I’m moving along on the Kimono Scarf, though not at lightning speed by any means :) I generally do a pattern repeat (24 rows) a day - sometimes two if I’m feeling exceptionally ambitious.
YO, SSK, K5 (3, 1), K2tog, YO, K1 (3, 5)
Is that so hard? It doesn’t look hard - but I have messed up somewhere on these three rows on almost every repeat. Just call me consistent :)
On the other hand, I’m finding the color play between the yarn and the pattern to be very interesting indeed. I’m not sure this would be acceptable in more sophisticated fashion, but the way the yarn pools and flashes is, to my eye, pretty cool :)
And I started something new :)
Cast on a multiple of 8 stitches +1.
Row 1: K1, *YO, K2, sl1-K2tog-psso, K2, YO, K1; repeat from *.
Row 2: (and all wrong-side rows) Purl.
Row 3: K2, *YO, K1, sl1-K2tog-psso, K1, YO, K3; repeat from*, end K1.
Row 5: K3, *YO, sl1-K2tog-psso, YO, K5; repeat from *, end K3.
As it happens, there are any number of lace stitch patterns based on a multiple of 8 stitches +1 so if I get the desire to change to something else as I go along, it won’t be a problem :) I’ve even had the thought that it might be fun to change colors when/if I change the stitch pattern. It also occurred to me that it might be interesting to change the stitch pattern every time a new repeat is added. So while the first iteration might be Fishtail lace, the second could incorporate Razor Shell or whatever else tickled your fancy and you would have rays of each running from top to side/bottom of the shawl. It would be really interesting to work each of these rays in a different color but I’m not up to that kind of intarsia yet :)
I don’t think…
My only concern with this is the center increases (I keep thinking of them as spinal increases!). I decided not to go with yarn-overs for the increases on this piece - at least so far. The only real reason for this is because yarn-overs simply stick their tongues out at stitch markers and wander freely from one side of the marker to the other meaning that I never quite know where I am :) So I went with M1 (lifted bar) increases instead. Since this shawl is started at the top and increased towards the bottom, there are four increase stitches on every right-side row: one on either edge and one on either side of the center stitch(es).
But I haven’t done this before and don’t really know yet :)
Chatters is on tomorrow at the regular time. Drop in if you can!
Have a great weekend all :)
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Pull or no pull, the shawl is looking beautiful!
I’m thinking that the stitch pattern would work well on a Stahman’s shawl - the shaped ones.
Hmm… I have some lace yarn around here somewhere…
Isn’t lace just the most facinating stuff ever? I could look at it, knit it and dream about it all day long. Sigh.
Diane - It’s really a neat little stitch pattern but I do feel I should frog this and do it over - handling the center increases a little differently. Like maybe putting a repeat of the stitch pattern in there and increasing to either side of it rather than a single stitch.
Now that’s an idea...hmmmm…
...s’cuse me....
Lisa - This lace thing is really getting to me. I don’t want lace to be the only thing I ever do, but damn, this is really interesting!
I am dreaming of my next lace project already - absolutely champing at the bit to cast on… Icarus is progressing ... There is a centre st in that pattern and the inc is a YO, and seems to not pucker, but gives and open hole-y appearance much like the lifted bar between the stitches....
Nat - I think the yarn-over increase is the one most commonly used :) I’m being lazy here because I hate the way the yarn-over slips around a stitch marker before it’s purled on the way back.
I opted for the lifted bar which is usually knitted through the back to minimize the appearance of a hole. In this case, I was knitting it through the front to intentionally have it make a hole.
However, that type of increase puts stress on the stitches around it and so placing one on either side of the center stitch (so it’s being stressed on both sides on every right side row) maybe isn’t the best idea :)
I’m dying to see your Icarus and very, very curious as to what you mght decide to do next!
The scarf and the shawl are both gorgeous! You do beautiful lace work. :-)
Hi
I just found your site and have to say that your work is beautifull.
I too think it will be at bit tight with this increase. Maybee you could make a “tvisted yarn over”. Hard to explain (i am danish so english is not my first language). But when making a yarn over you twist it before putting it on the needle. It doesn’t give as big a hole and i don’t think it is as thight as the lifted bar increase.
Just my thoughts about this.
Lotte from Denmark
Opal - Thank you very much :) Given your experience in the area of lace knitting, that means a lot! I’m slowly working my way down to actual lace-weight yarn!
I love the scarf...very pretty.What a great fins on the knitting leaflets.
Lotte - I think the increase you’re talking about is what I would call a backwards loop. You’re quite right, that would create the increase and not put any stress on the other stitches.
But it wouldn’t make a hole and I wanted that - just without the gerneral sloppiness of a yarn- over.
Maureen! Nice to see you :) Thanks - I am enjoying the scarf and the old pamphlets/magazines are fun to goggle over. As it happens, I think both of these will be useful as well :)
One of my favorite increases is Elizabeth Zimmerman’s version of Make One, which is a backwords loop...a half-hitch. You can have them go in opposite directions, so that it is a mirror image (although, you would have to knit through the back loop of one of them to keep from getting a hole). It’s great for something where you have a center line of stitches, b/c you’re adding yarn, instead of using what’s already there, so it’s not tight.
Hiya Marcy :) I do use that increase - thumb gussets come to mind! But it seems to me that the more ways to increase (and decrease) you know, the better off you are!
I was going to remind you of the EZ’s backward loop increase, but I see others already have, so I won’t. ;)
The beginning of the shawl is looking really good; I love it! And the scarf! Wow!! Like you, I’m really liking the way it pools. And.. who cares about “being acceptable in more sophisticated fashion”. What counts is liking what you’re wearing, and knitting. Lovely!
Ev - Aw shucks :) The shawl has been ripped and reimaged as the TV folks say. You’ll see it in Wednesday’s post!
I just love the color play of your Kimono Scarf!
Had to stop by and say thanks for your encouraging comment on my blog but, boy howdy! I could spend all day enjoying your musings! I’ll be back....lawn to finish mowing, yarn to shop for, beads to search out....color me “happy”!
Hiya Vykky :)
Thanks for all that nice stuff you said! I bookmarked your blog too :)
Hiya Vykky!
Thanks for all that nice stuff you said. I bookmarked your blog too :)
