I met with my friend for brunch yesterday. She had reached the heel of her sock and we negotiated the heel flap, turning the heel and picking up the gusset stitches. She’s a natural, I’m telling you, and I can’t wait to see her finished footwear. She’s using one of Wildfoote’s hand paints; it’s called Symphony and it’s a luscious blend of blue, teal, violet and fuchsia - these socks are going to be awesome!
It is such a pleasure to share a passion with someone else and not only have them understand, but catch it themselves!
Me? Ahhh, well, I wasn’t nearly that ambitious. I had wanted to work on the shawl but I need to set aside a fairly large block of time for that because of the length of the rows. That never happened (though I have hopes for this afternoon!), but I did manage a couple of things for the Dulaan bag (cap, cheerfully modeled by one of Myria’s grapefruit):
Happy Monday!
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What are you trying to make with the laceweight? Because, generally speaking, lace stitches aren’t going to be firm in the first place. If the stitches are too tight, it won’t block out to be nice and airy.
Colleen - That’s certainly true, but I’m talking about the yarn being so slippery the stitch itself won’t hold it’s shape. I haven’t finished experimenting either but I’m beginning to wonder if I can use this stuff as is. It may well be that I’m just too clumsy to handle it properly - wouldn’t be the first time :)
I just bought some Bryspun circulars from Elann to try them out. They seem super sticky to me.
i always start with my bamboo needles and usually find they work- i do think when working with laceweight yarns that it takes a couple of rows for the knitting to feel secure, so maybe if you just grin and bear it you will reach that comfort zone-
your model looks most alluring in that cute little hat- good work, glenda grapefruit-
how nice to have ‘spread the word’ about all the lovely sock yarns available- i keep thinking that surely one of my daughters will want to learn to knit, but so far they just look on and extend their hands for socks, sweaters, etc- one has learned to crochet enough to make scarves for dulaan, so maybe i shouldn’t expect miracles!
stay happy-
Toni - Hey, I totally forgot about those - and I know of a local source too! Thanks for mentioning them :)
Barb - I did work a couple of swatches out to a dozen rows or so and saying they were sloppy looking would be kind indeed. Probably I need to take the first few rows slowly and carefully and proceed that way. Maybe I’ll take all the alpaca on the trip with me and work it out on the ocean! Heheh…
Today it is +13 in my city and I am wearing sandals. Without stockings. For April 3 in this usually cold north, that is astonishing.
Love the cap! I have put Dulann knitting aside for the time being. A dear friend is just starting chemo for breast cancer, so I am doing cotton chemo caps. The one on the needles right now is Paton’s Cotton Tops, and it is really floppy and almost shapeless. I’m thinking of threading a ribbon through so it could be snugged up. Does anyone have a better idea? amaryllis
Oops! Post script: I find that with really slippery yarns, knitting them on is the way to go. After that it’s perseverence.
amaryllis
I anti-bamboo needles, personally, so I just soldier on with the metal. And I’m so sllllooowww at lacemaking, that each stitch is painstakingly made, checked, double-checked, and then I move on. Perhaps that’s the reason why I keep my tension even. :P
I always go to my Old metal Bernat needles for lace work. Are you casting on straight needles or circular? I find my straights easier for that as well. The points are nice and sharp. I love the little hat...cute model.
Amaryllis - threading a ribbon isn’t a bad idea, or a braided cord made from the same (or a contrasting color) yarn as the cap itself. What about incorporating 6 or 7 rows of ribbing right after (or before - depending on whether the hat is worked from the top down or the bottom up) the brim to kind of snug it in at that point?
PS - Will try knitting on - I generally use a cable cast on and that just may not be the way to go for lace!
Colleen - Probably “slow & steady” would serve me better for lace making too. I had thought that I would start with wood or bamboo - just to get all the tricky stuff out of the way - and then switch to a metal needle once I’d gotten the pattern established and was comfortable with it.
Maureen - Don’t think I’ve ever seen Bernat needles :) Yes, I’m starting on straights and probably would on any lace project. I love my circulars, heaven knows, but I almost never start anything on them. I start on straight needles and migrate to the circulars later :)
Hi Robbyn: another advantage of knitting your stitches on is that it’s almost twist proof. You still have to check, but at least the yarn isn’t subject to the jerk of long tail cast on.
As for the hat, it’s off the needles and I will never use that yarn again. Horrid. Knit from the brim up, and threading that thick ‘n thin stuff through the last 18 stitches last night was a nightmare. If ribbon doesn’t do the job, it will become a washcloth.
Anyone want 5 skeins of pale yellow Patons Cotton Tops? You can have the rest of the pale blue too. Not me, no more.
amaryllis 
