I think it’s great that you admit to buying other clothes to help show off your handknits better. We don’t want them to fade into the background!

It’s absolutely gorgeous, btw. I can’t believe you made it out of such fine handspun!!

It looks great! And there’s nothing wrong with buying clothes to go with handknits!

It’s gorgeous! Very nice work. Interesting about the silk clinginess, though. It looks like it’s all floaty.

Wow! And with your own handpsun, very impressive.

It’s beautiful, June. And that it’s spindle spun just adds to the “wow” factor. I have been spindle spinning the same fiber and am hoping to use it as a single (we’ll see how it does with washing).

You are my hero! I can’t believe you spun the yarn AND made that amazing shawl, and on a spindle? Can you leap tall buildings in a single bound too?

It is absolutely gorgeous. I cannot believe that someone could spin all the yarn on a spindle and then knit such a tiny, intricate pattern. Boggles my mind!!!!

Truly lovely. And interesting — the issue of static-y silk… will have to keep that in mind. Looks like it will be a very nice lacy layer for spring, summer and fall.

Wow, that is gorgeous! Great work!

Its really beautiful and so delicate! Nice shirt. Now go out and buy a sexy tank or halter top to cover with that lovely shawl. It will be summer soon and you know you don’t always have to dress like you have a doctorate. “Giant arrow pointing to my butt” had me on the floor.

Ah, well done! And it looks great over the white shirt!

I don’t think I would have guessed about the static-y silk issue. I haven’t used 100% silk on a shawl to date though.

Beautiful! Wear it in good health.

I would have held a party just for getting 700+ yards out of 2.3 ounces of fiber. I would have held another party for spinning it on a spindle, another for plying it on a spindle, then another for completing the knitting, then another for blocking the thing. Then I would have held a party for my new shirt.

It’s stunning. It’s amazing what you can do with a few sticks and some worm spit.

Congratulations! Your shawl looks gorgeous.

It looks gorgeous! And it reminded me that I want some of those tiles.

Just gorgeous – what a triumph! Your knitting/crafting ingenuity has always been such an inspiration

Oh, June. How gorgeous. How totally “you”. I love it. Yes, eventually the weather will warm up and a lighter white tank would look oh-so-perfect. I guess you need to go shopping again.

I’ve been thinking about those tiles for a year or more now. I think I’ll have to spring for it. How do you keep the boys off the blocking table? Mine would be nesting.

It’s awesome. And it doesn’t look “dirty” at all with the variations in color — they’re just lovely.

I’ve never tried it with silk, but I used to rub dryer sheets on the inside of my fleeces to decrease the static. I wonder if you rubbed one on the clothes you have underneath the shawl if that would decrease the cling…

I’ve been waiting with bated breath for this post, you realize. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I, too, am considering getting some of those foam thingies for blocking purposes.

As far as static, since I have 3 feet of fairly fine hair (eh, probably like 50 micron though), static is… yeah. I experience it. So I have Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist stuff that I spritz my hair with when it’s acting up, and one of the things I’ve discovered by happenstance is that my staticky garments benefit from it as well.

I distribute patterns for Dorothy – Fiddlesticks Knitting and she suggested I take a look at your blog because of the AMAZING job you did of the Peacock Shawl – it is awesome!!!

It’s incredible! And silk! I bet it looks even better in person. Well done!

That is lovely. Just absolutely lovely. And the white shirt isn’t vanity – just framing. Very sensible.

Beautiful! Looks lovely with the white shirt too, nicely sets off the knitting so well.

Absolutely gorgeous design and knitting! Love your hardwood floors, too!

Didn’t you use to have longer hair? I guess it’s been a while since we’ve seen a picture of you…

It is beautiful in every way, June. The fact that it’s your spindle handspun–700+ yards of spindle handspun–is phenomenal. Wow!!!

Beautiful! I love the fact that it’s such an amazing handspun garment. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Vain, I don’t think it’s vain at all. For all of that work for that shawl, why shouldn’t you have something that coordinates with it beautifully. That’s a gorgeous shawl. You wash and dry your shawl first and then pin it out and steam block it? That’s an interesting process. I like to hear what others do.

Awesome.

Gorgeous, gorgeous shawl! Have fun wearing it!

What a beautiful piece and the color suits is amazingly. Just stunning.

Simply Gorgeous! I am so amazed with the entire process. I am continously inspired by you to spin laceweight and knit into a lovely shawl. Congrats.

Totally gorgeous. You’re spinning is really wonderful.

That’s exquisite! And spindlespun? Point set match indeed!

The foam-y things for blocking is brilliant! I will definitely be doing that!

So gorgeous! I just emailed my stitch n’ bitch saying that I have knitting envy right now as I know I could never do such an intricate project on a law student schedule. (A comment about my sad life right now and not intended as a comment about your very busy schedule!) Thanks for letting me live vicariously (if enviously!)

Wow! It’s gorgeous! I’m working on one right now.

I love that you bought the shirt specifically to show off the shawl. Heck, you put all those hours and thought and effort into spinning the yarn and knitting the shawl, why not? It is gorgeous in every way.

btw, I love your floors

Thank goodness for your “vanity” – I love seeing the shawl pattern offset like that. I cannot believe you spun for that on a spindle. I have to try it. I actually get much better control on my spindles, but I am so much faster on a wheel. The shawl is amazing and the consistency of that gorgeous handspun is mind-numbing!

In awe….

stunning, stunning, stunning!

Magnificent! It’s a true knitting & spinning tour de force.

So beautiful!

You should get some white pants, too, so we can see the point better.

This shawl is so moving upwards on my to knit-list. I can’t believe you spun the yarn yourself. It is stunning, for sure worth a white shirt!

On your closing thoughts: 1) Handspun anything, especially something this amazing, is a huge accomplishment; 2) A spritz of soapy water or water with a drop of fabric softener might help (or not); 3) Yay for the FSM; 4) Why wouldn’t you buy a new white shirt? Your shawl deserves the proper setting.

Although you can’t tell from the paragraph above, I am speechless with awe at your shawl.

Thanks for sharing, it is stunning. I have always dreamed of spindling enough laceweight to knit a shawl and thought I was absurd to think it was possible, you have moved me to keep on trying.

I am completely jealous. I love that pattern and you did a beautiful job with every part of it. Congratulations!

That is just so completely awesome. From the spindling to the knitting, your workmanship is impeccable and gives me something to aspire to. The shawl is beautiful.

Fabulous job on the shawl!

When did you cut your hair? It’s a great haircut but I remember you were a member of Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists™ (and I even searched to double check). Did you have to resign?

The shawl is truly exquisite – both the fine, fine spinning and the delicate knitting.

And I’m so glad I’m not the only one who considers the “pointing to butt” shawl issue !

A perfect synthesis of fiber, pattern, and knitting. I think you need more than one new white shirt. Wear it with justified pride.

Absolutely stunning!

Very pretty! I love your short haircut.

It is magnificent, as everyone has said. I’m about to start the same pattern (w/commercial yarn). It’s interesting to see that you only put the foam squares at the mid-point and the outer edges. That’s clever, I would have made a big rectangle, wasting time and possibly squares. And doing it on the dining room table? Priceless tip, thanks (and my back thanks you, too).

I seem to remember you were worried about the dimensions, but it seems it came out perfectly sized. Did you make any adjustments, or was it just a function of using your own yarn?

Beautiful, June! I, too, love that you bought the shirt to show of the stitch details

Absolutely gorgeous!

I’ve had that pattern for a while, but have been overwhelmed at the thought of the lace. This just may inspire me to start up though!

I bet Nancy Finn would enjoy seeing a picture of your shawl… Lovely!

Hi Juno,
Many thanks for having me look at your blog. One of these days (ha) I might get time to spin,or knit, maybe both. I always love t see what people do with the fiber. And this is an especially wonderful treat! I’m with the writer who found amazing what one can do with two sticks and caterpiller spit!
Best, Nancy

That is what a shawl should look like. Good call on the shirt. That’s not vain, that’s styling. Going to all that work then hiding it against a dark or matching backrgound would be criminally insane.
So very, very well done. Congratulations.