Between blotch and blok

I hate the final stages of knitting: blocking, pressing, sewing seams, weaving in ends. Which is why, although I finished knitting the shawl the weekend before last, I've only just finished it. I've put on soothing music, woven in all eight loose ends, gently washed the shawl, squished the surplus wet out in a towel, and pinned it out to dry:


I did have some help:

The shawl was almost dry by the time I'd pinned it out, so I don't think--beyond a wet bum--there's much of a problem. He moved as soon as I started making lunch.

So, credits for this piece of work:

• Pattern from The Knitter magazine, issue 91


• Yarn from John Lewis


• Crystal beads from Bluestreak Beads


• Tiny beads from Hobbycraft


• Eucalan from The Sheep Shop (possibly blocking pins, too)


• Music from Annie Dressner, Strangers Who Knew Each Other's Names

And about 25 hours work.