Now you see it…
Now you don’t. First, here’s a progress picture of the Faux Russian Stole from Gathering of Lace.
As you can tell, I’ve altered the pattern quite a bit, nearly doubling it in width. It looks quite nice, actually, when pinned out. I decided to pin it out for a blog photo, and was relieved to find no major mistakes.
Now here’s another progress picture:
All those YOs, all those K2togs, wrapped around the cone. That fat little bulge you see around the middle is my poor stole, frogged! Why?????
Well, for a number of reasons, with my impulsive decision-making being merely one of them. It’s been annoying me for a while now. The size 5 needles were making the garter stitch too loose, and I’d been ignoring it. My alterations were making it nearly 30 inches wide when blocked and I realised it was going to be a loose, drapey blanket rather than a nice shawl. It needs to be on size 4s and not that wide, which is what it will be in its next avatar. Also, I went and observed a history class in an inner-city middle school yesterday and it left me more depressed than I have been in a while. While frogging this leaves none of those questions about school education in the US unanswered, it did make me feel a little better.
But, I decided that I’m going to do lace now. Reading Eunny’s Lace Series is also just confirming my notion that lace is incomparable. I love the rhythm, the weightlessnes and the delicacy of knitting lace. My next shawl will be the black shawl my MIL has been asking for for ages. If I can get my ass going, it should be ready by the time I leave for home in July. We have a long road trip planned in June, hmmmmm.
I’m knitting this one on size 3s, in Jaggerspun Superfine Merino, which is a 100% wool version of Jaggerspun Zephyr. So far, the pattern is going well. I also like the yarn, which doesn’t slip so much. I started on bamboo straights, but am now using one bamboo, one metal, because one of the bamboos splintered and was snagging the yarn. I hope I can hone it back to usable condition.
If you know you’re not going to like something, it is best to frog now rather than finish it and never use it.
Is that cone Zephyr? I’m using size 6 needles on my Faux Russian, but the KnitPicks shadow I’m using is thicker than Zephyr. (I will pick mine back up someday.)
Education: I’m homeschooling because I don’t feel my kids would get the education they need at school. It’s sad, but the school system isn’t getting better.
That is going to be a beautiful shawl!
Hi there
Found your link via Wendy Knits! I’m enjoying your blog, and I was suprised to see Megan Mill’s web link, she’s a good friend and was over drinking tea the other night! And she is as cheerful and lovely in person.
I’m fascinated by your Rangoli cable and look forward to seeing your progress. I’m one of those strange Europeans who have an endless fascination with all things sub-continental and am very inspired by Indian textile design. One day I aim to knit a replica paisley shawl! Right.. I’ll just stick to sweaters I think
Beautiful lacy items. You have a nice blog and I enjoyed reading.