beautiful as is this Olive Twist :)

Caffeine Girl said...

That is a beautiful shawl. I know that feeling of wanting to try a pattern with a different yarn, and I've succumbed to it more than once -- not that there's anything wrong with that.

Deer are everywhere, aren't they? I've seen them in Washington, D.C., and Berkeley, CA -- always eating people's gardens!

Susanne Tyree said...

Oh my, oh my, why do I have this feeling that there is going to be more shawls, not only on your blog pages but on mine. Now you have gone and done it, darn it, I want to stop the presses and get outta town and find that pattern!!!!!!
LOVELY!!!!
(((HUGS))) Susanne :)

moonstruckcreations said...

This is absolutely stunning Meredith, no wonder you love it so much! I don't think we can get that magazine here in the UK. I have to say that the US crochet magazines look so much better than those we get here, which tend to have patterns I wouldn't really use.

Helenxx

Kaiya said...

Beautiful shawl! Isn't it a great feeling to use up almost all of a beautiful yarn on a beautiful project? I also have a problem with actually remembering to wear shawls once I've made one - I think I need to knit more "everyday" shawls.

Claudia said...

Beautiful, my sister. As is everything you make. xo

forgetmenotsblue said...

Ooo your Oliver Twist shawl is so lovely! I love the name too. The grey really suits to pretty stitches x

pembrokeshire lass said...

I love your blog. Sorry I don't always comment! Your shawls are so beautiful. I just don't know how you have the time to make all of them.....your busy life and a young family! Thanks anyway for taking the time to share them with us. Joan

Carla from The River said...

Wow! I love your shawl and I really like how it wears with a necklace too. I never think to wear a necklace with a shawl, but I like it. Thank you for posting your work and creativity. It is always fun to see.
Have a great week.
Carla

byhooks4u said...

You know I don't make a break from thread too very often..but I think this may be one project I am going to have to do..beautiful.

Gillian Roe said...

Now that is seriously gorgeous. I love the colour SO much. Stunning. x

Unknown said...

I love it and must give it a try!

EMMA said...

Beautiful shawl, love the color.

Lucie said...

Votre châle est magnifique! Bravo!!
Un "must" pour l'été!
Lucie x

Sue Pinner said...

Hi , long time no speak, so sorry, been so busy, but a light has appeared at the end of the tunnel.
Stunning shawl , really love the colour and yarn.
Hugs x

The Bookworm said...

The shawl is lovely!

Jill at emeraldcottage said...

lo-ooo-ooove the shawl, have the perfect yarn, remind me I like this someone please lol
Jillxo

Judy S. said...

Fabulous shawl, Mere, and from your stash no less! Nice deer photo; we saw a mama moose and her baby on Tuesday as we were heading back to Denver!

Little Welsh House said...

The shawl is just gorgeous! I can see why you are in love with it - and so glad you have had time to make such a gorgeous treat for yourself. And your photo of the doe is absolutely lovely- what a wonderful encounter. H xxx

Mrs. Micawber said...

Oh my gosh, how did I miss this post? You are too kind, dear Mere - and I have to say the shawl looks really good!!! :) I like the length and the drape on yours - if I ever made another I would definitely add some rows to make it bigger.

I am not a shawl wearer either, but I wore the original Olive Twist at the CGOA conference and actually enjoyed it. Perhaps we'll both change our minds on this one.... :)