You may have noticed that there has been a lack of posting about the Mystery Stole 3, lately. In fact, my stole came to a screeching halt after Clue 4, when the issue of symmetrical vs. non-symmetrical came into play. Turns out that the stole is highly non-symmetrical: the theme is "Swan Lake," and the second end of the stole is a "swan wing." There's a picture of the finished article here on Flickr. I really like the patterned end, and I really like the wing end, but I really don't like them together. To me, the transition between the two areas is just to abrupt, though it looks somewhat better when it's draped around a person.

So, what to do? I decided to make a symmetrical stole with just the patterned end, since I already had one done. On Saturday, I started knitting the second half of my stole. I knit Clue 1 on Saturday night, Clue 2 on Sunday night, and Clue 3 last night.



I figure Clue 4 will take two days since it's the long clue, and then a day to frog the first half back to the proper point and do the knitted-on central lace panel that will join the two halves together (or possibly just a graft; I'll have to make that decision when I get both halves done).



I may possibly have this finished before we leave Friday Harbor, ready to block when we get back to La Grande.

Emma and I had a little photo shoot this morning, out at Ladd Marsh. My yard is pitifully unphotogenic, so we went someplace a little prettier.

First, my symmetrical Mystery Stole, made by knitting Rows 1-287 twice, then grafting. I like it, and if I ever go anyplace elegant (Ooo, there's a wedding in my family this month..... somewhere to actually dress up!), I will wear it and feel beautiful.



Finished dimensions are 18.5" x 76", it weighs practically nothing, and is just lovely. I'm glad I opted not to do the wing part, though I may purchase the pattern and knit a double-winged symmetrical stole as well, because the wing is very pretty too. The pearly beads help it drape beautifully, in addition to their very subtle texture and shimmer against the wool and silk in the yarn.



Next up is the Chevron Shawl. I dyed this on Monday, and I think the color is a vast, vast improvement over the flat gray that the yarn was before.



I used 2 parts "Purple" and 1 part "Sapphire" Jacquard dyes, and it came out just right. The Purple is a warm red-purple, and the Sapphire is a clear cool blue, and together they made a plummy cool blue-purple.



Final dimensions on this are 40" from the center neck to the point and 76" across the top. I already have the original shawl from this pattern, in my own handspun, so despite the fact that it goes perfectly with this dress, I think I'll be listing this for sale in my shop. If I can let it go.



All photos courtesy of Emma, age nearly-4.