Each section is 20 rows, and I have completed 4 of those (as well as 6 in the next repeat. I don't know if I have done 3 repeats, or if it is 4 (is it doing one set of 20 rows and 3 repeats, or do you count the first one as well?).I took this picture at about 6:30pm tonight, so you see a bit of the sun shining through the deck and the tree in back of it. You can also faintly see the white thread I'm using as life lines. Though to be honest, I haven't used them yet. I have mistakes in there but I am not good at lace yet, so I have absolutely no idea where they are - even if I'm still on the same line. I know there are tons of experienced lace knitters out there who probably look at it and say "Boy, there is yet another mistake! Why on earth did she not tink back or rip back and fix it?" Well, I am just going to let my inexperience speak for itself on this one I'm afraid. I am not giving this away, since it's my first piece of real lace, so if people see the mistakes in it they will just have to deal with it LOL!
Here is another closeup of the lace that doesn't look like anything yet. I'm anxious to get it completed for Amazing Lace, and to see how it looks after it is all blocked.
I do have one question that I am hoping someone can answer for me. When using a circular needle and knitting lace (or anything for that matter), do you hold the needles so that the item you are knitting hangs in through the loop and the loop on the front, or do you have the knitting over the front and the loop hanging in the back? Does it even matter? When I first started knitting this, I was holding it so the lace was hanging in the loop and the loop was on the front, but about 10 rows or so ago, I changed to the other way. I'm not sure if I am seeing any difference or not and I just wanted to know the correct way to hold the circular needles (don't want a disaster like with my first pair of socks and holding the dpn's wrong).
I also bought some Paton's Grace yarn today for the Reid sweater for my friend's daughter. It's not the same colour as the Knit Picks Shine though. I was holding the two together, and Shine is a little bigger than Grace, but not by a whole lot. I think what I will do is at least finish the back of Reid and block it. That way I can see if it's going to look remotely like it should. If not I have the Grace to do it in. Though I'm thinking if it looks half decent anyway, I just might finish it up with the Shine and use the Grace to make one in a smaller size...we'll see. I haven't worked on Reid since my last post because I wanted to mull over what I should do with it. And also I wanted to work on the Dainty Bess as it is a quicker knit.
Off to go work on my lace! Happy knitting, and don't forget to sign up for the Knittin' Mittens KAL (leave a comment or email me)!
11 comments:
Shelley, your lace is just beautiful. wish I was knitting something!! I'm hanging back yet about the KAL- I have a lot on my plate just now..but I read over at the blog that you have till Sept. to start. I'll think about it and maybe give a try unofficialy first. Thanks for the invitation...
I think your lace looks great!! I signed up for Amazing Lace too, but failed miserably. I'm still going to try again though . . . some day. I think I have an answer for your circ question (if I understand what you're asking correctly). You should hold the needles in front (close to you) and the loop in back. When knitting flat I'm not sure it matters all that much. But when knitting in the round, if you hold the needles in back you will knit your project inside out (kinda cool though - LOL). There's a pretty good example here.
Good to see that the lace bug has bitten. I have a love/hate relationship with lace but I still take it on occasionally and am always pleased that I do but it scares me silly!!
Karen is right about the needles.
Are you using the correct gauge of yarn that the pattern calls for? Correct needles?
Blocking is magic when it comes to lace. What once looked like a lump turns into something gorgeous.
Amy
Knit Picks recommended the Alpaca Cloud I think for this pattern (the link to the pattern is in the previous post), and I used the size of needles that the pattern called for...the only thing is that I don't know if the yarn used in the pattern picture is the same weight as what I used. The Alpaca Cloud is lace weight.
Ok I hae since checked the pattern, and they used "2/8 weight organic fingering weight" and a US 6 needle...and has in brackes 3.5mm-4.0mm. I checked the needle I'm using in my needle checker thingy (a ruler with the holes in it to tell you the size of needle) and it fits 3.75mm though there is none for 3.5 so I'm thinking my needle size is too big for this. That is probably why I'm not getting the same look as the pattern - why my stitches look too loose.
I love the lace! It's coming along really nicely :0)
Thanks for the comment you left on my blog - I've enjoyed reading yours!
the lace is lovely. I don't know what mistakes your talking about. it makes it personal, unique, a true one of a kind. keep on knitting i say.
it looks awesome! and let it hand were you want ;) i do when knitting lace..... can't wait to see this sucker blocked! gonna look fab!!!!!!
Keep working on it... it'll be nice when it's all done & blocked. The life line comes in handy if you drop a stitch or make a really obvious mistake ... you can then frog back to just the life line [not the whole thing] & start over from there. Practice makes perfect! Can't wait to see how it all turns out.
Don't mistakes just equal "design features"?!! I think you're brave just from trying the lace with skinny yarn and needles - braver than I am!
I hold my circs with the needles facing me, with the work haning on the outside of the loop to the back.
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