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August 27, 2007
Bee Fields
Bee Fields, by Anne Hanson.
I knit the petite size with Sheldridge Farm Soft Touch Lace (color: rust) on 3.25mm needles. Since I went down a couple of needle sizes, the finished shawl is not quite as wide as specified in the pattern (approximately 62" instead of 72"). It's pretty close to the same length at the center, though.
I used the bind-off method described by Anne here and ended up with a sufficiently stretchy edge. I did, however, rediscover the fact that pinning out scallops is not my favorite activity. They're awfully pretty, though.
Posted by missalicefaye at 09:50 AM | Comments (30)
August 22, 2007
Swarm
As it grows, this shawl is increasingly difficult to pin out for photography without risking flying stitch catastrophe. So I hope you will bear with my rather inelegant and bunched-up displays of knitting in the meantime. I'm now about halfway through the bee in field portion of the shawl (petite size). The large bees are a bit acrobatic in execution, with lots of backward-loop casting on.
The Spring Shawl edging is creep creep creeping along--I'm over halfway through the top edging and have about 27 more repeats to go. If discipline prevails, I could finish...well, soon. I think I can manage to complete both of these projects before classes start again on September 4 and the knitting has to compete with the studying during my evenings and weekends. (The knitting wins out more often than it should, probably.)
Speaking of September 4...that's the day I start my New Job. (!!!) A library job, no less--which may make the whole library school thing seem a bit more relevant to my actual life. Assuming my brain survives the akwardness and tedium of the last week and a half of the current job....
Posted by missalicefaye at 10:48 AM | Comments (16)
August 13, 2007
Insects and knitting, reconciled at last
True to my word: Bee Fields, the triangular version. Pinning this out was a challenge (lots of stitches scrunched up on a short circular needle), but I think this photo conveys what's going on pretty well. I've now moved into the swarm section, which involves the "purl two together through the back loops" technique. A bit acrobatic, but fun. (Note: I understand that individual definitions of "fun" may vary.)
I'm using Soft Touch Laceweight from Shelridge Farm (mysteriously missing from their product list), acquired this May at Maryland Sheep and Wool. The name does not lie--soft touch indeed.
Meanwhile, the edging on the Spring Shawl progresses--I've almost reached the mysterious "add an extra point here" bit, so I'll let you know how that goes.
Also, I'm taking advantage of the brief break in scholarly pursuits to gaze at the lovelies in the Shetland Museum and Archives Photo Library and do a bit of lace charting. For some reason, I love the center of this shawl out of all proportion. Here is my working version, in skinny, skinny Habu merino:
This is destined for a rectangular stole design, as there's a moratorium on Gigantor Projects until the Princess makes a reappearance in November.
Posted by missalicefaye at 12:15 PM | Comments (15)
August 07, 2007
On and on and on....
No readings, no paper, no exams for a whole month. It's so strange and wonderful....
I've now done one side of the Spring Shawl border edging, rounded the bottom corner, and started the other side.
Oh, the excitement.
It's the loooong top edge that will be the Killer. And there are some upcoming cryptic instructions along the lines of "fit in an extra point here" that will be...interesting to work out, I'm sure.
So, what is next?
I'm thinking Bee Fields. Stay tuned....
Posted by missalicefaye at 11:00 AM | Comments (13)
August 01, 2007
Spring Shawl border finale
Finals--ack. There have been days when I have not even touched the knitting. Those are very sad days. I'll be done by Friday, though. Hoorayhoorayhooray! Then sweet weekend freedom until September....
Despite the all the brain-frying, I managed to make it to the end of the Spring Shawl border. The trickiest part came at the end with the tree motifs with lace hole (or pachinko ball, as Fleegle might say) bands--tricky because some of the holes are formed by single yarnovers and some by double yarnovers, requiring a bit of concentration.
So now we edge. And probably cast on for something new as well....
Posted by missalicefaye at 10:44 AM | Comments (12)
