Friday, September 15, 2006

Lace Knitting Success------NOT!

Leigh's <br />Samoyed lace scarf in progress.After knitting about 12 inches or so on my handspun Samoyed lace scarf, I was hoping to be able to report that I was finally getting the hang of it. Unfortunately, I can't.

I suppose that I can honestly say that I'm beginning to understand the pattern and see how the rows fit together. I have it somewhat memorized and mostly know what to do next. I only have to look at the instructions to see how the row starts off. After that I can knit with no problem.

Well, I take that back. I do have problems. I'm still making occasional mistakes. I'd call them concentration mistakes because they occur when my mind has journeyed elsewhere. Somehow, I end up at the end of a row and realize that the pattern is no longer working. But! At least I'm catching them before I have a disaster on my hands.

Shetland Miniature Leaf Pattern.
It's a very old Shetland pattern called “Miniature Leaf.” It requires a multiple of 6 stitches plus one extra stitch, and goes like this:

Row 1 - *k1, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo* Repeat to last stitch, k1.
Row 2 – purl
Row 3 - *k2, yo, k3tog, yo, k1* Repeat to last stitch, k1
Row 4 – purl
Row 5 - *k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog* Repeat to last stitch, k1
Row 6 – purl
Row 7 – k2tog, yo *k3, yo, k3tog, yo* Repeat to last 5 stitches, k3, yo, k2tog
Row 8 – purl

Of course this is the Americanized version. The UK version refers to yarn overs as yarn forwards.

The place I usually mess up is the knit-3-togethers. I tend to somehow drop one of the 3 stitches. I am knitting on US5 needles and I do tend to knit tightly which doesn't help, I know.

At one time I thought I would never be interested in knitting lace. In fact I vowed I'd never do it. I didn't think I had the patience. I lean towards yarns that spin and knit quickly. Hence I am always in awe of spinners of fine yarns and knitters of lace.

I've been enjoying this project however, in spite of all the frogging I've had to do. I'd like to think that I'm becoming a more patient person, but I doubt it. More likely I'm just finally becoming interested in the challenges of knitting lace. And this yarn just begged to be knit this way.

Progress, I think, will be very slow. I will continue to put the project down when it frustrates me, and pick it up again at a later date, when time has worked it's soothing magic on me. It's just nice to report that at least some progress is being made.

© 2006 Leigh's Fiber Journa

16 comments:

LZ said...

Wow. The Lap Lady things you are VERY talented. She's really jealous. She likes to sew & knit and all of that but she doesn't have any skills compared to you. This is just BEAUTIFUL!

Leigh said...

Kaze, sweet kitty, you tell your Lap Lady that I started learning from the same place as everyone does; the beginning! ;)

Sayward said...

It looks perfect to me. I make the same types of mistakes whenever I have a lace pattern that's more than four rows long. Trouble with lace is there's never any easy way to frog back. It's just 'tink, tink, tink.'

Knitting lace with kittens around is particularly dangerous. ;)

The Fluffy Tribe said...

Mom was just reading your process with the silk worm thread and caps and wow she was impressed. We like the colours you use. ~Merlin, Shadow, KO KO

Rascal said...

Hi Mom!

Anonymous said...

Hi. Well I know nothing about knitting, but my late grandmother loved to knit all kinds of stuff for us when we were little.
And my father is a sheep farmer. He farms a Merino type sheep called Letelle. It produces superfine high quality wool.
You can find some pictures of the sheep shearing here:
http://www.ceciliamcgregor.com/copermine/thumbnails.php?album=6&page=4
You might have to look around a little (also llok on page 5) but there are several pictures I think you will like.

Marie said...

Your scarf is lovely and I can see how soft it is. Keep plugging away. It will certainly be worth the effort.

Anonymous said...

This is wonderful, Leigh. I can identify with your 'never lace' vow. My lace attempts are either reformed into a ball of yarn or squashed in the very bottom of my
?knitting? basket.

Anonymous said...

This is just beautiful. I have such a hard time knitting white yarn let alone lace. I love to dye every thing. My gotland has been hard as I find grey to be utterly boring, but I have a plan....

Rosemarie Buchanan said...

Beautiful work ... and I love the yarn. I had two Samoyeds but that was before I was doing any substantial amount of lace knitting, although I had dreams of using their wonderful coat for knitting. The halo it produces is delightful. Keep on keeping on! You'll be surprised how much easier it gets (and if you're having trouble with charts, write out the directions in short lines, sort of like a verse in a poem, and you may find lace knitting a whole lot easier!).

Good luck!

Rosemarie Buchanan
www.mytwosticksandsomestring.blogspot.com

Leigh said...

I hadn't thought about a life line, thanks for the suggestion Peg. The halo of the yarn does make it difficult to unknit. I'm not sure if it's the yarn or my tight tension that is causing the most problems, but your alternative for knitting 3 together is good too. Now, as to the lace knitting list.............!!! :o

Anonymous said...

Hi Leigh, I just discovered your blog and love it. I, too discovered the frustrations of lace knitting and found the best way to ensure I don't mess up so often was to mark each pattern repeat with a stitch marker. I immediately knew/could find my mistake and correct it! Keep plugging away at it as it really is a beautiful scarf!

Leigh said...

Debirah, thank you so much for visiting and taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate the tip too. I think it will help me quite a bit.

ADavis said...

Hi Leigh,
Thank You for the lovely comment you left - on my blog. I knit and spin more than I blog! Anyway, the secret to Lace knitting, is a Lifeline, every two rows. I just had to make it part of the process, like K1, YO, K2tog, Purl the next row, Lifeline. No more frustration, you can see your work grow, drop a stitch it's on the Lifeline just waiting for you!

I too, belong to Online Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers, but how do you get your blog added to their site??

Leigh said...

Thank you for the helpful information Anita!I think a lifeline would be a life saver for me and my lace knitting.

Anonymous said...

What a wonder-filled site!

I'm enjoying everything! Thank you for all your extraordinary gifts.

Gentle as you go,
Marny
in southern California ...
http://Gentleasyougo.eboard.com