Pattern by Herbert Niebling, it's called "Lyra" and was obtained by buying a 20 year old Anna magazine on E-Bay. This is an English language publication originally printed for the market in the UK though you can also find publications in German as well. I started knitting my round shawl version of this doily pattern on 8/6/07 and finished 10/2/07 using 2.5 mm needles for the center and 2.75 mm for the outer leaves. I used 2/36 NM Cashmere/Silk from Colourmart in color "Polka Dot". This is a "mill-end" yarn on a cone with the manufacturing oil still on the yarn. I knit it that way and washed it out after the shawl was done. I did swatch and wash the sample to be sure of what needle I would use and what it would look like when it was done. Lots and lots of fun. I'm off to do more of the border for the Boundary Waters Shawl and for the Sampler Stole. I need to finish things before I start a big project, but I am knitting "Frosted Ferns" with the Niebling knit-a-long which appears to be a variation of a Niebling pattern called "Oak". It doesn't look remotely like "ferns" to me :-) I hope to post the finished Boundary Waters next and will give the shawl frame a try! Good Evening!
76 comments:
Absolutely beautiful!!
Thank you for the 'action shot'. It is absolutely lovely. And that's a beautiful shawl pin.
You are an inspiration for me. Lyra is absolutely faboulous
Prettiest Lyra I've ever seen!
Exquisite and love the photo of a headless you wearing it as it really does show that it will translate into a wrap very well....
That's absolutely gorgeous. I just got my pattern (in a german language anna, unfortunately) and I have some zephyr on order. Your Lyra is a wonderful inspiration with which to start mine!
It is absolutely the most fabulous lyra I have ever seen, The color is spectacular! And I suspect that it feels soft and silky too! Keep on inspiring me, Jane. Thanks!
This is simply stunning. Well done you!
I'm experimenting with lace knitting at the moment, and can see myself getting quite smitten with it. I think it'll be a while though, before I attempt this kid of thing!
That is insanely beautiful!
You and the shawl both look fabulous! :)
So beautiful! The color is gorgeous
I should cast on my second Lyra considering I was the one that started and promoted the Lyra Learning Group, got patterns for everyone. Now I do not have a Lyra! I gave mine away :D
Oh I was going to ask you. did you have any problems blocking it?
That is absolutely stunning. Wow, what an heirloom!
That is so beautiful! I'm in awe.
Beautiful! I only pictured Lyra on a table. It looks fantastic on a person! :-)
Beautiful. It looks gorgeous on you. Now if we could just get you to show your *head*.
I love the way it looks as a shawl. Gorgeous!
This really is a thing of beauty! I'm in awe of you lace-knitting prowess. Srsly!
Dear Cherry,
I'm glad that you like it. I was just at your blog and let me say that that cable sweater was worth waiting four years for! Very beautiful.
Dear z's momma,
Not much "action" in that shot but I understand that seeing it on someone is very useful. I just wish it wasn't on my big old self! LOL. Maybe I can enlist one of my neices to pose with the next one? It does make a nice little shawl.
Dear agneta,
I'm happy if anything I knit inspires someone. I hope anyone out there that wants to try lace is encouraged by the fact that almost none of my lace is "perfect" in technical terms, but they still turn out very pretty :-) Thank you for your kind words!
Dear nurhanne,
I actually love every Lyra I've ever seen:-) It's just a wonderful pattern. Herbert Niebling has a lot of them and I'm already drooling over a few I want to do. Must finish the edging on BW and SS first though.
Dear littleberry,
I must say it took me some time to try to figure out how to wear this little shawl. I usually just knit them, not wear them but it really does drape well and it gave me a chance to use one of my shawl pins. I look my best when headless by the way :-)
Dear chickengodess,
If you need the English translated key let me know. I could also tell you what is written in the instructions in the magazine such as when to change to a larger needle etc. Just let me know if you need it and how you want me to send the info. It really is fun and may turn you into an addict too!
Dear fleegle,
It is indeed soft and drapes nicely and I am really happy with the color. Sometimes I do make mistakes with color but not this time! Since you inspire me constantly it's nice to be able to give you something worth looking at too! Feel better soon!
Dear teeweewonders,
Knitting lace is such a great adventure. So many wonderful patterns out there to try and more than one way to "skin a cat" in terms of how you learn to knit best. I will admit some patterns are easier to knit than others for me. When I first began to knit lace I could only knit from written patterns and was so intimidated by charts that my first efforts at lace years ago did not include them. Once I knit enough lace I could actually understand the charted patterns. Give yourself time and once you feel more comfortable, you can try the more challenging patterns. Taken "a line at a time" they are not as complicated as they look! Good Luck and thank you for commenting!
Dear Kelly,
That's me, just insane! But it's a good crazy :-) Glad you like the shawl.
Dear missalicefaye,
Thank you for that. I usually hate taking pictures of myself so I asked my sister just to leave my head off. I think I look my best that way :-) Still, I like that you use a dress form to display some of your shawls. I think that looks really wonderful. I don't know why, but the lace you knit and how you display it reminds me unaccountably of Audry Hepburn. Hmmm....
Dear Laritza,
Thank you! I tried really hard to be tasteful this time. No "Christmas on horseback" as my friend Louise has commented on my more vibrant efforts. When you said you gave your Lyra away I almost had a seizure! But you are a very generous person so I guess they must have deserved it. I do think you should make yourself another one though since you deserve one too :-) Besides, it would be so much fun to watch you knit it!
Dear Laritza,
Since the yarn I used has no elasticity to speak of, it did not stretch like I might have wanted in some areas, but it was not too hard to block (other than all those pins!)and it is holding it's shape well!
Dear beanmamma,
Thank you! I really hope to keep this one this time for my neices but you never know. For sheer difficulty, this one is not that tough a knit. WRS is much more difficult for my money but it's all realtive.
Dear Risa,
The pattern really is a stunner! I look forward to knitting a few more Nieblings. His patterns make me look good :-)
Dear jason,
I never thought I'd be wearing a doily! But it is nice a s a shawl. I like the patterns with floral elements more than the traditional doilys since it looks a little less like I'm actually wearing a doily that way. Good to hear from you and I hope all is well with you.
Dear Opal,
If I have to choose between a picture of the lace and a picture of my head, you know the lace is going to win each time :-) Glad you are enjoying the eye candy.
Dear Soo,
I'm glad you like mine, I sure as heck like yours! When I saw your version I realized how beautiful it looks in a more neutral color and it really turned out nicely as a square vs a round. Maybe next time I'll try it as a square. Hmmmm
Dear ria,
I'm glad you are enjoying the lace! I really enjoy it so I guess that's why I don't mind trying out things that look difficult. Even when it's a challenge, I'm enjoying myself. Thank you for commenting. It's always nice to hear from people checking the blog :-)
Yes, you ARE inspiring! The color, the pattern, the wonderful blocking work - I am thinking, "hey!, this I can do!". I really like the way you have pinned it too! Terry
(will you keep this one?)
Breathtaking and beautiful!
Absolutely stunning!
This is the most fabulous thing I've even seen - you've got me searching high and low for the pattern!
This is absolutely breathtaking! What lovely, lovely work. Thanks for sharing many pictures and all the details.
Dear Terry,
Thank you! I'm actually hoping to keep all the Nieblings that I make, but if I make more than one of a pattern, I would likely give one of them away. In fact, a co-worker (not the one who has my green and white doily but another one) asked if she could pay me to knit one in black. I actually did not tell her yes. I don't knit on demand well and I don't knit for money. I actually knit, if you can belive it, for fun or for love alone. No buying stuff from me I'm afraid LOL. That said, I really do belive you could knit this with some experience with this type of knitting. I'd try one of his small doilys first so you can get used to his style, but after that, I don't think you would have a problem if you have knit a little lace before and know how to make a yarn over. :-) Good to hear from you!
Dear June,
The pattern makes me look good actually LOL! I'm glad you like it as much as I do! Thank you for leaving a comment. I appreciate it!
Dear June,
Thank you! I love how it came out too. It's a terrific pattern to knit even if some sections are a little "squished". Apparantly this something Herbert Niebling did a lot of ie "making it fit". Still, it is a beauty! Thank you for commenting.
Dear Jenny,
I got my by bidding on E-bay but it was very expensive because it was in English. I've seen the ones in German going for less and I know it is the same chart as what I got. If you ever see the German version you might consider getting it because there is a "key" in English and any content in the article is likely the same as what came with my Anna magazine so I'd just e-mail that information to you. Good luck finding one and thank you for dropping by and commenting!
Dear Stringplay,
I enjoy posting my projects so it's really nice to hear that you like to look at the blog :-) I'm glad you like the shawl. I really like the Nieblings that have flowers or plants in them rather than the traditional doilys even though his are pretty. I will look for another of his patterns to knit since I'm hoplessly addicted to his stuff now :-)
You are my heroine!!
You are a genious!!! yes, yes, well done...
Wonder woman, wow!!!
Kisses.
I can't find the right words to describe your Lyra, worn as a shawl. What is way better than gorgeous, stunning, or breathtaking?
So. Freakin'. Pretty.
Sigh. I'm just gonna look at the photos some more, 'kay?
I'm so getting my Mom to go through her old Anna stash... (she got the German ones for years - hopefully including the Lyra year). What year and volume was your pattern in?
Oh, and I have the same yarn as you (not the same colour - mine is a soft coral). Although if I knit a Lyra, I'm SO wearing it naked! And dancing around the house in it! With the curtains closed and the lights OFF!
Dear lucia,
I thank you for your kind words! I think the shawl came out well because not only is it a pretty pattern, it was also fun to knit it so it was not difficult to keep at it to finish.
Dear logan,
Thank you. I hope you get to knit this shawl as well since it was great fun. The Anna magazine I have is the one in English marketed in the UK and it is from June 1986, (M 1900 E). There is a version in German that listed today on E-Bay. If you go there and put in Niebling in the Crafts section of E-bay I think you will find it. However, I think the last German version sold from between $50-$60, so hopefully your mother has this pattern already. I have a picture of this magazine in the blog back when I first started knitting the Lyra. As for wearing it naked and dancing around the house I'm sure you could do it but I'd be afraid to scare my dogs to death, not to mention my poor sister! LOL. I will say that the yarn that you and I both have ended up light, soft and very silky. You could wear it against the skin with no ill effects at all. Good Luck!
Wow. Beautiful.
Sheer beauty!
Dear Ted,
ThankS! That means a lot comming from you. I'm happy with it as well and I think I have another of the Nieblings in mind to knit next :-)
Dear Yarnlot,
Thank you! I think it's is beautiful too. It's really a great pattern even though it has some idiosyncratic elements that are characteristic of the "Niebling School" ie you have to do the limbo to and make drastic increases and decreases and there are some "squished" areas etc. Still, you really have to admire this mans lace! I know I do.
It is absolutely georgeous! Now that you have finished, are you interested in selling your pattern?
Dear knitting therapy,
I think it came out really well too! I'm afraid I could not part with my copy of the Lyra pattern. I have no doubt I will make it again, perhaps a square or as a real doily. However,I know that there are two listings on E-bay as of today for Lyra in German. One of them recently listed so there is time to bid on one of them is you are really keen! It's was fun to knit so I hope you are able to score a copy. Good Luck!
That is just gorgeous. I saw the two on ebay today, the oldest listing is going for over $50. We'll see how high it gets!
Dear lorette,
Thank you! The German translation versions tend to go for around $65 and E-Bay does get Lyra listed frequently. All the Nieblings are expensive but there are two Japanese books via Lacis in Berkley that have printed some of Nieblings other patterns and they are quite lovely. Have fun watching the biding!
Oh, wow! That's just the most beautiful thing I've seen for a long, long while! I wish I could touch it! Love the colour, too! I want to knit one some day! Very inspirational!
Exquisite. Just breathlessly exquisite.
Dear Knityoga,
I'm glad you like it! There are lots of older patterns that are not knit very much because most of them were for tablecloths or doilys and knit on very small needles with tiny thread, but some of them make beautiful shawls. This particular one is very light and soft because of the cashmere and silk combination. Not warm, strictly for looks through :-)
Dear alisonh,
Thank you! It's a wonderful pattern to knit. Every version of Lyra that I've seen is just as lovely and I hope the Niebling patterens are re-issued in the future so everyone can have as much fun as I did!
Dear Jane
Your Lyra Shawl is stunning, the colour is beautiful too. I have spent a long time on your blog in admiration. Congratulations! I have a lot of old Anna's with Niebling designs and have just bought Anna 6/1986 from ebay.I am still working out the pattern, I dont understand what the numbers mean. My version is in German and my knowledge of both German and Nieblings charts are limited. I will attempt this when I've finished other projects on the needle. Thank you for sharing your 'Lyra'journey.
Dietlind
Australia
Dear Dietlind,
I'm so happy you are enjoying the blog and are interested in knitting Nieblings. You may want to join the Yahoo group Nieblinglaceknitters
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NieblingLaceKnitters/
because they have lots of information including help to translate the knitting symbols/charts/instructions and helpful information on how to knit the patterns or how to find additional interesting links.
As for Burda Stitches, you could look at this site-
http://www.jessica-tromp.nl/breisteken_knitting_stitches/allburdaknittingstitches.htm
Hope that helps!
Absolutely gorgeous! It's the prettiest Lyra I've seen!
IF EVER you decide to sell your copy (I know, wishful thinking) Please think of me!
Dear Carla,
I'm glad you like the Lyra :-) It's actually a very small pattern and produces only a "shawlett" when knit with US 2 or US 3 but it's pretty. I have to admit I would never sell my copy. It's a vintage pattern and it's a rare one in English so I will be handing it down in the family for others to knit. You may want to check E-bay for a copy though. Good Luck!
Hi,
Your shawl is beautiful - I'm going to attempt this myself - are all rows on the chart read R to L? They're all right side rows so it makes sense, but I wanted to ask someone who had already knitted this.
Thanks,
Gwen
Dear Gwen,
You correct! All the rows are read from right to left. The rows that are not marked are plain knit rows. I had a lot of fun making this shawl and now that Lacis in Berkley has re-printed the pattern I hope lots more people will have the opportunity to knit it as well. Don't forget to move your stitch markers on the rows indicated! Good Luck!
Hi,
Thanks!
Gwen
Hi,
Can you tell me how much yarn the Lyra pattern takes? I'm still looking for just the right stuff, but don't want to overbuy or underbuy quantity-wise and the pattern I have doesn't speciy yardage!
Thanks, Gwen
Dear Gwen,
To be honest, I have no idea how much yarn I used because I knit from a cone of yarn. It also depends on how small your needles and yarn are. It was originally knit as kind of doily using thread. Mine, as you see, is quite small in the yarn I choose. If you are on Ravelry, you can check to see what others have turned out using.
Hi,
Thanks again - I'll figure something out!
Gwen
I was so proud of my little pillowcase lace, I now have something to strive for. I just was introduced to Nieblings lace. How wonderful your piece is. I need to practice some more before I try a big project like that. Thank you for the inspirational lace.
D
I am just starting down the path to obsession but I can't get casting on right (frustration emoticon here). You are an inspiration for me to get it right.
Dear Anon,
All lace, even little lace is good! Practice really is the key to knitting the bigger projects so Good Luck to you!
Dear ObscureOne,
It really is an obsession for me but Lyra really is a beautiful example of Niebling lace. I hope you do have a chance to knit one :-)
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