Inspiration... Where Do You Go Melissa?

Yeah, I get asked that a lot. If the answer were simple, well... you can figure out the rest...

Anyway -- here's an example of where my brain sometimes goes when I have the sketchbook and needles out...
 
The cape I designed for SWTC, who make the coolest yarns and fibres for us to enjoy...

 a French art deco gate that caught my eye in an architecture book

And the edging that I worked into the border of the shawl... it's a traditional edging from a Barbara Walker book that I messed with...  Getting the curves into the lace stitch is not for the faint of heart, as knitting tends to like edges when it comes to eyelets and motifs. Yeah, I like to push my luck regarding lace designs, as those of you have seen my recent design in Yarn Magazine #25, the Rivuletto shawl...

I really need to re-photograph the Oz Wrap border huh? If you aren't interested in knitting the entire cape (which is worked from the top down) you can make a pretty scarf just by working the border and some additional selvedge stitches.

Sincere thanks to Jonelle Beck who permits (indulges) me to send her some of my more off-centre suggestions. I love the way the finished shawl feels. Note: for those of us who are not that patient, the shawl can be worn straight off the needles.... If you are more discerning, it looks totally different blocked. Stay tuned for more photos of that!

Oh, and wouldn't that imaged scarf look pretty if some of the String Me Along were worked in as a carry-along? Just saying is all...

SWTC String Me Along available from Stranded In Oz