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Dreambird is Finished

Last night, or rather . . very early this morning, I finished Dreambird.

Dreambird

Dreambird

The yarn used in the feathers is Noro Taiyo Sock.  The yarn used in the background is brown  Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids & Quatro Colors.  It took one skein of the Noro yarn, and I cut off the first feather that I did because I felt the needles were too big.  I went from a 3.25 mm to a 2.75 mm needle and liked it a lot more.  I ended up with 21 feathers and would have had 22 had I not cut off that first one.  I might have been able to get one more feather out of the yarn. I wish I had weighed the remainder before doing the 21st feather and then I could have seen how much yarn each feather used and could possibly have gotten a 22nd feather. It’s a good size and I’m happy with it.  I used 1-1/2 skeins of the Cascade and 1 full skein of the Noro.

It has not been blocked yet but I will try to get that done in the next day or so.

Dreambird

Dreambird

Here’s my pep talk!  If you knit, even if you’re not a terribly experienced knitter,  you can make this if you want to do it.  It is not hard, it is not confusing.  The first feather is a little weird but it simply is . . simple!  It took me almost exactly one month to get this done.  It was pretty easy to knit a feather and a brown “wedge” each night.  21 feathers in 31 days is because some days I just didn’t touch my knitting.

It’s just yarn!  If you buy the yarn and try it and it frustrates you, rip it out and make something else with the yarn.  If you never try . . well, quite simply . . you’re never going to make a Dreambird.  How sad! 🙁

When I showed this to Vince, he said “Did you ever think YOU could knit something so pretty?”  I just looked at him  .. like . . why not? He said “Do you remember how hard it was for you to knit that first pair of socks?”  How could I forget? But now I’m of the opinion that I can knit anything I want to knit . . and so can you . . it just depends on how badly you want to knit it!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hooray floor is clean!! I really like that Dreambird…..hmmmmm. I must admit to trying and giving up on socks,,,,,Think I’ll take a class and figure out where I am going wrong??? Maybe I’ll try that Dreambird to 🙂 Thanks for the talk !!!

  2. Lovely. This is the prettiest shawl that I’ve ever seen. If I were to knit, this would be the reason.

  6. Judy, it is downright gorgeous! You should be very proud of yourself for finishing this beauty in a month with all you have going on. Sounds like Vince really like it too!

  8. Beautiful! I like Vince’s funny way of giving you a compliment – if my husband said that I would interpret as 1) he likes it! and 2) he thinks I have worked hard to master a skill – and remembers the frustration of the earlier attempts! My DH is in charge of anything technical – he even figured out my serger several times when I was having trouble. Believe me – if I am having a hard time with something he hears ALL about it! LOL. Lots of socks. Lots of knitting. You finished Dreambird just in time for your new yarn order to arrive!

  10. Beautiful. Mine is about half way done. I need to get the wires ordered so I can block it when it does get done. If I understood you, it will take the Premium and the straight?

  13. if you county in Texas has a fair in Summer, you should enter this shawl next year. i bet you’ll take 1st prize!

  14. Judy, Your Dreambird is beautiful. It’s enough to make a person want to start knitting.

  16. It’s gorgeous! In this day and age, I agree with you – there’s no reason to be afraid to knit anything. You can go on line and find a youtube video that will show you how to do any knitting stitch your heart desires, and Ravelry (and Judy Laquidara) will keep you supplied with any pattern you happen to want! ;D

  17. Judy, I love your Dreambird. I have the pattern and the yarn – as soon as I finish the toe-up 2 socks at a time class I’m taking I’ll start one for me. I did finish my second Hitchhiker scarf. I’m doing far more knitting than quilting right now.

  19. Judy, I’m so impressed with this beautiful shawl. When you were making it, forgive me but I thought from the pictures it was so small, now the shawl on a form shows it’s true beauty and size! (Obviously, I’m only a shawl-knitting dreamer at this point, but I’m so encouraged to give this a try!) Awesome!

  20. Wow! That is amazing. I am always impressed with your awesome talents in everything you do.

  21. Oh my goodness, it is SO beautiful!!! I used to think your orange socks were my favorite… Now that changes…. I LOVE this! I also love that Vince is so impressed with it. I think his comment is a total compliment. My DH would say something similar to me (in fact, he DID say it after I graduated from RN school!). Love it!

    🙂

  22. It is beautiful, you finished it, I started and finished my first feather yesterday. Hopefully I will finish it in a month also. My goal is doing one feather a day but don’t know if I manage to do that.

  23. I’m not a fast knitter. I’ve been not making a shawl for 9 months now! Even when I am knitting, it takes me forever to get even a hat accomplished. I love your dream bird, maybe some day I will attempt it.
    I hope you wear it a lot, bc it is beautiful.

  25. I love your Dreambird…it’s beautiful! I also love your pep talk about knitting. It’s because of you that I tried knitting and made my first project, Wingspan, and am now making my second Wingspan. I have Hitchhiker planned after I finish that and then I may try the Dreambird if I don’t get sidetracked in trying to make some socks. At this point I really don’t know how to read a pattern fully and I only know one stitch but I figure that all I need to know is the stitches a pattern calls for and the internet is such a great place for information! And…if I really get stuck I can stop in one of the local knitting shops and I bet I can get some help. Thanks for encouraging us all!

  29. absolutely lovely! I know I will definitely be making one – just need to finish what I’m working on now – VERY EASY beginner level – miner’s scarf??? which begins at one end – 2 stitches for 4 rows – and grows as you go. So far I’m stuck on row 5! 🙁

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