It's been awhile since you heard from me but I took a little break to catch up on my trash-novel reading and to go through my clothes closet to purge it of things I will never wear again on pain of becoming a hopelessly outdated fossil. Still, I have not been totally idle. See above, the edging that is now half way around the Sampler Stole. It would be further along if I didn't keep looking for something else to do. Did I mention that finishing a project is not always as much fun as starting one? Still, it's good discipline for me to plod on since I have decided that I only get to start back on the Princess Shawl after I finish this stole. Under this you can see one of the things I worked on to distract myself from edging Hell. I had to force myself to stop knitting on the "International Shawl" because the center is a Niebling and it's way too much fun. It's up to row 79 and you can begin to see the next set of leaves starting as well as the base of the first flowers. The ball of fiber is some Polworth that I got at Deep Color when it closed it's retail store front.I loved the colors in it and it is quite soft though not as soft as a merino. It's been wet and cold out here and that always makes me want to stay home and spin so I started in on this using my Schacht single treadle wheel. It looks pretty on the bobbin and I had never tried any of this fiber before. I think I'm just going to ply the Polworth and pray I have enough yardage to make something pretty. I only have 4 ounces of the stuff but it works up nicely and feels sturdy. I got my Estonian Lace book in the mail and it's very interesting. I feel some swatching in my future will be in order to figure out what I want to come after the Myrtle Leaf section in the International Shawl. I also got a magazine on E-bay as you see above. It has only 3 patterns in it that I wanted but it was not very expensive so I was lucky. It's the tablecloth I really fancy and I am spending a little bit of time interviewing my yarn stash for a suitable candidate. I'm going to try to resist buying lots of new fiber and yarn this year and try to knit from my stash. I hope Stitches West 2008 will be focused more on obtaining new patterns, books or tools etc. I am allowed to buy sock yarn for my sister as I'm wearing out my hand knit socks she made for me. Socks That Rock make a particularly nice sock yarn so I hope to get her some of that. Of course if I fail, I will be forced to wear a hair shirt. But at least it will be a lace patterned hair shirt :-)
14 comments:
I feel your edging pain. Really I do. I truly hope I never see an edging again. But it looks so lovely!
And I guess the two of us are joined at the Lace Brain, because I have that tablecloth earmarked for the project after next. I even have the yarn for it--Colourmart cash/silk in pink.
We are at the same place on the International shawl--mine is dark blue. I didn't see anything in the Estonian book that rang my chimes, but I shall revist it later. Great book, though.
Your lace is a constant inspiration. I haven't picked any up in much too long. *sigh*
I feel your pain about the edging. As for that Anna, I've got that in English if you need translation. And hee. I was going to knit 'Filigree' (large one) with Colourmart...
Dear fleegle,
Lace brain. I like it! I've always referred to it as parallel knitting in the past but I think this is a better term :-) I've seen this pattern knit up in person and it really has beautiful lines. I think it would look smashing in Colourmart in Pink. I'm undecided as yet on color for that one because I really have to focus on finishing the stole. Does this thing have a name by the way? My pattern has no name listed for it.
Dear Opal,
I have not knit socks or mittens in years and years but I don't feel any guilt at all so I don't think you need to feel guilt over not knitting lace :-) Besides. When the mood strikes you I know those hands are going to pick up some lace weight yarn and go to town! Until then I will enjoy your beautiful sock and mittens.
Dear z's momma,
So that's what it's called? My pattern has no name. It just calls it a "table cloth". I need to see how many rows this thing is so I can decide on a yarn. If it's not too many I might have enough of the Polworth to knit it :-) If you and fleegle knit this it will be fun to see everyone's version!
Edgings: commit to working a certain number of repeats everyday. When you've done them, work on something else.
Helps save sanity.
I think the shawl is looking great but can sympathize with the edging saga, I had to set myself a goal of so many repeats per day!!! I like the spinning have you more details on how you spun it please... The international shawl looks good too
I often approach tiresome edgings the same way Ted and littleberry describe--until I get to the point where the finishing line is in sight and proceed to edging overload. :) At least you have the pleasure of knowing that when the edging's done, it's all done! (It's really lovely, too....)
The Nieblings are so pretty--can't wait to see you start!
Dear Ted,
Thank you for the advice and encouragement. I will knit a little of it tonight :-)
Dear littleberry,
You and Ted must be channeling each other LOL. As for the spinning, The fiber was already pre-drafted but it is really more a worsted type of a single that I am spinning using supported long draw. As I look at these singles, I think I will have to ply with something else as these fibers are very "spongy" and look like they need more support. I have some merino/tencel in a color that would compliment so maybe I will use that!
Dear missalicefaye,
I don't think much stands in your way when you are inspired to finish something :-) The fact that this stole is pretty is the only reason I'm going to finish it.
Edgings. Blah. You'd think after the pain of one we'd never start another pattern with an edging again. But we do. Must be some sort of knitting memory gap.
Dear Soo,
They say the same thing about giving birth so I guess if you could forget that kind of pain then this type of pain would be a cinch:-) Knitting dementia?
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