OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: by Bonnie Sennott, from Knitty Fall 2009
• Yarn: Handmaiden Silk Twist, Stardust, almost 1 entire skein (437 yds)
• Needles/Size: 9.5″ wide x 61.5″ long, on US 4 needles
• Time to knit: 12 days in October/November 2009

This is a great pattern; I love the diamond lace and the bead detail on each end.  The chart is clear, though I had trouble memorizing the stitch pattern.  I think that was due to the fact that my home was in major upheaval at the time due to unexpected repairs and renovation.  In fact this project helped preserve my sanity.  As for the yarn, it’s possibly the nicest yarn I’ve ever knit with.  Supremely soft, wonderful drape, subtle shimmer, and it also feels sturdy, unlike many fancy fingering weight yarns.  Silk Twist is ideal for anything worn next to the skin.  The hand-dyed colorway, Stardust, is a subtle meld of blues and grays.  Next time I need a luxurious hand dyed, I’ll definitely take a look at the Handmaiden line.  

For the finishing, I used the blocking wires that my parents gave me for Christmas.  I soaked the scarf in warm soapy water, rinsed, then spun it out in a salad spinner.  I threaded the wires through the edges but by the time I got it all laid out and pinned down under tension, the scarf was pretty much dry.  So I spritzed it and steamed it.  A day later, it was dry, I removed the wires and the size remained static, the lace open and flat.  Probably not a surprise to those who knit a lot of lace, but for me it seemed like a miracle as I’ve only knit a few large lace pieces in the past, and none of those projects really blocked successfully, perhaps due to yarn choice (why oh why did I knit my diamond fantasy scarf in cotton?).  It was a chilly twilight when these photos were taken, but here’s one more to show that the scarf is indeed long enough to wear folded.

 And now for something completely different, the Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart I made for Christmas dinner.  The recipe is by Barefoot Contessa and it’s just fabulous, part of my winter holiday repertoire.  I’ve never been a big fan of pumpkin pie, but this dessert has a much lighter texture and brighter taste due to a few notes of citrus.  It was delicious, as usual.  Merry Christmas!