Posted by Som
Thu, 16 Nov 2006 02:03:00 GMT
Ach, where does the time go?!
I've been verra, verra busy these past few months. Taking up exercise again has seriously eaten into my crafting time (and energy,) but I did manage to finish the Kata Felicity Scarf from Mindful Knitting. I used two balls of Knit Picks' Andean Silk in "Slate." I am in love with the softness of this yarn.
I gave this scarf to my sister for her birthday, since the last scarf I gave to her was one of the recycled silk scarves that fell apart.
Next on my list is a stuffed bear for my niece's birthday and two cardigans for my daughters. Then I'll doubtless be burnt out for the rest of the year.
To date, I've given away all but two things I've knitted, and one of those (another recycled silk scarf) has since fallen apart. Therefore, I've resolved that next year I'll spend more time knitting for myself. I have a big bag that I really need to finish, and there are so many other selfish projects I've been putting off: a sweater, a scarf or shawl, some socks, some gloves, and maybe - gasp! - an afghan. Wish me luck!
Posted in knitting | Tags lace | 1 comment | no trackbacks
Posted by Som
Fri, 10 Feb 2006 17:00:00 GMT
*headdesk*
*headdesk*
*headdesk*
I've been knitting this Lacy Serpentine Scarf for a week, and still I have nothing to show for it but the 1500 kinks in the frogged yarn. As I was finishing up Row 5 last night - the first truly patterned row - I came up short two stitches. I double-checked Row 4 and 5, and couldn't find where I'd dropped them - if they were ever cast on in the first place.
So, more frogging. I'm trying to be positive about it, but I'm close to getting discouraged enough to give up. The patterned rows are infuriatingly tricky on these bamboo needles, and stitching a p2tog is a Herculean effort (there are 36 p2togs in Row 5, plus two p3togs.) I think I'll cast on to the metal needles this time, in the hopes that my stitches will be a little looser and the points a little sharper. I'll have to sacrifice something to the Knitting Goddess to ensure that all those tiny stitches don't slip right off. But I've learned a valuable lesson: Never again will I buy a lace scarf pattern knitted along the length.
Posted in knitting | Tags lace, serpentine | no comments | no trackbacks
Posted by Som
Tue, 07 Feb 2006 19:24:00 GMT
Well, I'm three rows (909) stitches into the pattern, and I just found out that I've been doing YOs wrong the whole time. *headdesk* Still, I'm thankful that I found out before I was even further into the pattern.
For future reference, and any of you who are getting into lace knitting: a YO in a pattern is not an actual, separate stitch. It simply means that you bring the yarn forward; the wrap is incorporated into the next stitch. Thus:
yo, k2tog
comes off as two stitches with no increase on the right-hand needle. And
yo, k1
comes off as two stitches with an increase of one. I did not know this. I thought that YO meant you bring the yarn forward and k1.
Now I have to frog all those lovely stitches. *sigh* At least I learned something...
ETA for posterity's sake: There's an excellent explanation of what a yarnover is here.
Posted in knitting | Tags lace, serpentine | no comments | no trackbacks
