Rakke is a Brooklyn Tweed pattern with two size options - a wider shawl shape in fingering weight yarn and a longer, narrower scarf shape in worsted weight yarn. Surprisingly (or not surprisingly perhaps), I knit both.
The first version I knit is the shawl version. I used a very specially skein of yarn that my parents brought me from a trip to Scotland. It is quite "toothy" as they say, not a super soft merino, and perfect for this design. It really blocked out so nicely to show off the lace.
Y'all know how I love to do a 2-for-1 photo shoot. Here is glimpse of my furry backpack, too.
The curved back of my giant sectional is the perfect spot to photograph my shawls - I'm surprised they didn't use that as a selling point when we were shopping... :-)
I made the second version of this pattern not long after the first. I was visiting my family in Delaware and went to a fantastic local yarn shop - Sea Needles. It is amazing what they can pack into a sweet little shop, and there is an equally great selection of needlepoint/cross stitch type crafty things there.
I bought 2 skeins of Madelinetosh Vintage in the mineral color, which wasn't quite enough yardage, so I made my scarf one lace repeat narrower and modified the lace chart to end a bit shorter than the pattern. Mineral is not on the website's list of colors, which I assume means it is discontinued, and that is a true crying shame. This color is GORGEOUS!! It is a perfect match to my most recent Arenal top. Side note: this fabric is amazing. This top has been in heavy wardrobe rotation, already going through the washer and dryer many times, and it looks like new. I hate to admit it, but that polyester was popular in the 70s for a reason. I'm seriously considering buying some of the other blue color.
Now this yarn is 100% washable merino, and you can see the difference. It just does not hold the aggressive lace blocking as well as the first yarn. It is still lovely (and softer), but the bottom edge is already starting to roll a bit.
I hope you enjoyed the double feature. I am off to clean this disaster of a house. Enjoy your Monday everyone!
Beautiful shawls Ms. Jenny! I love them both and can't wait until I get back into needlecraft, (crocheting). I don't understand either what makes companies discontinue beautiful things like that particular color of yarn. Maybe it's because it was so popular they ran out. I am so envious of your Arenal top! You've made a few gorgeous ones already! I have my pattern already printed and cut out…but I still have not made it yet. I have to get some fabric for them, I don't have anything in my stash I'd like to use for that pattern yet .
ReplyDeleteThanks Myra! Definitely need a Pennie Fabrics run... :-)
Delete