nefarious web

i completed another mystery KAL, this time a pattern by criminal knits called nefarious web.  it was a four part mystery shawl pattern, using beads, with clues sent out on wednesdays.

i chose cephalopod yarns traveller in rumfata legarrin, a pretty chartreuse.  it was the only yarn i had that i had enough yardage for the shawl.  traveller is a dk weight yarn, a little heavier than the pattern called for, but i figured it would just make for a bigger shawl.

the first clue was the beaded border, which took me a couple days to complete...

the second clue...



the third clue.  i had a bit of trouble with this clue - i miscounted stitches and the spine of the shawl was crooked, so i had to tink 4 rows.  the designer said that stitch markers could be removed for this section but i kept mine in to keep my stitch count in check (see above picture)...


the fourth clue.  i miscounted stitches at the beginning and had to tink a couple rows again.  becos the stitch markers were gone at this point, i had to concentrate on my work (read: no kids).


blocked out after a good soak.  holy hanna, traveller blooms like whoa.  i also discovered that my shawl dried quicker with these blocks (they were the kiddos' play floor when they first became mobile.)


lace detailing...


beading detail.  not the flashiest beads but they were the only ones that worked.  i bought (and returned)  packs and bottles of beads at michaels becos they were too small to thread with a hook (and they were too small for the hook to boot!).


nefarious web in a natural setting...



details are found on my project page.  i used a size 8 crochet hook for the crochet cast on, and the entire shawl was knit on size 5 circs.  the shawl used up nearly every bit of the two skeins i had on hand.  i panicked and bought a third skein (i used my a4a certificate to purchase it) and wound up not needing it anyway.  so if anyone wants to buy a skein of traveller in rumfata legarrin, drop me a line!

i had a lot of fun with this KAL.  it was challenging pattern but it had plenty of twists to make it interesting.