FO Post: Cochineal Shawl

I've been finishing a lot of stuff lately.  Ripping out projects that aren't working; finishing socks on the needles since January of this year; blocking and weaving in ends and swatching and generally being a very responsible knitter.  (We'll see how long it lasts.)

This is one of the many outcomes of that productivity.  It's my third Swallowtail Shawl, and I am still obsessed with the perfection of the pattern.  We recently received a shipment of Madelinetosh into the LYS where I work, so I volunteered to loan out this Swallowtail knit in Tosh Merino Light and my Ene's Scarf knit in Prairie as shop models.  Before I did, I managed to have the Lumberjack snap a few pictures.

I was a little worried about yardage for this shawl, since my friend Ondrea had run out of yarn in her Swallowtail made of Tosh Merino Light.  I managed to squeak by on one skein, although towards the end I was getting pretty anxious.  I think it took about 400 yards of a 420-yard skein.  I'm always torn on whether or not I want a lot of yarn left over when I'm done with a project.  I hate being stressed out about whether I can finish something, but I also really love only having 3-5 yards left over.

Moving on: the yarn?  Holy crap.  I have to keep myself from buying every colorway of Tosh Merino Light that I see, because it is so luminous in color and such a pleasure to work with.  This colorway is Tart, and I'll already admit that I have it in two other yarn bases.  It is one of the prettiest reds I've ever seen, with undertones of black and overtones of the perfect cherry red.

This Swallowtail feels a little different than my other two, since the others are knit from Seasilk, which has a bit more heft and drape.  This one is light and small, and fits around the neck very nicely.

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark (rav page)

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, colorway Tart

Yardage: about 400 yards of a 420-yard skein

Needles: Size 5 US Addi Turbo Lace