It all started when Pixie’s college friend asked her to knit him a glamourous rainbow shawl for his wedding! They selected a pattern to serve as a starting point, planned the color story, did a little math to figure out how much yarn it would take, and found a dyer (Pook Yarns) to create a custom gradient. Then it was time to start knitting.
On 11/19/22 she officially cast on–a technique for creating the first row of stitches on the needle…
![Sketch, yarn, and progress shot of shawl](https://www.acemakerspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/textiles-pixie-shawl-plan-progress-275x300.jpg)
…6 months later she finished the last stitch and the shawl was ready for blocking!
![Gradient shawl on black foam mat](https://www.acemakerspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/textiles-pixie-blocking-wet-300x225.jpg)
Blocking describes a finishing process used by knitters and crocheters to even out their stitches and set the shape and size for their pieces. It involves wetting the fabric, stretching it until it’s just right, and allowing it to set as it dries.
![Shawl soaking in sink](https://www.acemakerspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/textiles-blocking-soak-pixie-300x225.jpg)
![close up of hands pinning edge of shawl](https://www.acemakerspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/textiles-pixie-blocking-pins-300x225.jpg)
Since Pixie improvised a little to extend the pattern as she knit, she wasn’t entirely sure what the final shape would look like. Though she started pinning the outer edge into sharp points, she decided to re-pin it with a scalloped edge to better showcase the lace details. She also wasn’t sure what shape the neckline would take and re-pinned it several times to get it just right.
![Person using pointed hands to check symmetry of shawl](https://www.acemakerspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/textiles-pixie-neckline-shawl-300x225.jpg)
Stretching is an art. You have to fiddle with it to see what happens -Pixie
![Artist posing with blocked, shawl with scalloped edge](https://www.acemakerspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/textiles-pixie-blocked-shawl-300x236.jpg)
Once she finished blocking she allowed it to dry overnight and then removed the pins.
![Removing pins from lace](https://www.acemakerspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/textiles-pixie-unpinningshawl-300x196.jpg)
![Person in gradient knit shawl](https://www.acemakerspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/textiles-pixie-modeling-203x300.jpg)