Uliuli Wai Shawl from Needlecraft Cottage - Done!

It's beautiful!  

Worth the wait and effort?  Absolutely!  See for yourself.  Light and lacy, with just enough loft to make it seasonless. And oh, the color...there just aren't words.

I want to run out and buy a dress to show it off (the awards ceremony gown doesn't match at all, sadly).  

People always ask me "How is it that your shawl always matches your outfit so perfectly?"  The answer is that my outfit always matches my shawl.  I need the perfect outfit to match this stunner for sure.

The camera can't do the color justice, but here are a few more shots to show it off anyway.

A memorable project to be sure.  Thanks, Needlecraft Cottage!  Stay tuned--next up I tackle the Celtic Princess cable scarf from Yarn and Thread Expressions.

Uliuli Wai Shawl from Needlecraft Cottage - Day 6

Almost ready...

The final steps of any shawl this lovely are always filled with anticipation.  Like any lacework, I’m only barely glimpsing what this piece will look like in her final form.  Right now the color is still spectacular, but the design, drape, and weight of this fiber have yet to be revealed.  This darling still needs to spread her wings.

Yes, it took an hour and a half to bind this off.  Part of that was because knowing my lack of skill at good bind-offs, I opted for my go-to technique: Jenny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off rather than the standard bind-off written in the pattern.  When I project such as this will undergo serious blocking, I need the elasticity Jenny’s provides.  

The shawl is currently curling on the edges, and that makes me nervous, but experience has taught be a little bath can work wonders on things like this.

Here is the Uliuli Wai in her bath.  The color deepens in the water—very apt, don’t you think?

Then came the meticulous blocking process.  Wires are definitely the way to go here in order to get stretch and definition.  Now, however, we get a glimpse of how beautiful the final product will be.

Stay tuned—the fantastic finale is just days away!

Uliuli Wai Shawl from Needlecraft Cottage - Day 1

Baah, baah, blue yarn...

Oh, the color.

It’s exquisite—deep and rich, dipping down into darker tones and then coming back into a brilliant peacock blue that catches the eye.  No photograph within my skill can manage to capture it, so check out the Baah website for a glimpse at the true color genius Mira brings to all her line.

And it’s not just me.  Every time I pull this out in public, I hear ooohs and aaahs from knitters and non-knitters alike.  The color is simply breathtaking.  Liz was smart to grab it up as her store’s exclusive colorway—this is a find!

Sometimes a fiber looks lovely in the hank but the knitted fabric doesn’t pack the same punch.  Not so here.  It’s just as lovely knitted up as it is in the swirling beauty of the hank.

Speaking of color, I ran into a few articles on the psychology of color the other day.  Since my mind has been thinking about color, I decided to check out what my attraction to this blue might mean.  Blue, it seems, has a lot of hefty meaning associated with it.  Sure, there’s the classic “having the blues,” but according to art therapists, it also signifies faith, security, peace and cooperation, confidence and coolness.  Both Egyptian and Chinese cultures used color therapy for healing, believing blue could soothe illnesses and treat pain.  Claims have been made that people are more productive in blue rooms, making me glad my new office is painted in blue hues.  On another interesting note, blue is cited as the least appetizing color— I should eat off blue plates if I want eat less! At least this explains my aversion to blue Gatorade, Kool-Aid, and Jell-O.

No matter whether you buy into color psychology theory or not, knitters know yarn of a pleasing color is a fine thing to knit.  I’ve cast on and told myself to feel optimistic rather than daunted by the prospect of the ever-increasing rows before me. On toward blue beauty!

SAN DIEGO - Day 2

Pacific Beach blues, baby...

You can’t talk about San Diego—and most of California, for that matter—without mentioning the beach.  I grew up on the East Coast, so I get the lure of the water.  Granted, the lure isn’t quite so strong in February, but someone my age shouldn’t be spending many hours in public in a bathing suit anyway.  Just being near enough to see the Pacific is a sufficient treat.  Which is the perfect excuse for spending our morning in Pacific Beach.

Start with breakfast at:

Broken Yolk

1851 Garnet Ave, 

San Diego, CA 92109

858-270-YOLK (9655)

thebrokenyolkcafe.com

I don’t know if the “order online” feature will help you cut through the crowds that often frequent this true breakfast eatery, but if you’re inclined to do take-out breakfast on the beach, it might be worth a shot.  I’ve never quite understood the allure of chicken and waffles, but I understand banana Nutella crepes just fine.  If you’re feeling competitive, go for the “Iron Man” or “Iron Woman” special; a dozen-egg omelette filled with mushrooms, cheese, and onions while smothered in chili with home fries and two biscuits.  The thing is served on a pizza pan!  You’ve got one hour to put it all away and earn your spot on the Hall of Fame Plaque…if you dare.

You’re going to need to walk off whatever you ate, so spend the next hour on the walkway that runs the length of Pacific Beach.  Chuckle at the “Office” and “School” labeled posts that line the beach or play “I’d choose that house” with some of the fabulous beachfront properties you pass by.  When the wind and waves have wound you down, head for today’s fiber fix:

Needlecraft Cottage

870 Grand Avenue, 

San Diego, California 92109

858-272-8185

needlecraftcottage.com

This superbly stocked shop is a fixture in the Pacific Beach community. The shop’s been around for over 50 years, with current owner Liz Walters at the helm for the last 13.  “We want people to be happy,” Liz maintains, and with the depth of fabulous fiber and selection of classes, she’s clearly reaching that goal.  

Liz’s strong partnership with local yarn vendor Mira Cole of Baah Yarn means the store has the best selection of this exquisitely hued fiber anywhere.  The colors!  The kits!  The perfect yarn weights for the San Diego climate!  It’s all here.   And what isn’t here is in the separate building for classes and other events.  You owe it to yourself to check out the full range of classes in designer Marie Fisher’s “Knitting Academy”—there’s some great sessions in there.

There were loads of projects to catch the eye, but here are a few of my favorites:

That's Mira, by the way

Reflection Shawl

Pick a skein each of any two contrasting colors of Baah’s Aspen merino-cashmere-silk blend and Needlecraft Cottage will supply you with this clever pattern.  Basic and yet with a little flair, this would make an excellent first shawl for a novice knitter, or the perfect gift done up in school colors for your favorite co-ed.

LaJolla Shores Scarf

Indulge in the vibrant colors of Baah LaJolla with this versatile pattern by Marie Fisher.  You’ll get different results depending on what fiber you choose—fingering, lace, sport, or DK weight.  Everyone needs a good go-to lace scarf pattern, and this one could quickly become your favorite.

Woolworth Building Tee

A well-designed knit tee is a thing of beauty—something you can dress up or down and always be comfortable.  Eileen Adler’s design uses 2-3 skeins of Baah LaJolla to craft this tailored, textured top.  You can get the pattern either from Needlecraft Cottage or directly from Eileen herself.  I especially love the bottom edge—so elegant and yet you could match it with a pair of jeans just as easily.

Salt and Sand tank

Looking for some warm-weather style?  Consider this basic tank with a snazzy ruffle detail.  You could go neutral, but why would you when you can do this up in some of the spectacular colors Baah’s LaJolla offers?  You know this one’s well designed; it’s from Veera Valimaki—the designer who gave us the Color Affection shawl.

image courtesy of Marie Fisher

Uliuli Wai Shawl

Who could resist this beautiful, lacy shawl done up in Needlecraft Cottage’s exclusive, signature color “Pacific Beach Blue”?  Two skeins of LaJolla handpainted super wash merino in fingering weight is going to make this masterpiece an eye-catcher for sure.  Marie Fisher’s pattern blends a nice basic stockinette top with two panels of distinctive lace. I can hardly wait to cast this on!

Once your shopping bag is full, indulge in a DestiKNITions tradition:  desert for lunch!

Make the short drive to the Hillcrest neighborhood by Balboa Park to arrive at:

Extraordinary Deserts

2929 Fifth Avenue

San Diego, CA 92103

619-294-2132

extraordinarydesserts.com

There is another location in little Italy, but this one is the original, and has a intimate, romantic feeling that just ads to the gastronomic bliss.  Their website hails them as one of San Diego’s finest first date establishments, and it's not hard to see why.  Cakes, cookies, tarts, everything looked exquisite.  The Shangri-La and Passion Fruit Ricotta came highly recommended, but I went straight for the Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” star the Chocolate Dulce de Leche.  This weighs in as the first slice of OMG chocolate cake I couldn’t bring myself to finish in one sitting.  Not cheap, but worth every single dime.  Don’t miss this place!

Spend a little while wandering the fun and funky Hillcrest neighborhood—visiting Bread and Cie if you need even more baked goods, or enjoying Balboa Park (but that may need a day of its own).  When you’re ready head back downtown to

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street

A variety of small museums, shops, and restaurants make up this unique tourist attraction that has pretty much something for everyone. The site depicts the area’s transformation from Mexican pueblo to American settlement, showcasing how the cultures converged.  Sure, it’s educational, but it's also just plain fun.  I saw the best selection of Dover historic books and paper dolls I’ve seen in ages, some truly lovely sterling silver jewelry, and a tin Christmas tree I would have taken home in a heartbeat if it fit in my luggage (it didn’t).  Where else are you going to find a place like the Old Town House of Jerky and Root Beer?  If you want to grab something more substantial after our sugar-laden midday meal, I suggest a panini from Rust, the general store/eatery.   Don’t eat too much--a fabulous dinner awaits us at:

Miguel’s Cocina

2444 San Diego Ave

San Diego, CA 92110

619-298-9840 

www.miguels-cocina.com

Another joint upholding the “Taco Tuesday” trend, Miguel’s was a recommendation from Liz at Needlecraft Cottage and several other sources.  Offering their own parking is a big plus in Old Town, too.  I went for the fajitas—which were splendid—but all four diners in my party loved their meals.  Sitting outside on the patio beside the fireplace was the perfect atmosphere despite the “this almost never happens” rainstorm.  They let us linger a long while to chat after dinner—an atmosphere you can’t always find in popular tourist spots these days.  Knitting on the patio by the fire with an excellent margarita?  What better way to end a two-day whirlwind taste of SanDiego’s fiber offerings!

Up next, we tackle the Uliuli shawl—will another top down shawl get the best of me?  Only time and stitches will tell…