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September 17, 2005

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

OH.MY.GOD.
This is THE MOST GORGEOUS THING I HAVE EVER KNITTED.
Warning: There are A LOT of pictures. But you know what? I'm a photographer so pictures are my life. And I LOVE this freaking shawl so I'm going to brag. ETA: The pictures of me were taken by my superfantastic little sis, Samara. She's the REAL artist in the family.

Carole wanted to see it in full, all blocked out. Here you go!




And away we go! (Click on the pic to see it bigger.)

































Look at that lovely I-Cord edging!



Project Specs:
Diamond Fantasy Shawl by Sivia Harding
Twinkletoes Sock Yarn (Foggy Dew colorway) by Over the Rainbow Yarns
Addi Turbo's size US 5s
10 Pattern Repeats (Shawl Size)

I learned how to do an applied I-cord for the edging and I loved it. Will definitely use this again. Did my first spit join. The yarn is still a bit scratchy for me (Margene - I don't know who you use this for socks) but the fact that it is a stiffer, rougher yarn probably helped how well it blocked. I took out my FBS yesterday and it needs to be blocked again - the cotton didn't hold the points on the border. I love the color though - the muted variegation is perfect for the diamonds. The DFS pattern is a dream to knit. Easy to follow charts. I used stitch markers between the 12 stitch repeats and barely tinked at all. I would wholeheartedly recommend this pattern!!!! Thank you SIVIA!

Posted by Cara at September 17, 2005 06:58 PM
Topics: Diamond Fantasy Shawl

Comments

Cara, it is beautiful and looks wonderful on you. Fab photos. Tell G. I am impressed!

Posted by: Kathleen at September 17, 2005 07:20 PM

Wow--it's gorgeous! You have every right to be proud!

Posted by: Amy at September 17, 2005 07:20 PM

Wow, that is so beautiful! I'm going to have to knit another one in the shawl size. It's perfect! Thanks for all the photos too.

Posted by: Janet at September 17, 2005 07:33 PM

Absolutely beautiful! The photos are wonderful (great job, little sis!) and you LOOK like you love it!

Posted by: Vicki at September 17, 2005 07:48 PM

I love all the beautiful pictures you took! It really shows the beauty of the lace. The yarn holds up well on small needles and isn't as stiff in socks. It really does work for socks, realy, truly. But then that shawl is so spectacular!! I did break down and buy the pattern which arrived yesterday. I'm so tempted.
BTW, you look MARVELOUS!
;-)

Posted by: margene at September 17, 2005 08:07 PM

The shawl is so beautiful!!!!
Congratulations!

Posted by: DK Fillmer at September 17, 2005 08:24 PM

Beautiful shawl and beautiful photos! I like the size of that one much more than my FBS. So, is that the size as written in the Diamonds pattern, or did you add repeats, change gauge, anything like that? Congratulations, and I'm glad you love it.

Posted by: Norma at September 17, 2005 08:31 PM

This is absolutely beautiful. Great job! You've inspired me to try this pattern. I love the black and white photos, too!

Posted by: Heather at September 17, 2005 09:31 PM

Oooh, oooh, oooh, love it! It suits you very well.

Posted by: Toni at September 17, 2005 09:36 PM

Very, very lovely. An gorgeous photos to boot (of course). Great job, so happy this knit made you happy!

Posted by: PumpkinMama at September 17, 2005 09:47 PM

Ooh la la! Your shawl is magnificent and you look so elegant with it draped about you. I especially like the last three photos; they show the details so artistically.

Posted by: Karma at September 17, 2005 10:14 PM

It looks beautiful. You should be proud! (Isn't lace wonderful?)

Posted by: Deb at September 17, 2005 10:18 PM

I'm so happy for you! It is wonderful to have that feeling after working on something with your hands and using new techniques. It is truly lovely and you should be very proud.

Posted by: Teresa C at September 17, 2005 10:22 PM

Absolutely beautiful shawl. So airy and open.

Posted by: Ann at September 17, 2005 10:33 PM

Gorgeous! Followed you here from lace for all seasons, then followed your links to order the pattern, and the yarn in Cedarmoss.

Posted by: Janet at September 17, 2005 10:50 PM

Damn fine.

Posted by: stephanie at September 17, 2005 10:55 PM

I LOVE that freaking shawl too!
:)
xoxo

Posted by: sandy at September 17, 2005 11:03 PM

Yowsa. Think I'm changing my mind about diamonds, but they've got to be the big pretty kind, like this specimen of gorgeousness.

God, I can't get my jaw to close...

Posted by: Lee Ann at September 17, 2005 11:11 PM

bravissimo my darling ----- gorgeous work!

Posted by: ann at September 17, 2005 11:19 PM

did my comment take? did I not push the post button?

Posted by: ann at September 17, 2005 11:20 PM

it is simply stunning...you look fabulous!

Posted by: Michele at September 17, 2005 11:37 PM

Really lovely. Suits you, looks beautiful, and the photos are great.

Posted by: Terby at September 17, 2005 11:41 PM

Thanks for the, ummm, full frontal shot. It's as gorgeous as I thought it would be. Great photos, today. Love love love the shawl.

Posted by: Carole at September 17, 2005 11:47 PM

It's lovely!

Posted by: Marlene at September 18, 2005 12:03 AM

Isn't that I-chord cast off gorgeous? I just learned it myself on my corset pattern and I'm so impressed. Your shawl is beautiful. I'm jealous. :)

Posted by: Kimberly at September 18, 2005 12:54 AM

Cara it's beautiful! Just stunning. How many skeins of yarn did you use?

Posted by: Jo at September 18, 2005 01:16 AM

It is STUNNING -- congratulations! Did you end of using the second skein?

Posted by: Kathy at September 18, 2005 06:59 AM

Just beautiful! And beautiful pictures!

Posted by: Julia at September 18, 2005 09:02 AM

Cara! I have just one word for that shawl: holeyfreakinsmoley! OK and some others--beautiful beautiful beeyooteeful. It really is amazing. That pattern is just the sort of shawl pattern I love: unfussy and modern looking. Congratulations! Feel free to make one for me, OK?

Posted by: Ann at September 18, 2005 09:21 AM

Oh my gosh, it's truly beautiful! Great, great job. :)

Posted by: Annie at September 18, 2005 09:27 AM

Just gorgeous. Beautiful job, and it suits you wonderfully.

Now, seriously, I need some coaching on blocking. Can you tell me how you managed to block it out so evenly. I just re-blocked mine and I kept having to re-do my pins and finally I just gave up. It came out fine, but I would like to do a better job with it. I'm also borderline-retarded when it comes to spatial intelligence, so there's that. But did you pin the top and bottom points and then pin the side points from the top down, alternating? I did bottom up and that got me into all kinds of trouble.

Anyway, wear it with pride--you deserve it!

Posted by: mamacate at September 18, 2005 09:59 AM

wow, the shawl is gorgeous. the color, the lace and the photos are all equally beautiful.

Posted by: blossom at September 18, 2005 10:35 AM

Gorgeous, Cara - just gorgeous!

Posted by: elisa at September 18, 2005 12:51 PM

Beautiful shawl ! Great pics.
Fab !

Posted by: Emma at September 18, 2005 06:17 PM

beeauutifulll..stunning..
because of yours,I ordered the pattern.
if only it turns out half as good as yours..
Joan in So.Wi.

Posted by: joan at September 18, 2005 06:43 PM

So very pretty! The colourway really suits the shawl design. You should be very proud! Good job!!

Posted by: Tiffany at September 18, 2005 08:37 PM

That looks great on you. Love the closeup I-cord picture.

Posted by: claudia at September 18, 2005 09:14 PM

It's gorgeous! I love the photos with the light shing through.

Posted by: Melanie at September 19, 2005 12:06 AM

Beautiful, simply beautiful!!

Posted by: Jackie at September 19, 2005 07:48 AM

Cara, it's GORGEOUS! Love the color, love the shawl. And you look fabulous in those pictures!

Posted by: Carrie at September 19, 2005 09:00 AM

I just love those pictures on the beach! such a great shawl, Cara!

Posted by: Lolly at September 19, 2005 09:01 AM

See, I've been holding off on this pattern. And you are breaking me down, here.

Looks lovely on you, C.

Posted by: Juno at September 19, 2005 09:21 AM

Omg, Cara, it's gorgeous! And I love, love, love your edging. I don't believe I've seen that edging before, but it's prettier than a plain diamond. Good choice with a subtle variegation for the yarn.

Posted by: MJ at September 19, 2005 03:29 PM

a day late and a dollar short but it's BEAUTIFUL! it's stunning how the stitches really popped with blocking. (now I have high hopes that when I (someday) get around to knitting a shawl I'll be able to find a yarn that has such subtle color variations like yours did!)

(and on todays post: if I ever do anything huge that needs a photo, you're the first person I'll call. Honest.)

Posted by: Kristen at September 19, 2005 10:13 PM

Well, I'm two days late, but....... wow!

And just think, not so long ago you weren't even sure if you were a shawl kinda girl.

Gorgeous work, it looks great on you!

Posted by: Cassie at September 20, 2005 07:29 AM

LOVELY! Just like your FBS! What size did you knit?

Posted by: Angela at September 26, 2005 01:00 PM