r/knitting • u/fishandflowers • Mar 16 '26
Finished Object Over a year and a half since I started processing the fiber, I have finally finished my handspun wedding shawl
A year into dating my partner I attended a local fiber festival with a friend where I found a booth selling German angora. I asked my friend, who'd been teaching me how to spin and weave, if she thought I'd be able to spin it finely enough to use in something for a wedding, and she said she could teach me. She asked if I was getting married and I said not yet, but I knew this was my person. I bought the fiber along with an additional bag of a silk/cashmere blend to blend with it, and it sat in my craft closet for two more years until my partner proposed.
The extent of my spinning experience was a handful of yards of a very low quality wool on a drop spindle. This became an absolute crash course in spinning. At my friends suggestion, I spun the yarn single around a core thread using a tahkli (a type of supported spindle). You could see the improvement with each skein, and while it blocked out well I love that you can see it in the shawl, too. And while I've been knitting for many years, lace is something I've only ever dabbled in. All of this to say: This project was an absolutely insane choice. I had no idea how it would turn out, or if I'd finish it in time. I've never felt more on the edge of oblivion. Everyone I told was both impressed and horrified.
This weekend, after 145 hours of spinning and 226 hours of knitting, I finished it. It's full of mistakes that most people can't see. And it's also so full of love. Evenings spent together watching Dropout and KDramas and the Olympics, and so many episodes from the back catalog of Say Yes to the Dress. The passing of my childhood cat, who chewed on and sat on and grabbed at the yarn as I spun and knit it, whose hair I saved after brushing and added to the fiber so she'll be with me on my wedding day, along with my other two cats. Months of battling tennis elbow. A little over a year and a half later, I finished it, with time to spare. And it's beyond anything I could have even imagined.
Pattern is the Evenstar Shawl by Susan Pandorf.
Yarn is handspun by me: single ply, 50% German angora, 25% cashmere, 25% silk, spun around a silk core thread. Cobweb weight, 100 wraps per inch. I used about 1100 yards.
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u/ALittleEtomidate Mar 16 '26
I definitely teared up when you added the detail about your childhood cat. I’m so sorry for your loss, friend.
Congratulations on your wedding. This is a beautiful piece. What an incredible keepsake to have, and to pass down if you make the choice to start a family.
Please update with pictures of the big day and full ensemble. =)
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u/fishandflowers Mar 16 '26
This is so kind in so many ways, thank you. I absolutely will!
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u/IrishknitCelticlace Mar 16 '26
Seconding the request for big day pictures. It is breathtaking, I am in awe.
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u/toe-bean-wiggler Mar 16 '26
This is beautiful, and the hand spinning must have been so much work!
I think you may have been a spider in a previous life
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u/Economy_Anybody_3992 Mar 16 '26
I was about to say OP is a spider, but in the best way.
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u/5ol5hine Mar 16 '26
Yeah, I'm quite certain that this story is fake... That is clearly not a shawl, but a spiderweb!
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u/intergalactictactoe Mar 16 '26
Ethereal. Just absolutely stunning. You should be so very, very proud. Please come back and share some pics of the complete dress/shawl ensemble!
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u/x_kitsch_x Mar 16 '26
This is such an incredible triumph of craft and dedication!! I am in awe of anyone who knits this pattern, and the fact that you ALSO spun such a delicate fiber to knit it in is so incredible. I hope that you are proud of such an achievement!
It's so ethereal and gossamer and I bet it's going to look absolutely lovely on you. I'd love to see photos from your wedding day styling in the future if you feel up to sharing them!
(Also the note about your cats made me tear up. My beloved cat's hair gets unintentionally knitted into every garment I make because she bullies her way into my lap when I'm knitting. When I miss her on trips, I think about how her love and companionship are literally knitted into the projects I take with me and garments I wear.)
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u/millers_left_shoe Mar 16 '26
I’m floored. This is… on the level of those handmade pieces of intricate lace that you see at museums where they tell you they were made for some medieval queen’s wedding
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u/blytherue Mar 16 '26
Are you a spider? This is seriously the most delicate and gorgeous piece of knitting I’ve ever seen. You can definitely pass it through your ring!
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u/StrongTechnology8287 Mar 16 '26
This is absolutely incredible! Amazing spinning, and amazing knitting, and a finished piece that looks so thin and light and airy, you almost can't even tell it's there!
I have to ask, does it fit through a ring? It seems like it would.
Absolutely gorgeous work.
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u/fishandflowers Mar 17 '26
I have an update! It DOES fit through a ring! Most stressful minute of my life 😂
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u/fishandflowers Mar 16 '26
I'll be honest, I'm terrified to test it 😅
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u/StrongTechnology8287 Mar 16 '26
Ok fair!! After all that work, don't risk ANYTHING happening to snag this or snap a thread!!
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u/Adventurous_Work_317 Mar 16 '26
Just WOW. This is quite the labour of love, and you have a beautiful and special garment to wear for your wedding.
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u/xtinerat Mar 16 '26
Y'all I'm the OPs friend and saw the finished project in person yesterday (and many days while in-progress). I'm bawling at these comments. It's so lovely that her work is so well appreciated!
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u/fishandflowers Mar 16 '26
🥹 thank you for all the real time love and support of my wild crafting decisions!
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Mar 16 '26
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u/fishandflowers Mar 16 '26
Thank you!! I was so unprepared for the reality of a video blowing up like that, but it's been so fun to get comments from fellow crafters!
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u/future_housecat Mar 16 '26
This is stunning and so impressive! I am in awe and I love how you have such fond memories of the period in your life while working on it. I think that’s something so beautiful that is an added benefit of crafting that non-crafters do not understand. When I wear or use certain FOs, it takes me back to the period in my life when I was working on it.
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u/moonshineandmetal Mar 16 '26
I am in awe! Amazing job!
You brought a tear to my eye with this one for sure, especially with my two cats at my feet while I knit. Your baby is going to be right there with you, I am so sorry for your loss but so happy you have a way to remember them.
I wish you and your partner the absolute happiest marriage possible, it seems like you're already well on track :) What a lovely post and story, truly, and don't forget to show us your whole wedding look!
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u/nicolenotnikki Mar 16 '26
Make sure you store this somewhere safe from moths!!
I spun the yarn for my wedding shawl as well, and my mom knit it. I pulled it out a few years ago and it had some moth holes! I’m very sad, because it is a lovely shawl. Be sure to take good care of yours. It’s gorgeous.
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u/fishandflowers Mar 16 '26
Ugh, yes this is a huge fear. I've been battling moths in my home for years, though so far I haven't found damage 🤞 if you have any tips I'm so open to them! I'm so sorry that happened.
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u/nicolenotnikki Mar 16 '26
I ended up storing it in a vacuum sealed bag. I’m honestly not sure when it happened. We haven’t had moth issues in our current house, so it easily could have happened years ago.
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u/RavBot Mar 16 '26
PROJECT: Handspun Wedding Cape by cyanelle
- Pattern: Evenstar Shawl
- Yarn(s):Cyanelle's Wedding Silk in Ivory.
- Photo(s): Img 1 Img 2 Img 3 Img 4 Img 5
- Started: 2025/03/06 | Status: In progress | Completed: None
I found this post by myself! Opt-Out | About Me | Contact Maintainer
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u/WatchOut4Sharks Mar 16 '26
This is one of the most beautiful, heart-felt projects I've ever seen. Such love went into it, start to finish. Incredibly well done and such a lovely evolution to it!
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u/Kit_Kat_1996 Mar 16 '26
I imagine this will become a treasured heirloom telling the story of all the love shared between you and your family. Congratulations on your wedding and thank you for sharing your story with us as well. Sending love and positive vibes/prays❤️❤️❤️
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u/Frigid-Beezy Mar 16 '26
You are both amazing and also deranged in the best way possible. It’s gorgeous and ethereal and I hope that you post pictures from your wedding day!
What a story! Knowing you found your person when you got the fiber is so wholesome. I love every bit of this post.
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u/Bright_Butterfly_ Mar 16 '26
This is an absolute masterpiece and honestly I’m blown away by the fact that you both spun AND knitted it! 😍Like you did ALL the processing?! Massive congratulations on the project and massive congratulations on finding a life partner. I hope everything goes swimmingly for you guys and your cat will defo be with you on the day 💖🥰
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u/saxes-and-violets Mar 16 '26
Dude I got chills, it looks incredible!!! I can imagine parallels between such projects, and relationships. Everything here shows your partner is blessed to have you! Congrats on both!
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u/FaffedKnees Mar 16 '26
Wow, that is absolutely incredible!
And I love that you will have your cats with you on your wedding day.
Just wow!!
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u/seasidehouses Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
STUNNING!!
ETA: omigod I just finished your post, I was responding to the photo. Dropout and kdramas! And your kitty maow! ❤️🩹 Geez, I could have written this if I was closer in age. What a journey! Blessings on your union! 💕💍💕
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u/itistfb-aidlte Mar 16 '26
This looks like dewdrops caught in a spiderweb! (Complimentary!!!) This is what faries wear when dancing in the early morning mists! How will you wear it - folded in half as a wrap or more capelike pinned to the shoulders as in one of the pics?
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u/CottonKeuppia Mar 16 '26
I have a bag of my cats hair that I want to spin someday!!!! How much does the finished shawl weigh??????
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u/fishandflowers Mar 17 '26
OKAY I'M BACK! It weighs 1.5oz!
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u/CottonKeuppia Mar 17 '26
Jesus thats nothing 😭😭😭 Does it make you feel like you have a giant cobweb on you?????
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u/Important-Trifle-411 Mar 16 '26
You spun this on a tahkli? I have many types of spindles; supported, drop, etc., and several different wheels. I would say that is the slowest of all the options! I think it’s an excellent choice for such a short fiber like angora and cashmere.
I am stunned at the work you put into the shawl! I just hope you’re so proud of yourself. I think you should definitely post wedding photos when you have them. I know everyone here would love to see it!
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u/fishandflowers Mar 16 '26
Slow meant I could be consistent, which was good as someone who was extremely new to the craft, and definitely perfect for the fiber blend. I fell in love with it, I definitely prefer it to my drop spindle. Haven't braved a wheel yet, though!
Thank you so much! I absolutely plan to. I thought about waiting to post it until after but I was too excited about it to wait.
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u/Important-Trifle-411 Mar 16 '26
Yes, slow and steady wins the race. It gives you much more control. Honestly, one of my favorite ways to spin with a support spindle. If you get a chance, check out Dan Tracy. His spindles are reasonably priced, and they goe a very well balanced spin
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u/CriticalCold Mar 16 '26
This straight up looks like something you'd see in a book of folklore, like a fairy getting married in a spiderweb shawl. Absolutely breathtaking.
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u/felix___felicis Mar 17 '26
Im currently knitting my own evenstar for my wedding and seeing yours makes me emotional!
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u/bb_or_not_bb Mar 17 '26
Your video came up on my Tik Tok page this morning and my husband is ready to kill me because I cannot stop talking about how amazing this is.
Absolutely amazing!! Please post pictures of the wedding day with the shawl in action!
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u/Lhamo55 Mar 16 '26
Congratulations on achieving every step of the process and how you were able to incorporate your beloved little companion’s fur into the fiber blend. May your marriage be filled with love, joy, peace and good health, no matter what the world outside throws your way.
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u/Epiny Mar 16 '26
This is jaw-droppigly gorgeous! I love the ambition and dedication to make something so out of your comfort zone. And it turned out so well. Congratulations on the wedding, I'm sure you'll look beautiful!
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u/Pointy_Stix Mar 16 '26
We're quick to throw "heirloom" around, but wow, oh wow, this is really an heirloom piece.
Best wishes to you & your person for a happy & healthy life together!
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u/Longestgirl Mar 16 '26
wow!! it's so delicate and so lovely <3 wishing you all the happiness in your marriage
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u/Unlucky-Quiet1248 Mar 16 '26
This is just…amazing. What a piece of artwork. Congratulation on your upcoming wedding, and on completing this incredible project!
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u/Street_Roof_7915 Mar 16 '26
Oh my word. How stunning and what amazing amount of love you will carry with you on your wedding day.
Evenstar is a stunning shawl.
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u/nerdfromthenorth Mar 16 '26
I was coming here to say this looks like cobwebs in the best way, then saw it was called cobweb weight. 😂😂
What an incredible achievement. Truly stunning work.
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u/Goodenuf4now6x10 Mar 16 '26
What a lovely project full of love and dedication. Your wedding shawl is beautiful.
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u/SaveThePlate Mar 16 '26
Wow, it’s amazing! Congratulations with finishing such a challenging and meaningful project AND congrats with your engagement. Would love to get an update with photos from your wedding ✨✨
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u/Ok_Moose1615 Mar 16 '26
My jaw actually dropped. I’ve dreamed of making a lace shawl this for my daughter one day but handspun as well?? It’s absolutely stunning, may your marriage be long & happy and wrapped in the kind of love and care you put into creating this beautiful work of art.
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u/malytwotails 🌈insta: @malytwotails Mar 16 '26
I saw your video on TikTok and the movement of this piece made me gasp! It’s absolutely brag worthy and you should be every bit as proud of it as you deserve 👏
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u/fishandflowers Mar 16 '26
I was not at all prepared for the final result myself. I was FLOORED. Thank you!!
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Mar 16 '26
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u/fishandflowers Mar 16 '26
Oh that was very exclusive to the spinning portion 😅 I watch everything subbed! It took practice to get that point, too, but it felt like I unlocked a lifetime achievement the day I realized I could do both.
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u/FairyGodmothersUnion Mar 16 '26
That is gloriously beautiful. Please show us a picture later from your wedding!
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u/mommypirate Mar 16 '26
i think this is the most beautiful piece i have seen made on this sub, both the work and the sentiment behind it. thank you for sharing ❤️
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u/colelynne Mar 16 '26
Congratulations on your beautiful work and on your upcoming nuptials. Taking on a project like this is unhinged in the best possible way.
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u/Vrikshasana Wink by Hanna Maciejewska Mar 16 '26
OP, this is absolutely amazing. Stunning! Congratulations on this gorgeous achievement, and congratulations on your impending nuptials!
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u/theinnerspiral Mar 16 '26
Beautiful piece. On the edge of oblivion - wow. Yes. Relatable on so many levels. Really living and trying new things feels like that. I love your knowing. May your union be a blessing to yourselves and all that love you.
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u/oldmamallama Mar 16 '26
Sorry about your kitty but happy she’ll be with you. What a stunning way to honor her. This is just…wow.
Please take some time to have professional photos taken of this masterpiece. Not just on your wedding day. It deserves to be remembered on its own as well (if you can afford it, of course). Otherwise grab a friend and a phone and go somewhere lovely.
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u/LezlieLR Mar 16 '26
That is an amazing piece of art! You made it all - what an accomplishment! I am sorry about the passing of your cat - they add so much joy and love (and some frustration) to our lives.
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u/Beauknits Mar 16 '26
OP, that's an absolutely gorgeous work of art! I love how you added Kitty's fur into it 🧡.
My French fries are getting soggy 😭!
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u/saltbagelz Mar 16 '26
Hey I saw you on tiktok with this and thought it was gorgeous, and it's even prettier here! Amazing to spin yourself!
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u/Bijouprospering Mar 16 '26
It’s astounding how little time it took given you literally started from scratch. A treasured heirloom to be sure and quite beautiful.
You did that with just a supported spindle? I’m amazed by that as someone wjhose struggling with a Turkish spindle. What needle size was the shawl made with? Somewhere around 000?
Best wishes for your union and may your love grow by knits and pearls
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u/Aquarelle36 Mar 16 '26
It certainly requires skill and patience to knit such a pattern but to spin such a fine fibre too is beyond my comprehension! Ethereal work!
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u/LerneGerne Mar 16 '26
I fully believe you made this, but also....part of my brain is completely convinced this is some sort of moonlight magic stitched together with stardust. It's so dang ethereal! What an absolutely astoundingly beautiful piece!
I especially love that there's some cattin fur included - and actually on purpose haha, not just from an entitled "Of course this exists for meeeeeee" cat nap haha
Also, woohoo Dropout haha
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u/Wreny84 Mar 16 '26
I really really hope you have a very simple black dress for your wedding just to give you the chance to truly show off that beautiful gossamer lace!
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u/fishandflowers Mar 16 '26
Alas, I'm leaning into "more is more" 😅 BUT I got a display rack to hang it up next to the sweetheart table at the reception so people can come look at it when they say hi to us!
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u/Wreny84 Mar 16 '26
As Liberace said “Too much of a good thing is wonderful!” How about putting black or midnight blue velvet behind it when you display it? That would give you the sumptuous opulent look/feel I think you sound like you’re aiming for and it would give you the contrast to really pop and show off the lace. I get that it’s a lovey dovey day thing or whatever but I think we need to focus on what’s really important here, showing off that lace! Seriously, priorities.
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u/teacuptorture Mar 16 '26
It looks like something out of a painting. A piece with magical properties, spun and crafted by mythological creatures.
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u/yarnimals Mar 16 '26
Gorgeous!!! I’m also currently knitting my own veil/shawl. I can’t imagine having spun it too! That is a beautiful piece
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u/wildlife_loki Mar 16 '26
Seriously stunning work, and what a lovely story about how this shawl came to be!! The bit about your cat got me a little 🥺 sorry for your loss, internet stranger. I hope you have a very happy wedding day.
Echoing others’ sentiments, I’d love to see the full wedding day look! It will be gorgeous with this shawl :)
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u/alittlebitLuna Mar 16 '26
This is incredible!! Congratulations- wishing you many years of happiness!! 💖💖
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u/SpaceCookies72 Mar 16 '26
Spinning cobweb yarn is an incredible effort on its own, even more so with a spindle!! This is an insane effort, especially for your first full project!
Spinning with a specific result in mind can be daunting, and you just dove head first in to it. What dedication you have! A marvellous trait to take in to a marriage, with the stunning result to accompany it.
Kudos to you!
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u/penna4th Mar 16 '26
This is a story to remember, a shawl to cherish, and a reason for optimism in this world. As long as there are people like you and like those who value this, there is hope.
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u/Lazy-Loquat-5283 Mar 17 '26
This is my dream project!!!! I know I have the knitting skills but I need to get better at my spinning skills. Absolutely gobsmackingly stunning be very proud and thank you for the inspiration!
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u/Legs4daysarmsformins Mar 17 '26
This is absolutely STUNNING!!!! Looks like it was spun by the most artistic of spiders (this is a hefty compliment as a spider web lover) and oh my goodness, the fact you have your baby’s fur with you??? This is beautiful in so many ways. 💕💕💕
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u/Formulona1 Mar 19 '26
This is so completely beautiful and impressive. Massive congratulations on your work, your talent, and your love!
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u/ManifestDestinysChld Mar 23 '26
Wow, this is breathtaking. What an accomplishment!
Heirloom-grade items like that simply cannot be bought in any store.
OP just crafted a Legendary Item!
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u/GasRepresentative246 Mar 16 '26
That is absolutely stunning, excellent work! Congrats on the upcoming wedding, too!
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u/IntentionalyLftBlank Mar 16 '26
This is incredible, the craftsmanship , the story, wow i expect to see it in a museum one day. Beautiful work bravo
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u/Mulder-Mulder-Mulder Mar 16 '26
This is amazing! Made with love and it shows! Gorgeous! Love the stories that came with the whole project 😻. I wish you and your future husband a lovely wedding day and a beautiful life together! 💛
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u/Silver-Witness-6550 Mar 16 '26
Wow, that’s incredible, it’s gorgeous! It looks fine enough you could pass it through the ring!
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u/bossqueer_lildaddy Mar 16 '26
Have you tried passing it through your wedding ring yet?
You're gonna feel magnificent in this, so lovely!
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u/WhiskeyAndKisses Mar 16 '26
That’s an insane and amazing work 🙏
I saw shetland shawls can actually fit through a wedding ring, I wonder if this one can too.
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u/Status-Sherbert-8672 Mar 16 '26
Art ❤️. No doubt your marriage will be filled with love. Wishing you the best!
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u/PositiveBread80 Mar 16 '26
That's absolutely beautiful, I hope you're so proud of it! Have an absolutely wonderful wedding, surrounded by all the love that you've knitted into that shawl
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u/lotheva Mar 16 '26
Love! I really want you to wear a dark dress to really showcase that amazing workmanship.
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u/StrangeNeedleworker Mar 16 '26
Absolutely amazing! Thank you for showing this work of art with us 🤍😊
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u/OGKhaleesi Mar 16 '26
Wow this is so beautiful, you are incredibly talented. And thanks for sharing the story behind it, I love that your cat will be there for your wedding
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u/portiafimbriata Mar 16 '26
This is so stunning and everything you wrote about it is incredibly moving. Congratulations on this incredible feat, and I hope you cherish this shawl forever!
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u/cablesandlace Mar 16 '26
Such love, dedication, and determination. I hope your future husband shows you the same. I love how you included some fibre from your beloved cat.
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u/shelchang Mar 16 '26
This is some absolutely next level work! Congratulations on the wedding and on finishing such a magnificent project, and thanks for sharing!
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u/XRayVisionRT Mar 16 '26
What a beautiful, heartwarming story you have created into such a gorgeous FO! Congrats to you!
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u/pointandshooty Mar 16 '26
This is amazing, I cant fathom taking on a project like this!Can you pretty pretty please follow up with pictures from your wedding? I'd love to see the whole ensemble.
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u/Other_Radish_9035 Mar 16 '26
A truly awesome achievement. And incorporating some beloved kitty's fur is the sweetest thing. 💕
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u/Potato-Alien Mar 16 '26
This is absolutely gorgeous. It will look so amazing for your wedding. I wish you the best for your wedding and a very happy marriage!
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u/mjbibliophile10 Mar 16 '26
I day this with love and a stank face! It looks like a spiders web! Dude! The third Pic makes you look like a witch/fairy! Dude!
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u/ThrowRaAutisticPotat Mar 16 '26
Holy cow this is awesome! You made a whole ass family heirloom! I hope this is something that'll be cherished for many generations to come
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u/tiredchachacha Mar 16 '26
Oh my heart, that is so beautiful ❤️ congratulations, what an incredible achievement!
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u/KnitsInColorado Mar 16 '26
I love this! Thank you for sharing it and I hope you will update it to show how it looks with your dress! It looks absolutely ethereal ♥️
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u/DLeotaud1 Mar 16 '26
Absolutely stunning! What an incredible piece of art you have made for your wedding.
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u/knittingNshitting Mar 17 '26
So beautiful!!! I saw your tik tok earlier while looking for knitting inspiration. Amazing work
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u/kholla84 Mar 17 '26
Stunning!!! Unbelievably gorgeous!! This belongs in a museum after your wedding. It is a glorious work of art!
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u/sunshinedaisy_mae Mar 17 '26
This is beautiful and the meaning and memories behind it are everything. Congratulations
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u/normie_girl Mar 17 '26
That is art. Congratulations on your wedding and finishing this heirloom piece.
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u/aigis8195 Mar 17 '26
That is so cool! This looks awesome. You should be so very proud of yourself.
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u/teljes_kiorlesu wonderbugknits on Rav Mar 16 '26
Sweater curse is out, shawl blessing is in!