First Person
What I Did for Love Story
Are you smitten by the Love Story Shawl, but wary of committing to yards and yards of cobwebby yarn? I’ll leave it to Jillian to sweet talk you into working with Hélène Magnússon’s sublime Icelandic laceweight. I’m here with random references to a Marvin Hamlisch tune, color inspiration, two tips, and some fun pics to point you toward tomorrow.
Take a look at Hélène’s palette for the shawl in Field Guide No. 26: Moss.
Gradient bands of Raven Black, Basalt Grey, and Natural White alternate with high-contrast bands that feature pops of Viking Rust against Moss Green, evoking lichen and stone in the designer’s adopted home.
I turned to color-picking knowing I wanted gradient bands in my version too. Looking at the full palette of Love Story Einband, Salmon Orange struck me as the color that would give the glow that Natural White provides in the original palette. The rest of the colors fell into place from there.
If you’re already sold on this colorway, your one ball each of Salmon Orange, Old Pink, Viking Rust, Moss Green, and Natural Brown are here.
There are so many ways to combine Love Story colors. All sweetness, no sorrow.
Love Story knitters on Ravelry went their own way with colors too. Thanks for the inspo, Pam, Jenine, and slurpeed!
If like me you find casting on with laceweight yarn too fiddly, try a provisional cast-on. I used leftover Atlas and the crochet cast-on demonstrated here in step-by-step photos by Kate Atherley and in a video here by Jen Arnall-Culliford.
I worked Row 1 of the pattern in Love Story Einband directly into that cushy, forgiving row of Atlas. After completing the first gradient band of the colors, I worked a cast-off row into the stitches of Row 1 and unzipped the crochet cast-on. No regrets.
Love Story Einband is a grippy yarn.
The moss is holding my shawl to the tree in a bracing San Francisco Peninsula vista point breeze.
As you knit, keep the strands of working yarn apart when you’re carrying colors up the rows. This is one of those “take time to save time” situations. I never got the yarns into a terrible tangle, but I did have to stop and carefully untwist clingy strands when a little preventive placement of working yarns would have done the trick.
Two great tastes that taste great together: My Love Story + Heath factory tile art in Sausalito.
The Love Story Shawl is one of those striking FOs that deserves a big day out after it comes off the blocking mat. Have fun.
“Love’s what we’ll remember.”
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Just stunning, Christina! The photos of your shawl are magnificent!
Thank you, Annamarie!
I really savoured this post. I appreciated the technical discussions. Up until now, I have only used Love Story as a companion in the Moss throw and the Crowberry ( both still in progress!).I feel a little better equipped ,brainwise, to take the plunge! I am always nervous when it comes to making color choices. The Crowberry was a no-brainer because I really loved the look. But, I wanted to try something a little different with the shawl. Your discussions of your color choice gave me some courage!
I was really taken aback with the photography. I love how you captured the dynamics of finished piece! It is so interesting to see how it changes against those provocative backdrops….So… I am starting the day with a few more braincells, a little courage and a bigger heart for trying Love Story au natural! Thank you, Christina, for that trek down the Yellow Brick Road!!
Thank you, Maggie! The finished object is magic in Love Story Einband.
Great writing! Your photos are terrific and unique. Clearly you love color! I am still trying to make the commitment to the Crowberry sweater- one of these days!
Same! I definitely want a Crowberry Vest for fall.
Gorgeous!
Thanks, Gale!
Oh, Cristina! I love your choice of Love Story shades, and omgoodness those turquoise dot tiles…
Thanks for the lively collection of color combinations that make shopping so much easier. ; )
x
Thanks to the color geniuses at world headquarters! Meet you at the Ralph D. Percival vista point the next time you’re in the Bay Area, dear Nell, xoc
Oh, I love your color combinations. Your shawl is so gorgeous.
Thanks, Judy!
Love the love story shawl. Thank you so much for the tips and the colorists!
Meant colorways.
Thank you, Theresa!
I love your version Cristina! I went with an ocean color gradient, colors near to where I live, I’ve posted photos in the Lounge under What I’m making. I enjoyed this knit once I got accustomed to the thin ( but strong) and grippy yarn. I was intrigued to find out the difference between it and Lopi, much softer after a gentle soak with Soak and hair conditioner. An unusual and lovely pattern.
Isn’t it amazing to wear? Blue wavy bands are perfect for this design, Beth. For anyone who’s curious, scroll to the end of this thread: https://forums.moderndailyknitting.com/t/what-im-making/62/805
I love your colors and the cast on tip! It is sticky yarn, but I never seem to be in the “take time to save time” mode as I work along!
Same. “Conduct hinders progress” was often checked on my report cards. Thanks, ML!
I’m color challenged! I bought the Love Story combo with black, white, yellow and 2 pinks. I need help deciding the best place for the yellow. Thank you!
Oooh. I think I would go for black on white for the contrasty bands, and make the gradient bands shade from darker pink to lighter pink to yellow centers.
Can you post the colors you used according to the lettering in the pattern- A, B, etc.? I love the color combinations and want to get them right!
Oh, your shawl is a beauty!!