March 04, 2005
Swatching up some lace
closeup using GGH Soft Kid color 037
I have been talking about knitting lace for quite some time now and like socks it has turned out to be more fun to actually knit than to talk about. This was intended to be a no frills practice swatch or study just to gear up for a Flower Basket Shawl or maybe even a Birch. Okay, I do know that Birch is adventurous, but a girl can dream. So I started with this little
number from Rebecca 24 and now I don't really want to give it up so I guess she'll be completed...one day. It's the Schal mit Lochmuster (aka Scarf with Eyelet Pattern) It's taking me a bit of time for even a couple of rows, but I'm really enjoying it. I have wanted to try lace knitting, but more for the admiration of finished shawls. I never expected to actually
like knitting it. But I really do. I would actually like to block it to get a better sense of the pattern, but don't know if that is a good idea since I have a ways to go. Any thoughts on that? I have made a bit of progress and knit
one ball of the 6 balls required. I dropped my usual 2 needle sizes, but I think that I usually don't have to do that with Rebecca patterns for some reason. Maybe they knit continental or loose or both like me. Can't remember, but I guess I better figure it out if I decide to knit that little Rebecca Wrap Cardi that everyone seems to be knitting right now. For this scarf, I don't think it really matters though. Below is a section of it stretched a bit so I could see the pattern. I can't really tell a whole lot from the pattern pic, but I'm sure I will like it. I know it looks a bit wonky, but I'm quite proud of it and can't wait to wear it. Hopefully blocking will spruce it up a bit.
can't wait to block this
I had made some mistakes starting out like forgetting to read from the correct side of the chart for a given row and I must have been concentrating a bit too much on counting stitches that in some instances I forgot about the yarn over all together. I ripped back the initial 2 rows and instead of ripping back after that, I just kind of picked up and made one (yo) from the previous row. I worked another repeat up and can't seem to see where I did that so I'm thinking its probably okay, but I'm making an effort to actually make the yo's appropriately now. Other than that, which seems small in my wide margin of knitting errors I find this surprising simple. Of course its not blocked and is not completely finished, but I'm optimistic. It only seems to get easier with every row.
Woohoo, I'm knitting lace.
I have to admit that after I whipped up that little wanna knit/do list I was a bit overwhelmed by it. But now its almost like I picked out a bag of my favorite candies. They are all good and things that I picked, but it just a matter of what I want to eat first. So far I've hit on socks(#2), toys (#13), knit stash yarn (#3)-which has been everything excluding socks and now lace (#7). I am by no means finished with any of them. I have only just begun, but still I feel like this is turning into the year of knitting those things I've only thought about. It's almost as if I'm knitting from someone else's knitting bag, hee, hee. And I'm hoping that they don't ask for it back.
Posted by froggy at March 4, 2005 01:05 PM
I used to be afraid of lace or anything that looked "hard" I made the flower basked shawl and there is no looking back! Now I just have to tackle Fairisle and intarsia and I am all set.
That is truely amazing! I love it! I love the way it almost looks 2 colors! Yay!
What pretty lace you've got going! The first picture is quite stunning in its vibrancy in lighting and color. Looks like one of those fancy posters of cool photo art!
That is looking really good, you should be very proud of yourself. Trust me, Birch would be a breeze now you've done this.
i love that color! for your first lace project, that looks pretty good to me.
Be careful...lace knitting is addictive. It looks like you're doing a swell job and I pick up 'lost' YO's all the time. You can't knit lace and remember EVERYONE. Love the color, too!!
Froggy...there is onlt one word to describe your orange lace scarf...STUNNING!!!!!
Oooh pretty pretty! I blame you for the fact that I now feel compelled to run out and buy a Rebecca 24 RIGHT NOW. Your color is close to what I picked for my Rebecca cardi - we can be orangy lacy twins! Hope your wrists/hands are treating you well through all this....
This orange lace is awesome, Froggy girl! I love it! I am gearing up to do FBS one day soon too... maybe we can knit along?
I love this orangey goodness! Have fun with it :)
Hope you have a lovely weekend with your Mini!
Ohmy god, that is GORGEOUS. I love the color and the pattern. Very nice!
Wow! It looks really pretty!
THAT COLOR IS FABULOUS!!! OooOoOOooO...I need to knit something ORANGE! It's SO my favorite color. Besides that, your lace work is LOVER-LY! I'm so excited to see your finished product and inspired [not only to make a list of my own] to try some lace too [and I have two patterns in mind already]! I have a few projects on the sticks, so that's next on my list! Thanks for the inspiration!
it looks great! i think it's a good time to start too, because knitting lace in the warmer weather is wonderful! so light and airy :)
Your lace looks fabulous ! Well done,Ms lace knitter.
I love the way you like to challenge yourself.
That stole is going to look gorgeous.Will you make the wrap cardigan in the same delicious colour - that I really wish I could wear _ ?
That's beautiful work - what a colour - and in mohair too! Warning though, lace is addicitive. Blocking is like magic, it flattens out all the bumps and uneveness. Trick seems to be to go really hard on the blocking (I took two goes on my FBS to get it right)
The lace looks really good--you are doing a fine job! The color is amazing too. Love that first picture.
Oooooo - I'm going to have to check and see if I have that issue at home!
Very pretty! I like it both stretched and unstretched. You always choose such beautiful colors. Always a vibrant, beautiful piece of work!
OOOOh, I've wanted to make that scarf forever now! I haven't been able to find that issue. You're so lucky! Your lace is beautiful and I love your color choice.
I am still leary of lace...but I love how it looks...and that is such a pretty pattern.
beautiful! i love the colour. birch will be no problem for you whatsoever, i promise.
That's beautiful! And looks so three dimensional in the top photo.
I love it love it LOVE IT, and I WANT ONE!!! That color is wonderful, too, and I just love the way the closeup photo looks like it's on fire or something. Very, very wonderful. You must keep it!
Yaay! It's so great when you find something new that you love. I still have to try lace, haven't found quite the pattern I'm looking for yet. Yours looks amazing! Blocking will definitely help. You're gonna have to make a new list by summer if you keep this up :)
I agree with Norma, it does look on fire. The lace is so awesome!
congratulations on lace knitting! i would have never known this was a first for you. it looks beautiful!
It's looking so gorgeous. Way to go.
How lovely! You have come a long way since you were struggling with Audrey's neckband. And look how famous you are! Already 29 comments and I check twice a day! I love your blog, Froggy. You are an inspired and inspiring knitter.
Yowzah, Froggy! Impressive stuff. That top photo is amazing.
Your lace is fantastic...it looks perfect. Can't wait to see the finished product.
Very, very nice! FBS is really quite good to start with. I find it easier than Charlotte's Web which is classified as a beginner's lace project.
Beautiful. What else can I say?
Oh wow, that's gorgeous. I would never have the patience for that. Amazing job!
Hey, it's not just lace--it's ORANGE lace! Fab!
wow... that's beautiful. it looks like it'd be really difficult.
good job :)
Waouh ! I'm like Tex Avery's wolf !!!
Wow Froggy, that lace looks absolutely STUNNING! Amazing job. Look at those neat stitches!
Excellent and the color is really nice and bright. When I forget a yo I do just like you, and pick the yarn up at the following row. I would not block it until I've finished and I think the stretched version gives you a pretty good idea of the blocked result. Be warned though: lace is addictive!
You know I love that lace - so perfect, so orange!
Gorgeous lace. I love that pattern stitch. It's funny, when I began knitting I had the idea that I wasn't particularly interested in certain things (socks, lace) only to find myself "venturing in" and becoming quite enthusiastic! Once again you inspire me!
it looks beautiful! you are so inspiring, working through that list. woo hoo all the way! that's a great scarf. i was just looking at that issue online -- i loved the cowl you did from it too.
Very nice and I love the colour
Those colors are stunning! And that is really beautiful "just for a swatch". :) I hope you do that shawl soon.
I know everyone and their sister already commented, but I love this! And I adore the Soft Kid, it's so light and airy yet so strong! You look so great in orange, color me jealous.
Wow! Froggy, it looks great! And orange - great color!
What an inspiring post! I love what you say at the end - it's like you're knitting from someone else's bag and don't want to give it back. What a great way to describe it. One of the things I love about knitting is moving out of my comfort zone - I try to do a little bit more with each project. Seems you do the same. Your lace looks beautiful - and even more so because you're enjoying it so much. Have a great weekend. Thanks for sharing.
You're a natural at lace knitting!
Ok, I can't help it, I had to come back and look at it again. And give you your 50th comment. I love that color, and I love that pattern, and I love your blog ;-)
oooohhh, that is really gorgeous.
Love the doll in the post below, thought I must admit the skinniness of the limbs freaks me out-- there's one in one of my books, a fairy of sorts, and it has the super-skinny limbs, too.
Bunny is priceless and so is its stuffing story.
;)
I Love that color! Your lace looks fabulous..
Your first try with lace is a complete success! Love this pattern and the color you used! Congrats!
The lace pattern is beautiful ! Can't wait to see the FO comes out !
Really pretty! I really like knitting lace too. The color is Yummy! The first picture looks 3D... I couldn't figure out at first what it was... :)
Wow, it's very pretty. It almost makes me want to knit lace myself....but no, no. I'm not that patient.
wow! that looks real good. Lovely laces and the color really brings it out. I'm gonna have to try one of these days. :)
Doesn't Lace and mohair go well together?? I love the colour and your tension is so even.
Looks like another winner.
Love
Mona
There's nothing more luxurious than a lacy mohair scarf 'round the neck. Enjoy knitting it, and enjoy wearing it!
Beautiful, just gorgeous.
There's just one word for this: stunning. The color, your knitting...everything is just perfect. Go Froggy!
Lace is a kick. It's kind of like cabling, it is so exciting to see the pattern develop as you go. And blocking does amazing things to lace. I've blocked partially done projects before. I'd say go for it.
I'm with you. I love knitting lace. It takes concentration which means I can't knit in front of the TV (yet) but with a book on the ipod I'm good for the rest of the day! Oh, the best tip I ever got for lace is to run a piece of waste yarn through your stitches every once in a while. That way, if you have to rip, you won't have to rip too far and won't have to spend forever trying to understand where the yo was and twisted stitches, etc.
i think your orange lace looks great so far!
