April 19, 2006
Details, details!
...and a little more info for those of you that asked!
Some of you asked where to find the pattern and here are a couple of options. You can ask at your local shop, especially if they carry Koigu yarn because it's a Koigu pattern called "Charlotte's Web". It's usually around $5.50. If you can't find it there, most online yarn sellers that carry Koigu have it...like PatternWorks. (I have no affiliation with them...I just know that they have a lot of Koigu in many colors! If you are interested in the colors that I used, I have listed them under the next picture.
How many skeins of Koigu does it take to make a Charlotte? Well...I used the recommended 5 skeins and I had almost the whole yellow skein leftover because you only use it for 12 rows, and they are the small rows at the beginning of the shawl. Here's a picture of the yarn that I used before and after!
Here's the before...
My colors from top to bottom: P118, P627, P611X, P808, P211L
...and here's the after!
You can see from the pictures that you don't really need all 5 skeins in their entirety. I chose to follow the pattern exactly as written for this first time. If I ever make another Charlotte, which I'm sure I will, I may have less color changes and just make the repeats longer. I hardly made a dent in the first yellow skein that I used. As the rows get longer you end up using more and more of the skein. My advice on choosing color is that the color you love the most, use last because it's going to be the dominant color!
As far as how many skeins you really and truly need...I hate to try and guess, then have you come up short. But...if I had to guess, I'd say you would probably need 3 complete skeins. Maybe a fourth if you want fringe. Don't be upset though if you come up short! Overall, this project was a perfect first lace project for me. The yarn is thicker than lace weight, and it's an easy pattern to get into the rhythm of. My advice to all of you sitting on the fence wondering if you should break down and knit one is, "go forth and Charlotte!"
Posted by Stacey at April 19, 2006 08:09 AMThanks for all the info! Love the pic of you wearing it. =)
Posted by: Faith at April 19, 2006 10:31 AMThat is a beauty! Love it!
Posted by: beth at April 19, 2006 10:53 AMI think your Charlotte is one of the prettiest I have seen! Thanks for the pattern info. I'll ask at my LYS that carries gobs of Koigu.
Posted by: Ruthanne (in Seattle) at April 19, 2006 11:05 AMIt's gorgeous! Love the colors!
Posted by: monica at April 19, 2006 11:15 AMThanks for the details--your shawl is truly beautiful. Wear it proudly!
Posted by: Fanny at April 19, 2006 11:16 AMAnd it's even more beautiful with a full-on shot! Love it! I might just make it after all. Maybe with Koigu, maybe not. Haven't decided that far out.
Posted by: Wanda at April 19, 2006 11:19 AMthat is just beautiful! and i can't believe how much yarn was leftover. congrats on your first lace project, it is amazing.
Posted by: amy at April 19, 2006 11:41 AMI love the detail and the way it drapes so smoothly. :D
I can't wait until I've learned more so I can try stuff like this.
Thanks for the links for the yarn. I see a purchase in my future. *L*
Posted by: KnittyOtter at April 19, 2006 12:20 PMI've started my first lace project, I hope mine turns out as well as yours did. Great job!
Posted by: Lynette at April 19, 2006 12:23 PMBeautiful!
Posted by: katie at April 19, 2006 01:04 PMBeautiful - those colors are amazing!
(yr. back-tack 3 pal stopping by to check in)
Posted by: mk at April 19, 2006 01:07 PMnow you can make some matching socks LOL!!! Stripe them in the same color sequence!!! Wouldn't that be cool LOL?
It is really gorgeous and now I might have to get my hands on some Koigu and that pattern too.
Cheers Eva - PS: will get my act together and get the yarn ready to be mailed next week.
Posted by: Eva at April 19, 2006 02:50 PMI'm totally going to make socks with them Eva! I have a friend who knows someone that made socks from her leftover Charlotte yarn and she called them her "Son of Charlotte" socks! Isn't that funny?! I would make them from the toe-up and go in opposite order, starting with the bright pink and then ending with the yellow around the cuff! I love that idea!
Thanks for showing the before and after yarn pictures - that really helped me grasp how much yarn is used.
Posted by: Chris at April 19, 2006 04:01 PMVery pretty! Congrats on finishing that beast.
Posted by: Kelli at April 19, 2006 04:18 PMThat is one good-looking Charlotte! (and the Stacey in it looks pretty darn good wearing it, too!)
I am far from being ready to tackle this - but you've made me want to! Thanks for the inspiration :o)
I'm seeing why Charlotte was such a popular pattern - really really pretty. You chose colors for it well, and it looks cute on you!
Posted by: terby at April 19, 2006 06:05 PMBeautiful! I love the colors. Enjoy it!
Posted by: laura at April 20, 2006 12:52 AMI got to see the Charlotte in person last night and it is sooooooooooooooo beautiful!!
Posted by: Nachaele at April 20, 2006 07:46 AMStacey, your Charlotte is beautiful! I love the action shots :)
Posted by: Terrie at April 20, 2006 08:53 AMKoigu is so yummy! Love the bright colors you chose!
Posted by: Lolly at April 20, 2006 12:23 PMBeautiful! I just started mione the other dya, boy is color selection a hard thing! I don't think I'll decide until I have to. If you weigh the shawl, it will tell you how many skeins you used. Each skein is 50g, or about 2oz.
Posted by: Julia at April 20, 2006 12:42 PMYour shawl looks lovely! I may have to add that pattern to my lace knits wish list. :)
Posted by: Amy at April 20, 2006 08:30 PMWow, Koigu, how gorgeous!! Your work looks amazing!
I actually have a question about your "so-called scarf" pattern. I just got some Manos (i'm totally in love) and I know that the makers of the yarn recommend alternating skeins when working with it, to avoid any pooling in colors, since there are no dye lots. Did you alternate skeins, like the instructions recommend, or did you just knit one skein after the other when you worked up your scarf?
thanks so much! and congrats again on your Charlotte :)
Posted by: Danielle at April 21, 2006 09:11 AM