My model learned a new skill!

Very excited about finishing Icarus. Maybe I can wear it to my brother's wedding if I don't (and most likely won't) finish the shawl I want to make for the occasion.

And my model learned a new skill - Sitting up all by himself! How long would he continue to let mommy drape these lacy stuff over him without complaining? We'll see.


Here's a shot of the Swallawtail shawl and the Icarus. They look pretty together. Now if I can only figure a way to rotate this picture....

Finally finished the Pomatomus. I know I like like a few years late on this because everybody's on to Monkey now. I really like the twisted stitches that makes this pattern really show. Thanks Cookie.

Tired of the color

I am amazed that I actually got tired of a color I like. I've been knitting the Icarus shawl in Malabrigo lace color Damask Rose with some serious project monogamy. I don't know why. I guess finishing the Swallowtail shawl felt really good so I just wanted to finish another shawl.

Now I love the color and everyone that's seen it complemented on the color too, but I am just getting tired of it. I find myself craving orange last night as I was knitting the last chart. This orange to be specific. I must have seen it a while back and it's been lurking in my subconscious for a while.

Hopefully I can finish this soon and cast on for another with the color i've been craving. I'll post picture of it soon...

Swatched

Some updates first. Here's the photo of the Swallowtail show after blocking:

Here is it model by one of my favorite subject (while he was napping):


Got a bit tired of the sock pal sock so did a quick project: Made cuffed booties from Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby. I think it might show off the stitches better with a simpler color.


Sockpal sock: Almost there. At the gusset.


Okay, I actually swatch for once! And not just with one size needle but with two of them! This has never happen before... Plus I didn't just measure it and tear it out and use that yarn in the actually project (like I do with the socks), I actually blocked it!




But I think I blocked it too aggressively. Some people might think there's no such thing as blocking too aggressive when it comes to lace. What do you think?

The one on the left is using size 2 (3.0m m) and the one on the right is size 1 (2.5mm). Which one do you think I should use for the MS3? I still have to get beads...

Now I need to resist starting MS3 before finishing the sockpal sock or else it'll never finish on time...

Love this shawl

Not the best photo. I'll try to get a prettier one















Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl from IK Fall 2006
Yarn: Habu Textiles A-98 Geelong Lamb wool color 111, double strands (Used about 324 yards)
Needle: Addi US4 24" and Addi Lace US4 36"
Start: 6/11/07
Finish: 6/25/07 (Blocked on 6/30/07)

Notes: Reduced the bobble from 5 sts to 3 sts suggested by another blog because wasn't sure if I had enough yarn.

This is one of the favorite Everlyn Clark shawl. I love the two different patterns in the shawl. I am still looking forward to doing other Evelyn Clark Shawls.

More knitting lately

Have you read The Panopticon's pride post yet? Only a yarn lover would laugh out loud at the joke "Your mother sleeps with Lion Brands". I so want to share that with the husband but I don't think he would appreciate it as much as I did.

On a surprising note, I've been doing more knitting then thinking or reading about knitting lately. On to the second lily of the valley edge of the Swallowtail shawl. I am loving the Habu's Geelong wool. It promises to feel as soft as cashmere after wash. We'll see. If it really does, I'll order more of other color for other lace projects. As much as I love Sundara's silk lace, they are just too expensive.

Cherry Blossom Shawl

Blocking is magic!

Yay, it's done. I have to admit it's the first time I am blocking. I never made anything that couldn't get away without blocking. After this, I am sold! I mean, yes, blocking is necessary to bring out the beauty of mohair, but I am sure it'll just give everything else a better finish.


































The edging process: Since all 300+ stitches can fit in the 24in circular needle so I was too cheap to spend money on a longer one. Therefore the shawl looked like a huge fuzzy flower budd the time. When the edging started, it looked like a flower in bloom.














Below you can see the difference between knited edge and unfinished edge. The top is the unfinished side and the bottom is the finished edging. Isn't the difference like day and night?














4/15/06 Update

Okay, edging is harder then I thought. Maybe because it's the first time for me to be doing edging. Maybe it's also because I got so good (and fast) at doing the Chart C repeats (had to do 12 time!) so switching to edging is a big pace change. I just need to tell myself to be patient and stick with it. I only have to go around the shawl once, not 12x6=72 rounds like Chart C.

Hopefully I can block it soon and finish it in time for the oakland conference...

I am in my own heaven right now. Knitting while listening to Met Opera's live broadcast. One of my favorite tenor, Juan Diego Florez, is performing. During intermission they are talking about wonderful historic recordings, live and studio, and comparing them. The only thing that can make this more perfect is if it's all taking place in my own condo in the village (there's only one village for me, the one in NY) while dog-sitting Lily and Petunia.

03/06/2006 Update

The Cheery Blossom Shawl from the Interweave Knits Spring 2002. The center start is just not very good. I try the crochet start in Kinzel book, but the needles just got a bit twisted. This was also before Lew showed us how to do a good start at Stitches West. I wanted to be working on this shawl at Stitches since we'll be helping at Lacy Knitter's Guild. Good thing it's mohair so the center will be fuzzy.

Start Date: Two weeks before Stitches West
Yarn and needle: patterned called for.

Just moved it from dpn to circular. I didn't have the 16" and was too edger to move to circular so for a while I was knittin on the 24" and one dpn.














Finished the chart B repeats.














Now it's time to do chart C 12 tmes! I think we are half way done now. 6 more repeats to go.














Close up of the pattern. Looks okay. Blocking should make it prettier too.














Now I am taking a break. Learning and knitting socks! I know I need to get back to this...but...just let me get a pair of socks done....

Best center start yet

This is by far the best center start i've ever done. This, of course is after Lew's tutor at Stitches West.
















However nice, I did not kept this because there's a mistake. Plus I will be using another yarn for the frosted flower pattern but I might consider using this next time (it's the shetland lace weight). I just want to have a record of me being able to produce a good center start in case I am not able to do it again.

Fan and Feather Shawl

I got some lace (almost cobweb size) Suri alpaca yarn at Stitches West. They are in three graduating shades of purple. Gene agrees the color scheme will look nice on the Fan and Feather shawl. So I started doing some practice on the bigger yarn. The pattern is so pretty.
















However, when I stated on the real thing...It doesn't look quite the same. Granted I dropped a stitch (upper right hand corner), but is the needle too big for the yarn? From the sample above we know how the pattern will look with a too small of a needle but how would the pattern turn out if the needle is not small enough. Would it look nice and airy like the Cherry Blossom Shawl? Any help is welcome!















I did take it apart because some center stitches are too lose and they look like yarn overs. I'll start it again once I re-decide what needle to use...

Simple Mohair Lace Scarf

This was my first lace scarf (also first time working with mohair). It went to Makiyo. She's always so great to me. I know she would not take anything I buy but if it's somehting I made, she cannot say no. She wore this when we went to the City Opera at Lincoln Center. It matched her camel color jacket.