Pages

Sunday, May 25, 2008

I have started the Lyra. I have ripped the Lyra several times lol....but never mind, I have decided to do a Lyra out of a heavy yarn with a larger needle. I have done this to help me see the stitches and understand the pattern. I won't bore you with referring to myself as a beginner anymore lol. Instead I will say that I am unfamilier with lace knitting.



I used a cotten like Peaches and Cream or Sugar and Spice, or Lion Brand cotten. It is verigated and it is a 4 ply, ww, 100% cotten. I named several companies because the lable fell off this skein so I don't know exactly which one it is but they are all the same and very absorbent. This is the cotten that you would knit dish cloths and bathroom rugs out of and its very enjoyable to knit with.



This is what it looks like so far at round 35 and it measures 18 inches accross at this point. There are 179 rounds in this pattern. At some point if it gets way too large for a rug, I will have to think of what else to do with it. Maybe a beach wrap, did I mention is was a very absorbent cotten lol. I love the rug. I love it a lot. I thought some of the detail would be lost but it hasn't. I would knit it in a plain color next time and use a # 3 or 4 needle instead of the seven.








Here is another pic of the middle.


And a detail close-up. Notice the fabric behind it. This is some of my painted fabric that I paint in acrylics, when the mood strikes.





Now here is the lace doily so far at round 26. When I reach round 35 of the rug. I will start the rug again for 10 rounds and to back to the doily and so on until both are finished.



I pinned it real quickly so it's not so round but you can see so far. I am not missing a single stitch but have noticed a couple place where a thread is bit screwry but nothing to write home about. I am sure it will block just fine and will be hidden. I am not ripping lol. This is my first real lace and so far so good.

I am using a huge ball of Royal cotten in a size 10 and a #2 needle. I am using two circulars. I can't deal with DPN's. I learned this technique doing socks on two circulars and apply it to all things knitted in the round. I am using the Knit-Pics needles that one can change the cable size and have the 40 inch cables on the rug doily so I can spread it out now and then and have a good look at it.

If at any time the cable comes out of the needle, KP's will replace the cable for free and you can also glue the cable back using Gorilla glue. I have done it and it works as I love these needles. They come in a beautiful multi wood tone and nickle plated. I will use one of each if I have them to mark the first round. I just got my last order of more needles.

I am uploading two more pics at a higher resolution just to see if they are better on the web.




Thursday, May 01, 2008

I have finished the Hemlock Ring. This will be a short post. I will write more later.








Ok, it's later and I can write more. I got inspired to do this Hemlock Ring from Jared's blog, which was brought to my attention from Fibermania's blog lol.

To answer your questions, I used the same yarn Jared did. Cascade Ecological Wool in "Latte" (8063). I had no clue as to what I was doing. I joined the Yahoo Groups and wrote to People and downloaded tips and etc. I got some very appreciated help.

I washed the Hemlock in the wool stuff and pinned it out on one on my beds to block it. Then, since Jared's looked so crisp, I was sure he ironed it. I didn't ask lol. I just jumped right in. I use a double pillow case and steam ironed it and I guess it was ok to do that. I love it!

I had a difficult time as I consider myself a beginner, having only knitted two pairs of sock and a sweater. Maybe something else that I can't remember at the moment.

This was a very enjoyable project, once the understanding got in and the light came on lol.

I have developed this passion all of a sudden. Like I need a new hobby? Oh what the hell, why not?


I have now discovered the Herbert Niebling doily patterns and they are to die for and sooo hard to get and sooo expensive on ebay...but I have friends in high places hahahahah

Soooooo my next project is already on the needles. "Frosted Ferns" and when I am done with that, I will have enough guts to try the "Lyra" that the whole knitting web is doing. I will post these as I go along.