Monday, July 13, 2009

Res Completa: Textured Shawl and Bridal Shower for Erica

First of all, thank you to everyone who voted in response to my last post. My Trina Cardigan pattern ended up winning in the knitting category of luvinthemommyhood's Top Tutorials week! I can't believe I was even nominated, let alone won - thank you, thank you, thank you!!

So on to some bridal knitting. My dear friend Erica (1/4 of my knitting group) got married this past Saturday in what was one of the most lovely and fun weddings I have ever been to. But rewind a few months...before Sophy and I even received our invitations, we started planning her bridal shower. How could we pass up an opportunity to bake, craft, gather friends together for a tea party, and buy lingerie for our friend??

As part of the festivities, we decided to each knit her a shawl in her wedding colors. I got the brown:



Pattern: Textured Shawl Recipe, by orlane
Yarn: Exactly 1 skein of Malabrigo Yarn Sock
Needles: US 6
Start to Finish: around June 15-21, 2009

Mods: Since I used a fingering weight yarn rather than a worsted, I had more yardage so was able to do more of the textured bands. Also, the whole thing ended up a lot smaller than the original the recipe is based on. (By the way, I love referring to knitting instructions that aren't full patterns as "recipes". It totally goes along with the strange fact that most of my yarn reminds me of food.) I'm not gonna lie, I kind of wanted to keep this shawlette. The Malabrigo sock is so pretty!

Sophy (wearing a gorgeous Featherweight Cardigan) chose Ishbel in a beautiful pale blue Malabrigo Lace and styled Erica for her photo...



Erica then whipped out a knitted handlebar mustache she had just finished (how awesome is that??) and we decided to pile all the knits on her at once...



Of course, as crafters, Sophy and I couldn't let it go at just knitted shawls, lots of baked goods, and hand assembled pom-poms (the huge poofy white things are from Michael's and I LOVE THEM). Sophy created gorgeous little ribbon roses to glue on the gift boxes and painted an E and a J in honor of the couple. I wish I had a better photo of the roses, but they are there below being inspected by Stewart.



And as knitters hosting a bridal shower that wouldn't only include knitters, thus keeping us from pulling out the needles the second we sat down, we had to plan for something to do with our hands. So we all filled a jar with origami stars for the guest of honor.



A fun day all around.



And congratulations to Erica and Jeremy!

12 comments:

Team Knit said...

a knitting themed shower- that's so awesome! the shawl is lovely, and it looks like it was a very fun time.

- Julie

Katlyn said...

Looks wonderful!

Teresa said...

Lucky lady! Such beautiful handknits as shower gifts! I don't blame you for wanting to hold on to the shawl - it's lovely.
The white pom poms are fantastico. I need to raid my local Michael's. I think I have a coupon that needs spending...

ps: LOVE the flower in her hair.

Sophy said...

haha i just noticed canary's comment about the pompom "in [erica's] hair". it really does look like it's in her hair, doesn't it?

Hilary, this was such a fun day. and i know what you mean, the malabrigo sock yarn really looks lovely knitted into the textured shawl.

i'll post my part of the shower soon!

Susan said...

I thought the Pom Pom was in her hair, too. How funny!

Great shawl. Sounds like you all had a blast.

Philigry said...

that looks like somuch fun, and i love all the knits!

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

Congratulations! It all keeps adding to your designing resume :))))

What a fun post ~ I enjoyed seeing all of you, the lovely knits, and what a fun time you have together!

keri said...

Such fun! You gals look like you have a great time together, and such beautiful hand knits too!

Hadley Makes said...

Gwageous!

Eliza said...

what a great shower idea! Erica is really lucky!

a friend to knit with said...

aw. you all are adorable!
such details paid to special moments... awesome!

Ella said...

Such fun! I love the knits, and the stars as well! :D