I think it is safe to say that I will never willingly block lace without using blocking wires, ever again.
Here’s a close-up. I especially like the diamonds. I think I’m going to have to start looking for more knit lace patterns (where the patterning is on both sides; no purling back, unlike in lace knit patterns where the patterning is only one sided) because I love how much more delicate it appears.
The Roses and Diamonds wrap is done! Hooray!
I have yet to weave in the ends, and there is still blocking that must occur. I will be using blocking wires for the very first time for this piece, so we’ll see how that goes (Rumor has it that it is much easier to use blocking wires than my previous method involving dental floss, a metric ton of pins, and a whole lot of swearing. I hope rumor is right). But I did at least want to mark the occasion, as well as the giant sigh of relief I felt once the last stitch was off the needles.
The aforementioned sigh of relief was not just because it was finally done, mind you, it was also because I was starting to really worry about whether or not I would have enough yarn. The pattern calls for 38 repeats of the center pattern and I decided to walk on the wild side and do 40. I didn’t start to really get nervous until about midway through the first of the final three border diamond motifs, when the little pile of yarn beside me started shrinking at an alarming rate.
Naturally, when faced with the possibility of running out of yarn, I did what every other knitter does in this situation - I knit as fast as I could and prayed to all the knitting gods and goddesses and tried to psych myself up for the possibility that I might have to rip back upwards of half a foot of knitted lace (and wondered if this would be the day that my refusal to use lifelines would finally bite me in the rump). But miracle of miracles, I had enough after all. Phew.
I’ll wash it and block it tonight, and then get some pictures up here once that’s done. And in the meantime I think I will focus on something nice and simple and use up some odds and ends of cotton from my stash whipping up a few reusable cleaning pads for the Swiffer WetJet we recently acquired. Big fat yarn (well, at least compared to laceweight) and nice, brainless garter stitch. You have no idea how much I am looking forward to that.
More knitting of the ‘I can’t show you here’ variety. Another test knit toy for a designer, working on writing up two patterns of my own and really struggling with one of them, since it can be customized in a variety of ways and I am trying to figure out how to write it all down without making the knitter’s eyes glaze over.
But I finally did get a picture of some of the crochet slippers I have been making for birthday presents.
And I also made this little guy, as a gift for my mom for Mother’s Day.
She is a big fan of Eeyore.
I wish I could tell you where I found the pattern. But alas, I really do not remember. I am sure that I found it online, years ago, but apparently I copied the pattern information to a Word document, and neglected to also include any identifying information, like, say, designer name or pattern URL. The pattern itself (at least the parts I have) is not complete, either, so I had to do a bit of guesstimating on some of it.
I also whipped up a pair of socks - plain stockinette, from a random ball of self-patterning pink and grey sock yarn I acquired during a recent stash swap. Naturally I have no picture of those, either, since shortly after I wove in the ends, I stuck them on my feet, and every time I remember that I still need a picture, they are usually buried at the bottom of my laundry basket and I am just not motivated enough to go dig them out, merely for photographic purposes.
Other than that, however, I’ve mostly been knitting lace. I’m not sure why - I guess I’m just in the mood. Currently on the needles - the Alpine Knit Scarf with Double Rose Leaf Center Pattern and Diamond Border from Victorian Lace Today (although I am simply referring to it as Diamonds and Roses, because the original name is kind of unwieldy). It’s my first time doing true knit lace (where the patterning is on both sides, not just one), and I have to admit, it’s actually kind of fun.
A few weeks ago Emily posted pictures of the most wonderful chickens on her blog, along with the magic words “Would anyone be interested in test knitting these?”. Naturally I was one of many who flung their virtual hands in the hand and hollered “me me me!”. I was originally thinking I might make either the chicken or the rooster, but I showed the picture to my younger sister, who is a wee bit obsessed with chickens these days (she has 8 live ones of her own). I asked her if she would want either a chicken or a rooster, and she said she would actually love both, so…two chickens, it was!
Seriously, are these not the cutest knit chickens you have ever seen?
The pattern is available for sale through her website and through Ravelry. Go forth, buy the pattern, and whip up a whole flock for your very own!
There are times when someone gets some extremely bad news, and it is very hard to figure out what to say, or to do. It’s worse when it’s someone who has been part of your family for years; someone you and your entire family admires and adores. The diagnosis - inoperable, aggressive brain cancer, and no treatment options to speak of, short of crossing fingers and hoping.
I wasn’t sure what else to do. So I knit. It’s something soft enough (it’s 100% silk) that it shouldn’t bother her skin when she wears it, and light enough that she can just toss it around her shoulders. I hope it makes her feel a little bit feminine and pretty, especially in a situation where this extremely gracious and wonderful lady is being robbed of all of that.
The pattern is Lace Ribbon Scarf, from Knitty’s Spring 08 issue. I did 8 repeats of the lace motif to turn it into a wrap. I used Tess’ Designer Yarns Cascade Silk in sportweight.
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