With my friend Louise on the mend, I find I have really been remiss in my lace knitting lately. However, I'm gearing up for the Seasons of Lace knit-a-long. Not that I don't already knit lace all the time but I love that others have the desire to knit it too :-) I've needed to relax so I've been spinning more than knitting, but in the end, that only leaves me with more yarn. So starting at the top, I have started knitting "The Saigon Scarf" which is a beautiful design by badcatdesigns. This is a free pattern on ravelry . I'm using the yarn I spun from the Palo Verde batts I obtained from Spritely Goods and it has the lovely addition of beads in this pattern. It doesn't use all the yarn I spun and leaves enough for an additional project. In order to put the beads on, I needed to add them with a small crochet hook. this required a visit to Lacis since I didn't have one small enough to fit through the hole of a bead. I got an assortment of hooks (.60/.75/1.00) and while I was at it, I picked up some "mini" crochet hooks that can be put on a holder and used when tatting as some shuttles don't have a point to pull thread through picots. My "stimulus package" fast dwindling, I spied another Danish lace book. "Kunststrick II" by Sonja Esbensen which I did not yet own. One must keep up one's library after all or find oneself no longer deserving the sobriquet "lacefreak". Must not have that so home it came. I have to say it was such a pleasure to spin the batts of Palo Verde that I ordered 10.4 ounces of "Bursage" (merino with angelina and firestar for sparkle) from Spritely Goods. It needed no fluffing or pre-drafting and spins perfect straight from the batt. Just pull off a length and off you go. You can't beat that with a stick! Lastly, a picture of my 4 ounces of Madder dyed BFL from A Verb For Keeping Warm. The really nice thing is that I can get more of this fiber after all so I have a particular project in mind for it. That's it for now. I hope the next post will have more actual lace content. Hope you all had a great weekend :-)
20 comments:
Oh my, that shawl will be lovely! Of course!
Harry says Nice Work!
I bought a set of those mini-crochet hooks, but they have a funny, sharp slot inside and I find them difficult to use. At some point, I will get Roy to perform surgery on some of my ancient hooks and make me another set.
I love those mini crochet hooks. I will now begin a quest to find a set!
Beautiful lace work. I haven't knit any lace in a month! I gotta get back to it.
Those mini-crochet hooks are so cute!
Thanks for the heads up on Seasons of Lace. I'm all joined up. :-)
I think you've gotten a few of your readers wanting a set of the hooks - I will have to go on a hunt for them too! They are needed by me:) All your work looks beautiful, yes you do deserve your "lacefreak" sobriquet! Terry
Beautiful! And I too love the mini crochet hooks. :)
Lace? you? I am surprised!
Love the saigon scarf, thanks for the link I will be bookmarking it in Ravelry....
I love your batts and nice to know how easily they spin... I just bought some s/wash BFL from Yarn Yard I'm meant to be saving for Woolfest!!! The Madder dye is a lovely colour and will make an interesting shawl...
Great inspiration! And timely too as I am off to Lacis today to see their lace knitting books. More temptation to add to the list!
The tiny crochet hooks look like such a good idea! Want some.
Dear fleegle,
Those tiny crochet hooks are only good for pulling the thread through picots in tatting. I would not want to try to crochet with them at all. You are very fortunate that Roy is such a skilled surgeon. I can't wait to see what he comes up with. Praise from Harry on my spinning is praise indeed! Thank you Harry!
Dear Soo,
Just remember, good for pulling through picots, sucks for actual crochet! Very cute though.
Dear Opal,
Though I love all the socks and spinning you've been doing, I can't wait to see what you do for the lace knit-a-long :-) Maybe you can use some of that laceweight yarn you've made (yummy)! I love those crochet hooks too even though the little face is kind of forbidding.
Dear Terry,
I've wanted some of those tiny hooks for a long time since I have shuttles that have no points that I could be using. I hope you find a nice set too. I hope to deserve the name lacefreak for many years to come :-)
Dear Romi,
Thank you! I can't wait to wear the shawl pin at the next Stitches West. Now to knit a shawl worthy of the pin :)
Dear littleberry,
The Saigon Scarf is a very clear pattern to follow and the beads are really lovely in it. I'm glad you like the fiber choices I've been making. It's a challenge to find the right projects for the handspun yarns but it's fun too. Woolfest! Sounds exciting and possibly expensive :-) Still, you deserve anything your little heart desires!
Dear Laritza,
LOL. I know it sounds insane, but when I get stressed I read trash novels and spin because neither activity requires me to concentrate :-) I feel like I fell behind in my lace knitting for awhile but I want to get back onto it. I find it very soul satisfying to knit lace so I hope I can find more time to do it.
Dear Maia,
Lacis is like lace heaven to me. I can spend hours there and leave broke. Have fun!
Dear Carol,
They are very sweet and kind of goth with that little spooky head on top of the holder. No wonder you want :-)
Beautiful all! I'm so impressed with your laceweight spinning--something for me to strive for! :)
And best wishes to your friend Louise. I'm glad she's feeling better.
Dear missalicefaye,
Since I'm spinning a bit more this year, my lace weights are improving :-) Louise is better. We hope she will be able to go home this weekend. I've got my fingers crossed.
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