OK, I admit that I have always wanted to be a princess. I went through that phase that lots of kids go through, where they imagine that they were adopted from another family, but my secret long-lost family was royal. And I was always interested in dressing like a princess. One of my earliest memories is of walking to school, maybe first grade, tugging my skirt down to make it as long as it could be, so that it would be more like a princess's skirt.
Well, I have arrived. This is the Mandala shawl, by Rene Leverington. While in Italy, I began to think of it as "la principessa", and now that it is finished, it certainly is regal. My life is much too plebian to do it justice, but I shall just have to start getting myself invited to balls.......
In the "you can't make this stuff up" department, when I went out to do the photos, I realized that there were frogs swimming in the pool, and thus I did my first frog rescue of the season.
What do you think will happen if I kiss him?
Technical notes: I used sundara silk lace, color Ruby Port. Although I had some ambivalence about the yarn, and didn't like the lack of saturation of color, I've forgotten just about everything I didn't like in the face of the finished project.
The pattern is a delight. Rene offers four different patterns for each of the four sections of the shawl, so you can individualize your shawl, both in pattern and number of rounds. I did patterns A-B-C-D- and C again. This was my first circular shawl. Getting it started was a tolerable challenge, and I would make another one....if I thought I might have a glut of state occasions to attend.
This shawl is utterly amazing! The color, the lace pattern, it is completely gorgeous.
Posted by: Diana Loper | May 25, 2009 at 06:07 PM
Just gorgeous. =)
Posted by: Abby | May 26, 2009 at 08:27 AM
Stunning
Posted by: Lucette | May 26, 2009 at 09:10 AM
The shawl is gorgeous! Enjoy wearing it and showing it off. Careful, you may become a frog instead of the frog becoming a prince.
Posted by: margene | May 26, 2009 at 10:28 AM
This really is so gorgeous. In awe!
Posted by: SweetP | May 26, 2009 at 04:53 PM
This is just beautiful!!! Really, truly, gorgeous!
Posted by: tiennie | May 26, 2009 at 05:38 PM
Wow! This is so beautiful. You look quite regal in it, too.
Posted by: ruth | May 26, 2009 at 10:27 PM
The shawl is stunning and the frog is not bad looking too.
Posted by: Henya | May 31, 2009 at 03:51 PM
Omg - this is stunning! I'm scared to ask how many stitches you ended up with!
Posted by: amanda | May 31, 2009 at 04:09 PM
I have never coveted anything as much as that shawl. What beautiful work, it is divine...
Posted by: Debby | June 12, 2009 at 11:25 AM