The weather has changed and, while the days are quickly becoming unbearably hot, the evenings are suddenly sublime — soft and warm and silken. And of course, it is the perfect time to knit.
And I know that last bit won’t make sense to the rest of the world, but you and I both know that summer just begs for luscious yarns, delicate lace, and lovely light shawls that wrap gently around bare shoulders. Oh yes, summer is perfect for knitting.
But I know lacework is not for everyone. So check out the Make It Work! shawl by Leslie Thompson (you know her, she’s one of the KnitGirllls from the Knit Girllls podcast!). What caught my eye first was the beautiful edge shaping — I think looks just like waves washing onto the shore — and then I spotted that it’s got enough short-row shaping and simple lacework to keep you interested without becoming too intimidating. I love this shawl!
The pattern comes with instructions knitting it in fingering, sport, and worsted weight yarns, and even includes a video to explain the process of short-row shaping and how to pick up wraps invisibly. With its lovely stockinette crescent, I think it would look amazing in yarn with a bit of sheen to pick up the summer sun, such as SpaceCadet Fingering Yarn in Bamboo, Superwash Merino, and Nylon, in Pink Sun (below left) or SpaceCadet Fingering Yarn in Superwash BFL and Silk, in Plumberry (below right).
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But if lace is your thing, prepare to fall in love… This is Adoro, a gorgeous all-over lace shawl from Ruth Garcia-Alcantud. I love the delicate edging and the beading detail is just beautiful. This shawl just oozes starlit nights and warm breezes…
The pattern comes with instructions for both laceweight and fingering yarn. And even though it is simply amazing in that stunning deep red, I’d love to see how delicate it would look in an ethereal colourway such as SpaceCadet’s Luna LaceWeight Yarn in Silk and Merino, in Covetous (below left) or in Translucence (below right).
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Hey Cool! Win Both Patterns!
And here’s the best bit… Leslie and Ruth have very generously offered to give a copy of Make It Work! and Adoro to one lucky winner! To enter all you have to do is retweet this tweet:
“GIVEAWAY! I’ve just entered to win two shawl patterns from @rockandpurl @theknitgirllls and @spacecadetcreat http://wp.me/pKX4B-EU #RPKGllls”
And then just leave a comment here telling me you’ve done it.
I’ll draw a random winner from all the commenters next Monday or Tuesday, and then let you all know who’s won here on the blog. So come on in — the summer is warm and the knitting is gorgeous!
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The details (they’re eeeeeasy!): Sweepstakes opens when this blog post is published and closes on Sun June 5 2011 at 11.59pm EDT and all entries must be made before the close. All entrants will be verified and must retweet the tweet specified in the above blog post and then leave a comment to that effect on this blog post to qualify, and comments must include the commenter’s Twitter name. Invalid entries will be disqualified. Winner will be announced on this blog within 72 hours of sweepstakes close and must respond within 72 hours or we reserve the right to choose another winner. No purchase necessary. Only one entry per person. SpaceCadet Creations reserves the right to substitute prizes. Prizes cannot be redeemed for cash. See, that wasn’t too bad, was it?
Both shawls are lovely! I’ve sent the tweet! I’m jeaniebabb on Ravelry and twitter!
Your color suggestions are great, too!
Fab giveaway , patterns look beautiful , have retweeted the tweet and fingers crossed I get a chance to be in it to win xx
i tweeted! http://twitter.com/sadiekate08/status/76849272456359936
I especially like the first one, I actually love doing short rows!
forgot to mention my twitter name is sadiekate08!
Retweeting because I have to have thos patterns…for freeeeee!
love the patterns and just retweeted! thanks for the opportunity to win them!
Of course I RT about them. The patterns are gorgeous. Thanks for posting them!
http://twitter.com/#!/fezabel
I just had to retweet… I mean seriously, who wouldn’t for a prize like that! https://twitter.com/#!/PrmintMochaMama
(I’m not Twitter savvy like KnitPurlGurl… I had to just link me… lol)
I RT’d!!! http://twitter.com/#!/knitpurlgurl/status/76680270920695808
I tweeted!
Tweeted! Thanks for running the contest!
Hi Stephanie! I retweeted for you!
Re-tweeted and hoping to win. These are awesome. Thanks!!
I have retweeted this blog post. Thank you so much for the chance to win this beautiful yarn & pattern. I’m new to lace knitting and love it.
Re-tweeted and hoping to win! What an awesome give-away! Thank you!
Just retweeted. Both are gorgeous and love the yarn!
I’ve done as told and retweeted. Love both patterns but you’ve really caught my eye with your fingering yarn in Plumberry. I think I”ll need that regardless of a contest win.
Done and done. Twitter name is naelany
I’ve re-Tweeted the required post – hope I win! Thanks for this great opportunity.
I retweeted!!! Good Luck All… but mostly to me cause I want the patterns 🙂
Beautiful patterns! I need a new lace project to work on, just retweeted…
Being slightly technically challenged…ie I don’t twitter or tweet..(my life just isn’t that interesting!) Is there another way to enter? Would it count if my daughter (who does tweet) re-tweeted for me? See? that even sounds weird!
I have Mermaid’s Tail & think the first pattern would be great for it!
Carolyn, of course you could have your daughter retweet this for you! But, hey, why not take this opportunity to join Twitter yourself. 😉 Seriously, it is just so much fun and filled with the coolest knitting people!
I retweeted the giveaway fo the 2 shawl patterns. I want to win them, they’re gorgeous!