FO: Lily of the Valley Shawl
Pattern: Nancy Bush's pattern in Lace Style
Needle: Addi turbo Lace US6
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Lace, 2 skeins
Finished size: 65" x 30" (I knit one extra pattern repeat)
I'm really happy how it turned out.
May 12, 2008
September 17, 2007
FO: Frost Flowers & Leaves
I really enjoyed knitting this shawl. It took my whole summer!
Pattern: Frost Flowers and Leaves by Eugen Buegler from "A Gathering of Lace"
Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr in Sable (from my stash)
Needles: Addi Natura Circular US3 3.25mm, US 3 dpns
Size after blocking: 52" square, 68" at the diagonal (measured 36" square before blocking)
Start: June 14, 2007
Finished: Sep 15, 2007
Notes: I only repeated chart 2 five times not the seven repeats called for in the pattern. The circular beginning and lace grafting are two new techniques for me. See entry on grafting here. It really helped to join the Knit-Along.
See some blocking pics and comments in the extended entry:
September 13, 2007
Frost Flowers - Grafting is Done!
I still have to weave in ends and dress the shawl, but the grafting of the edging is DONE! I read all the advice on the web I could find here and here and all the advice on the knit-along, but I really struggled with this bit. I also studied the good advice from Robert Powell in A Gathering of Lace. I knit a repeat of the edge pattern, using waste yarn in contrasting color I knit the first row of the edging before re-joining the edge to the body of the shawl with the main color. The row knit in the contrasting color is the path to follow as you graft. I also knit a swatch with US 8 needles to help me visualize the join and pinned it out.
Even with all the reading and re-reading all the advice, poking, prodding, turning the edging over to see how it all comes together, it took trial and error over three nights to finally get it.
June 29, 2007
Frost Flowers & Leaves
I started the Frost Flowers & Leaves shawl two weeks ago. This is the first shawl I've ever knit circularly (is that a word?) I'm using Jaggerspun Zephyr in sable - I have a lot left over from my Peacock Feathers shawl. Beginning the shawl on DPNs is so dang fiddly, but once I got past that - I'm really enjoying the knitting. It's almost nicer than having to turn your work over to knit the wrong side.
A whole bunch of false starts. It took me two nights and many more false starts to get going.
Here it the center of the shawl - still on the DPNs (yuck). You can see the pattern forming. So pretty!
This is the end of the first repeat of chart 2. Yeah!
January 29, 2007
Trinket
I received the Trinket Scarf kit for Christmas.
Here's a detail of the beading.
Although I have some Kid Silk Haze in my stash, this is the first time I've used it in a project. It wasn't so bad. I think I'm ready to take on Birch.
July 30, 2006
FO: Peacock Feathers Shawl
I finished my peacock feathers shawl. I used the yarn called for in the pattern, the Jaggerspun Zephyr in sable. I love this pattern, but I wasn't too thrilled with the finished shawl. My gauge was so off! The final measurments of the shawl is 98' across and 55" from top to tip. It's about 10" longer than the pattern says. I used US 3 addi naturas (which is smaller than the US4 needled called for in the pattern) but I guess I'm a loose knitter. Here are some photos:
I'm 5'6" tall -- see how there's about 8" hanging from my hand.
July 29, 2006
Saturday Sky and Peacock Feathers
Here's Irvine's sky around 5:40PM today.
The clouds are starting to break up after looking like rain all day. It's been yucky hot and humid today.
I finished my Peacock Feathers Shawl on Tuesday. I haven't had time to get a picture of it on, yet. Here it is blocking.
July 20, 2006
Shake your tail feathers
(Ok, this is the obligatory blog entry title for anyone knitting the Peacock Feathers Shawl. Just at "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" is for anyone knitting a Diamond Fantasy Shawl)
Yay! I started the final edging chart for the shawl. It's slow going right now and taking me an hour to complete one row of the pattern (including the purl/wrongside row). Gah! I've been trying to knit at least two rows each night. I had to really haul ass last night because I needed to finish my two rows before Project Runway -- I can't knit lace while watching that show. Oh so sad to see that Malan from Taiwan is gone....
I hope to finish and block by the end of this weekend.
June 21, 2006
Peacock Shawl
I'm progressing on my shawl. I finished chart 1 last night.
A pretty detail shot (click for a bigger picture)
May 26, 2006
Friday Morning FO: Little Arrowhead
I finished the Little Arrowhead Shawl by Pam Allen from Interweave Knits' free online lace projects. I used one skein of Blackberry Ridge Silk Blend Lace in Samarkand Blue from my stash and US6 addis. This was a pretty quick knit and I really like the finished scarf.
I will probably wear it more like this:
April 21, 2006
FO: Diamond Fantasy Scarf
Pattern: Sivia Harding's Diamond Fantasy
Yarn: 2 Skeins of Morehouse Merino Lace in Silver Birch (you can only get this color through their Verona Lace Shawl kit)
Needles: Addi Natura Circular US5 3.75mm (I wasn't too thrilled about this needle; the yarn kept sticking in the join of the cable and needle)
Size: 22" from tip to top; 44" across
Size after blocking: 30" tip to top; 60" across
You can knit a scarf size (6 repeats) or shawl size (10 repeats) I knit the scarf size, but did 7 repeats because I wanted to use up most of both skeins of yarn.
Start: March 23, 2006
Finished: April 20, 2006
Notes: The pattern calls for an I-cord bind-off. It took me an hour and 15 minutes to bind off 212 stitches. I love the edging of the scarf, which you bind off as you go along.
See some blurry pics in the extended entry:
April 05, 2006
Parade of Works in Progress
What with the daylight savings starting, I was able to get home from work and take a few pics of my works in progress.
Diamond Fantasy Shawl at the end of the 3rd repeat of Chart B:
Baby hat:
Debbie Bliss Bolero:
I'm stuck at the short row shawl collar. It looks all wonky because the collar is on a too-short circular needle.
I've already had to frog the collar. See:
March 23, 2006
Diamond Fantasy
While I wait for my Sunrise Circle Jacket to block, I cast on for the Diamond Fantasy Shawl. See, I already have one diamond!
I also joined the Knit Along for this shawl, hosted by the designer Sivia Harding. I'm really excited.
I originally wanted to use the Kid Silk Haze I had in my stash, but after starting then having to re-start then having to de-tangle it, I decided to use Morehouse Farm Merino Lace instead. I want to enjoy knitting the pattern, not have to fight with the yarn.
March 04, 2006
I finished Ene's Scarf!
Here's my completed Ene:
Pattern: Ene's Scarf by Nancy Bush from Scarf Style
Yarn: Blackberry Ridge Lace Weight Silk Blend in Samarkand Blue, 2 Skeins, plus a tiny bit of a third skein
Needles: 4 mm/US 6 addi turbos
Start: 2-10-06
Finished: 3-3-06 (Included the blocking process, which took one day)
Finished size: Pre-blocking - 50" wide across the top, 29" from tip to top
After blocking - 66" across top, 33" from tip to top
Notes: I ran out of yarn with 7 rows more to knit. The final size of the shawl makes me think that I knitted this really loosely. I think I would go down a needle size next time I knit this. Unfortunately I was unable to win gold for the Knitting Olympics, but I'm so happy with the results. The shawl warms you up when you wear it.
See more pics in the extended entry
February 26, 2006
Knitting Olympics - Final Update
Last night, I was well on my way to finishing Ene, then this:
ACK! I ran out of yarn with only 6 more rows of the chart to finish!
I guess I get a DNF next to my name. I hope everyone else fared better.
February 20, 2006
Knitting Olympics - Day 10
I'm progressing on my Ene, but I feel like I'm running down the Poltergeist hallway that keeps extending and extending. This is a picture of the first two charts and all of one repeat of Chart 3.
I'm taking advantage of President's day holiday and re-runs of Project Runway and I'm hopefully going to get a bit more of Ene done.
February 13, 2006
Olympics Update - Day 3
Here's progress on my Ene.
I wanted to get through all 22 rows of chart one by the end of this weekend, but only completed up to row 16. You can start to see the diamond pattern emerge. This is the fun part of knitting lace -- to see the pattern start to form on your fabric. Casting on was a bear, but I'm planning on smooth sailing from now on. (Crossed fingers and toes.)
Sadly, some of our Ene team has been Kwan'd (a la Michelle Kwan). I found out there are more Ene knitters: check them out on Mandella's sidebar.
February 11, 2006
Trouble out of the shoot
I waited to cast on for Ene until 8pm, the start of NBC's broadcast of the opening ceremonies. (The opening ceremonies actually started an hour later after after all of NBC's mumbo jumbo.)
Neurotically counting stitches as I went, I finished casting on at 9:20pm. During the humanimation ski man.
I rewarded myself:
Two and a half hours later, this:
According to pattern, you cast on double stranded and drop one strand of yarn as you begin the body of the scarf. I had some problems with the double stranding and also I cast on too tight and the stitches were not moving along the needle smoothly. Argh!
I didn't want to go to bed without at least casting on for my project, so:
Needless to say, I'm kind of tired.
February 07, 2006
Warming up for the Olympics
In preparation for the Olympics, I used the copier at work to blow up the charts.
Also, here's the first button I've ever made.
Ene Olympians are:
Leah
Mandella
Dyann
and me.
Because I'm a geek, I charted out the stitch count for the pattern. I also like to tick off the rows as I work.
Please feel free to use the chart and button. (Also note that you actually end up with 17 stitches at the last row of chart 4, not 19 as it says in the notes on page 31.)
For other resources, there's an Ene Ensemble and Scarf Style KAL. Lot's of good pictures of different Enes.
I hope everyone's still excited about the event!
January 24, 2006
Team Ene
January 20, 2006
Knitting Olympics
Challenged by Yarn Harlot, I've signed up for this 
.
I plan on knitting Ene's Scarf for the games. By the way, have you seen the freaky little mascot?
Weird.
January 18, 2006
Charlotte -- she's done!
Here's my Charlotte:
Yarn: Koigu PPPM, from top to bottom - 802, 522, 802, 823, 416
Yarn Source: Purchased from Wildfiber in Santa Monica
Needles: Addi turbo 4mm
Notes: Used chart from Uli's needlework (It really helped!) I will use this strategy with other lace shawls. I didn't add the fringe because I think I will get more wear out of her as a plain jane. Yeah!
January 10, 2006
Ene's Scarf
Yesterday was a yarn bonanza: I also received this in the mail.
This is Blackberry Ridge laceweight silk blend in Samarkand Blue. So lovely.
I plan on knitting this:
I also ordered yarn samples and they sent me this:
Crazy!
January 04, 2006
Tangled in Charlotte's Web
I cast on for Charlotte's Web Shawl on New Year's Eve.
Here she is up to row 90 (183 sts on needle). I am using this handy chart from Uli's Needlework.
I struggled with the lace pattern at the beginning and counted stitches after each right side row. I started flying through it with ease and stitch counts kept coming out right...until I reached row 85, (I got cocky, see, and stopped counting my stitches on the previous RS row) and lo and behold, I had one extra stitch! (S)Tinking back two rows took TEN hours! Well, actually about 45 minutes, but lesson learned.
I hope to finish her by the end of the week. I hope my color choices work out; it's still hard to tell.
Also, I just purchased (Yes, I'm at work) yarn for this:
Blackberry Ridge lace weight silk blend in Samarkan Blue.
December 16, 2005
River Lurk-Along
I lurked along with SavannahChik's Rowan River Knit Along. Here's my finished River. I like her.
You can also wear her as a scarf:
Specs for River are as follows:
Yarn: 2 balls Misti Baby Alpaca Lace in Aubergine (#9311), which I purchased online from Little Knits
Needles: US#10 bamboo
Notes: I held the yarn doubled throughout to give it some weight. This yarn is beautiful. So soft and plush. I didn't stray from the Rowan pattern at all except for the yarn.
River is a birthday gift for my best friend. I'm having lunch with her today; I hope she likes it.
Here's a picture of the back of my Mia Shrug:
Also some goodies I got from Wildfiber while I was in Santa Monica:
I got a cool canvas bag and some Noro Kajuku in Color #18 and some Koigu PPM in colors from top to bottom 802, 416,823,135,522. I've been wanting to knit a Charlotte Shawl for the longest time. I think that's what I'll cast on for once all the holiday knitting's done.
November 17, 2005
Flora, the beautiful
Look at my beautiful Flora.
Pattern: Flora by Kate Kuckro in Knitty Fall 2005
Yarn: Only ONE skein of Noro Silk Garden held together with leftover Rowan KSH in marmalade
Needles: #9US bamboo
Notes: This neckwarmer only took one skein of Silk Garden; I knit the flower first and then I knit the main body until I ran out of yarn. The pattern says the finished scarf will measure 23"; mine is only about 21". For the button, I snipped off the spare from the inside of my sister's jacket! The twisted stitch called for in the pattern is really easy: basically you just do what it says. But Kate Kuckro has added additional instructions on her blog.
A sweet detail of this pattern is that it calls for you to use buttons and the eyelets in the main body to hold the flower on. Cute!
