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.

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<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="678" height="508" /></a>

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<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="678" height="507" /></a>

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<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="684" height="911" /></a>

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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 aligncenter" title="IMG_1067" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_1067-1024x724.jpg" alt="" width="679" height="479" /></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="688" height="515" /></a>

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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.

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<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="688" height="916" /></a>

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<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="688" height="917" /></a>

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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.

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<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>

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<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="689" height="459" /></a>

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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">
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<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="689" height="459" /></a>

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And last but not least.  This past spring I made myself a Crashing Waves Shawl.  I used Madelinetish Prairie in Stovepipe and made myself a full shawl version (and I still have yarn left over).  To make the shawlette larger just continue to increase in the established manner until the desired length before the lace portion.  Make sure that your stitch count is a multiple of 6+1.  Then everything else is the same.  I also extended the lace portion of the shawl.  I worked the lace repeat a few more times and then worked the bind off the same.  Here is Jess modeling the shawl version of Crashing Waves.

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0224.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-476" title="DSC_0224" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0224-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="685" height="1024" /></a>

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0228.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-469" title="DSC_0228" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0228-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="685" height="1024" /></a>

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0213.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-474" title="DSC_0213" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC_0213-1024x685.jpg" alt="" width="703" height="469" /></a>