Happy Monday everyone!  I just moved last week so I haven't had much time to start anything new and exciting.  But today I thought it would be nice to talk about the many faces of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crashing-waves">Crashing Waves</a>.

I have knit countless of these shawls and shawlettes as gifts for my family and friends.  Every time I make one the personality of the recipient shows through the yarn choice.  I have used everything from hand-spun, hand-dyed, to stainless steel.  Here are some images of the versatility of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crashing-waves">Crashing Waves</a>.

In this version I used less than one hank of <a href="http://madelinetosh.com/store/index.php/yarns/prairie.html">Madelinetosh Prairie</a> (100% superwash merino, 840 yards) in Vintage Frame (discontinued colorway).  This is the large version featured in the pattern.  Here is my lovely little sister modeling the shawl.

<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1287.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-482" title="IMG_1287" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1287-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="738" height="553" /></a>

<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1268.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-480 aligncenter" title="IMG_1268" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1268-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="554" /></a>

<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1349.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-483" title="IMG_1349" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1349-768x1024.jpg" alt="" width="738" height="983" /></a>

In this version I used one strand of <a href="http://www.habutextiles.com/A-20">Habu A-20 Silk Stainless Steel</a> in 7 Yamabuki Orange and <a href="http://jadesapphire.com/">Jade Sapphire Lacy Lamb</a> in NY109.  I thought that the Lacy Lamb needed a little umph which is why I chose to pair it with the Silk Stainless.  The Silk Stainless is one of my new favorite yarns, it seems like I have every color in my stash and I want to use it in everything I make.  Here are a few images of the two held together living merrily in harmony.

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1067.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-478 alignnone" title="IMG_1067" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1067-1024x724.jpg" alt="" width="754" height="532" /></a>

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Crashing-waves-6.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-493" title="Crashing waves 6" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Crashing-waves-6-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="754" height="565" /></a>

You can see how well the two yarns work together.  The Lacy Lamb has such a delicate feel and look while the delicacy of the Silk Stainless is paired with its strength.  The Silk Stainless hugs the Lacy Lamb and adds a little bit of what I call "crunch factor" to the texture.

In this version of Crashing Waves I used my own hand-spun.  The roving was a 50% silk 50% merino blend.  I dyed it "Grace's Green" in the Pagewood Farm dye studio where Robin Page has been very kind to invite me several times for "dye-day."  I spun the roving into only a single ply.  In the second image you can see more of the color variegation and inconsistency of my spinning.

<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1696.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-489" title="IMG_1696" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1696-768x1024.jpg" alt="" width="758" height="1010" /></a>

<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1691.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-485" title="IMG_1691" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1691-768x1024.jpg" alt="" width="756" height="1009" /></a>

I was only able to get a couple of good shots of this version of Crashing Waves.  I knit this one out of Koigu KPM (in three different colors).  I know it's hardly noticeable.  I used two kinds of maroons (one dark and one light) and one light blue.  When I ran out of the dark maroon (in the second to last stripe) is switched to the lighter one (you can see this better in the image below).  Then I ran out of the lighter maroon, so I bound off in the light blue.  I definitely had a lot of fun knitting this one because there was never a dull moment, I was either always changing color, working the lace, or that fun short-row bind off.<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0203.jpg">
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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0199.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-487 alignnone" title="DSC_0199" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0199-1024x685.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="503" /></a>

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0203.jpg"><img title="DSC_0203" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0203-1024x685.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="502" /></a>

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Here is yet another version of Crashing Waves.  I did not knit this one, my friend Hanna knit this for Wildfiber.  I would say this is the most interesting version of Crashing Waves I have seen so far.  I love love love this one.  She used Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Faded Chinos alternating every two rows with Habu Textiles Spiral Slub.  Here is Jess modeling the shawl.

<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0247.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-466" title="DSC_0247" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0247-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="685" height="1024" /></a>

<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0251.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-465" title="DSC_0251" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0251-1024x685.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480" /></a>

In the photo below you can see how the striping looks up close.  When she got to the lace Hanna only used the Madeline Tosh Tosh Merino Light.<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0247.jpg">
</a><a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0237.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-467" title="DSC_0237" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0237-1024x685.jpg" alt="" width="722" height="482" /></a>