Fire Flowers and Leaves Shawl
"Sumptuous" might be the best word. The deep, saturated color, the luster and cool, dry hand of the silk, the undulating, organic mosaic all those tiny repeating stitches built into - beautiful.
I'm so glad I finally have this up (stupid firewire cable!). No Olympic medal for me - the knitting was done late Sunday night, and dressing didn't happen till Monday - but it still feels like quite a feat to have done this in 16 days. In the last couple days, I was knitting a repeat of edging in line at the post office, a few stitches at crosswalks, and standing up at the stove, waiting for butter to bubble.
The endless repetition of the pattern - Sisyphean knitting if there ever was any - shows off all the subtle highs and lows of color in the yarn wonderfully, though a truly solid color without sheen might have made for a rather flat-looking shawl. As it is, the leaves and petals have dimension I wouldn't have expected - wearing this shawl is like standing in a deep, still pool of color with mysterious activity under the surface. Sundara, a.k.a. Purly White, a.k.a. The Secret Dyer, does astonishing work.
Pattern: Frost Flowers and Leaves, by Eugen Beugler for A Gathering Of Lace
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Silk Lace, custom-dyed
Yardage: Approximately 3,000 yds
Yarn Source: Sundara Yarn
Needles: 2.00 mm (US0) Addi Turbo circular, Crystal Palace bamboo circular, Inox Grey circular
Gauge: ?? 42" square
Modifications: Worked on US0 needles instead of US6 needles called for
Comments
Looks great! I kept checking back for pics of this one. I love the color you chose.
Posted by: Kristi | March 1, 2006 06:03 PM
Lovely! 3000 yards!! I've already placed an order with Sundara Yarn--I have a feeling she'll be deluged in the near future.
Posted by: Angela | March 1, 2006 06:14 PM
Absolutely stunning!!
Posted by: Joanne | March 1, 2006 06:14 PM
It is simply gorgeous! I love that colour...beautiful.
Posted by: Carolyn | March 1, 2006 06:19 PM
Beautiful color and pattern. I hope you get a lot of use.
Posted by: Rosa | March 1, 2006 06:22 PM
Very pretty! I love the color.!
Posted by: Amy | March 1, 2006 06:23 PM
Breathtaking. Gorgeous. Just...wow.
Looks like all that tedium was worth it in the end (as with so many things in life, really).
Posted by: Cara | March 1, 2006 06:25 PM
It's lovely! Are you happy with the size? Also, despite it being your mom's color, don't let her bogart this one! :)
Posted by: Laura | March 1, 2006 06:27 PM
Good job with the 16 days! Did I read that right? You used 0s instead of 6s? In 16 days?? o_O
Posted by: mimsie | March 1, 2006 06:32 PM
GORGEOUS! And the shawl is quite nice, too. :P
All kidding aside, that yarn is bee-yoo-tee-fool. I might need to get my hands on that stuff.
Posted by: Sandra | March 1, 2006 06:32 PM
absolutely stunning.
Posted by: carrie m | March 1, 2006 06:37 PM
Beautiful! And, oh, that color is just gorgeous. (Sorry about the drool on your monitor....)
Posted by: --Deb | March 1, 2006 06:39 PM
Soooo lovely! I was eager to see the shawl blocked. It looks just as awesome as I expected!
Posted by: Mari | March 1, 2006 06:43 PM
Beautiful! A great example of yarn and pattern bringing out the best in each other.
Posted by: Mary | March 1, 2006 06:43 PM
Wow! So beautiful... Way to go, Eunny! And fun to have the Secret Dyer revealed today.
Posted by: Chris | March 1, 2006 06:44 PM
Stunning! Takes the breath away!
Posted by: Melissa | March 1, 2006 06:47 PM
Wow! What a gorgeous color. What a gorgeous shawl! :)
Posted by: Rosemary | March 1, 2006 07:00 PM
Your shawl is just fabulous. And the photo with you and your shawl is even more beautiful! I love the contrast of the bare trees with the rich red of the silk yarn. Great job!
Posted by: Robin | March 1, 2006 07:15 PM
Your shawl is gorgeous! Enjoy wearing it!
Posted by: grumperina | March 1, 2006 07:21 PM
beautiful! how huge would this have been if you'd done it on 6s??
Posted by: insaknitty | March 1, 2006 07:37 PM
That's remarkable. For the love of god. Take the medal.
Posted by: Stephanie | March 1, 2006 07:40 PM
WOW!!!! Gorgeous
Posted by: Cathy | March 1, 2006 07:48 PM
Gorgeous! I love the compact size of it.
Posted by: Cookie | March 1, 2006 07:56 PM
Oh wow. Oh wow. Its even more beautiful than I imagined.
Posted by: nikki | March 1, 2006 07:59 PM
Spectacular! I am dyeing silk now for another shawl, this time using the Russian join. But, 3000 yds.?? I guess I'll go back to the drawing board.
Congradulations on a wonderful project.
Posted by: Judy | March 1, 2006 08:05 PM
Wow, I'm SO impressed!!! You've taken about 1/256 of the time I have, and I'm not even to the 30% complete mark....
It's absolutely gorgeous!! I know exactly what you mean about vareigated yarn--I'm going to overdye my shawl (when I finally manage to finish it) so that you can see the pattern and not the yarn....
Congratulations!!!!
Posted by: Kat | March 1, 2006 08:06 PM
Oh, so breathtaking! You are amazing. I'm so happy you are pleased with it, enjoyed the yarn and everything! Awesome!
Posted by: Purly Whites | March 1, 2006 08:18 PM
Oh, my goodness, that's beautiful. I am at a loss for words.
Posted by: naomi | March 1, 2006 08:27 PM
Stunning! It is a work of art!
Posted by: Kristy | March 1, 2006 08:32 PM
It is amazing-the color is so rich and wonderful. I think it deserves a medal:) Enjoy wearing it and receiving all the compliments.
Posted by: Jeanie | March 1, 2006 08:46 PM
You set a goal and achieved greatness...a "true" Olympian in my eyes Eunny...
Your shawl turned out beautiful!! I can't believe that you finished it so FAST!! It's simply stunning! Can't wait to see what your next project will be...
Happy Knitting!
Posted by: Debbie | March 1, 2006 08:52 PM
I love that color on you and you are so right, the yarn really makes the pattern come alive. Enjoy it!
Posted by: yahaira | March 1, 2006 08:53 PM
Simply gorgeous!!
Posted by: eyeleen | March 1, 2006 09:12 PM
It is simply stunning. I am in awe of your work!
Posted by: Jess | March 1, 2006 09:25 PM
this is so beautiful!!!!!
Posted by: jen | March 1, 2006 09:53 PM
Speechless here. (This is rare.)
Wear it always. xox Kay
Posted by: Kay | March 1, 2006 10:04 PM
That is beautiful!
Posted by: Scout | March 1, 2006 11:23 PM
Fabulous color! Now we know where you got the yarn and can go get some for ourselves! I really like the photo of it on you outside. The colors and composition are wonderful.
Posted by: Jessica | March 1, 2006 11:34 PM
Your shawl is absolutely stunning!! Such a gorgeous color and the sheen of the silk is beautiful. Amazing job!!
Posted by: chris | March 2, 2006 01:13 AM
Oh my heavens, Eunny!!! That shawl is amazing. Truly Stunning. I say, when you account for the time difference and everything else, you are most certainly a knitting Olympics medalist - you get Gold, Silver and Bronze. Amazing work!
Posted by: Kristy | March 2, 2006 01:22 AM
absolutely stunning!! just stunning!
Posted by: jacqueline | March 2, 2006 01:47 AM
amazing!
Posted by: Julia | March 2, 2006 03:05 AM
Wow, that is really amazing, the shawl, the color and the remarkable speed of your knitting! Congrats!
Posted by: Katja | March 2, 2006 04:22 AM
Magnificent! What a gorgeous job: you truly are Gold Medal worthy.
And thanks for letting us know about your Secret Source.... no secret any more, I just ordered some yarn from her!
Posted by: beebs | March 2, 2006 06:43 AM
Beautiful! Just beautiful!
Posted by: Lene | March 2, 2006 06:52 AM
Gorgeous, as your projects always are. Can't wait to see what you're cooking up next.
Btw, I'm itching to try your Deep V Vest, but my yarn is on backorder :-( The pattern taunts me every day.... I'm so excited!
Posted by: Kelly | March 2, 2006 07:39 AM
Very beautiful! I love the photo of you amongst the trees.
Posted by: Katarina | March 2, 2006 07:59 AM
Amazing! The color, the drape - just lovely!
Posted by: Jackie | March 2, 2006 08:12 AM
Your lace knitting is truly, truly magnificent. And I get great pleasure out of your rich and careful word choice - "undulating, organic mosaic" - lovely!
Posted by: hlb | March 2, 2006 08:33 AM
gorgeous pictures with an even more gorgeous shawl. i love it. and will definitely keep purly in mind when the next time i need yarn. any kind of yarns.
Posted by: blossom | March 2, 2006 08:56 AM
Deep silence landed here in Oulu - once again just breathtaking result. Thanks for sharing it with us and for your just a nice way of writing.
Posted by: Leena | March 2, 2006 09:15 AM
Simply. Stunning.
Posted by: Teresa | March 2, 2006 09:33 AM
Fabulous. I absolutely love it. And it's so amazing you knit it in 16 days.
Posted by: Stephanie | March 2, 2006 10:18 AM
Stunning. What inspired the use of size 0 needles instead of size 6? Also, I see many square shawls. Is there any particular reason to knit the square rather than just two triangles?
Posted by: catherine | March 2, 2006 10:30 AM
breathtaking... and on US0s! holy moley! i'm surprised it didn't take you two years! you deserve that gold medal anyway :)
Posted by: gleek | March 2, 2006 10:42 AM
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Congratulations on a magnificent project. Have a wonderful time swishing around in that thing!
Posted by: Ann | March 2, 2006 10:49 AM
I'm just in awe, that color is soooooo pretty. You earned a metal in my books ;)
Wish I could knit like you!
Posted by: Kitty | March 2, 2006 11:14 AM
Your shawl is gorgeous!!
Congratulations!
Regards from Buenos Aires
Posted by: Gabriela | March 2, 2006 11:21 AM
OMG. It is so beautiful. So beautiful. I am in awe.
Posted by: Jennifer | March 2, 2006 11:28 AM
The yarn, the shawl, the photos...just breathtaking. You deserve GOLD!
Posted by: margene | March 2, 2006 11:55 AM
I am sooooo coveting that shawl.
One word--Spectacular.
Posted by: Diane | March 2, 2006 12:19 PM
It's magnificent.
Posted by: Beth S. | March 2, 2006 12:34 PM
So beautiful. You did a fantastic job, absolutely fantastic!
Posted by: Anonymous | March 2, 2006 12:47 PM
YAY, the secret dyer isn't secret anymore! I'm bookmarking her.
That is one incredible shawl. I'm seriously envious.
Posted by: Carrie | March 2, 2006 12:49 PM
So breathtaking and absolutely beautiful. I have been checking often for a photo. Man - you are talented! I so love this blog!!
Posted by: Liz L. | March 2, 2006 01:18 PM
Your shawl is beautiful. I've been wanting to make that shawl since I first set eyes on that book, but yours is a variation that goes beyond what I would have imagined.
Posted by: Julie | March 2, 2006 01:23 PM
Three thousand yards? Really? Did you use it doubled?
It's mindblowingly beautiful in any case.
Posted by: Marie | March 2, 2006 03:13 PM
That's a beautiful shawl, and nice color.
Posted by: Carin | March 2, 2006 04:47 PM
Like, wow.
Posted by: Kathy | March 2, 2006 05:59 PM
Very very pretty. You really do a good job making the projects look so enticing from your starting yarn shot to your FO "studio" shot.
BTW. why did you go down to size 0 needles?
Posted by: loopylu | March 2, 2006 07:03 PM
I know it's boring to say the same thing everyone else has already said, but I couldn't help myself--that shawl is stunning--and the fact that you completed it in 16 days is beyond my understanding.
Great work!
--Judy
Posted by: Judy | March 2, 2006 07:31 PM
At the risk of overuse -- absolutely breathtaking!
Posted by: Gina | March 2, 2006 08:34 PM
0s?!? If it wasn't so extraordinary, I'd say you were insane. ;-) Inspiring. Beyond inspiring. Thank you for sharing your phenomenal accomplishment.
Posted by: Cara | March 2, 2006 10:09 PM
The shawl is beautiful and the picture of you in it is a really cool picture.
Posted by: Laurel | March 2, 2006 10:19 PM
I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it. You know, we could use some more pictures. I love it that much. More pictures!
Posted by: julia fc | March 2, 2006 10:48 PM
I've been reading your beautiful blog for a while. I just found out that someone syndicated it to LiveJournal (and I thought you might want to know), so that's where I'll be reading it from now on.
Posted by: Beth | March 2, 2006 11:52 PM
Must add it too...
GORGEOUS shawl. The photo is just GORGEOUS also. So clear and well done.
Posted by: moody knitter | March 3, 2006 07:17 AM
It's beautiful! I just noticed you buy yarn from All About Yarn? Are you from Columbia, too?
Posted by: Erica | March 3, 2006 04:05 PM
Beautiful yarn and a beautiful pattern! Another stunning project by Eunny.
Posted by: Casey | March 3, 2006 04:06 PM
Stunning! When you get a sec - so is the pattern written for a rectangular shawl as you made? There are no clear photos of it in the book.
Posted by: Theresa | March 3, 2006 08:39 PM
Its BEAUTIFUL. The color and pattern work so well together. You are my inspiration for all future lace projects!
Posted by: Diana | March 3, 2006 08:42 PM
Everyone has said this, but I am compelled to: This is just gorgeous. You look gorgeous in it! Your knitting always inspires me Eunny.
Emms
Posted by: Emmie | March 3, 2006 09:56 PM
Wow, that's absolutely beautiful.
That first picture is amazing!
Posted by: Nina | March 4, 2006 12:48 PM
You and the shawl are totally awesome.
Posted by: Lil | March 26, 2006 09:10 AM
i love your shawl! and your spinning looks good, too! i would recommend priscilla gibson-roberts 'high whorling' as an excellent book on spindle spinning.
Posted by: zoe | May 15, 2006 11:24 AM