Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Knitting again - at last!

I think I’m back :) At least for a post or two a week - which means that I’ve got my knitting mojo on and I’m actually futzing around with something simple and interesting.

The following swatches were all done in Caron Simply Soft on size 8 US (5.00 mm) needles.  The yarn is simply what I had lying around that I didn’t mind going for experiments.  Please forgive the fuzziness of some of the pictures - the spirit is willing but the hands are still a bit shaky.  First there was this:

I love the Fir Cone lace and have always wanted to use it in something.  However, there are a lot of Fir Cone shawls out there (for example, this and, in an unusual and very attractive shape, this, not to mention this) and they’d be a tough act to follow.  Also, I felt that the width of the three patterns didn’t balance well.  Definitely something needed to change.

So then there was this:

I narrowed the Razor Shell down to it’s absolute minimum and dropped the Horseshoe Lace entirely.  Definitely better but still…





I decided to shelve the Fir Cone for some other time and went with the Horseshoe and a slightly narrower-than-usual Razor Shell.  This came much closer to what I was looking for.  What was I looking for?  All I can tell you is I knew it when I saw it :) Despite the fact that this isn’t terribly lacy looking, being worsted weight yarn on size 8 US (5.00 mm) needles, this one really tripped my trigger :)

Despite which, I went ahead and did a fourth swatch, narrowing the Razor Shell even further.  You know, just in case…

When I cast on for this swatch, I thought it was going to be the be all and end all - the perfect balance of patterns and proportions - but I didn’t like it.  I mean it’s okay, nothing wrong with it.  But the third one’s the charm.

Should have known :)

Remember the dyed Sockotta yarn from back in February?  I wasn’t awfully happy with the green color and so had stashed it in the closet to ripen for a bit.  And what do you know?  When I retrieved it last week, it had blossomed into the most beautiful Jade you can imagine!  Amazing what a couple of month’s distance can do :)

I can’t tell you how much fun I’m having with this :) This is fingering weight (sock yarn - doh!) on size 6 US (4.25 mm) needles.  I’m into the second ball and have just joined a longer cable - thank goodness for Knitpicks Options needles!  I don’t know what I ever did without them :)





Of course I don’t expect to be finished with this for quite a while yet, being only a half-fast knitter :) But it’s so nice to be able to knit again!

And to want to.

I’m going to open up Chatters on Saturday evening.  I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed it and missed chatting with you all.  I’ll post the banner later in the week. 

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1. That is good news indeed Robbyn - take care, hugs

   Posted by nat  on  06/03  at  04:01 PM
   Location : sick, at home, again!



2. It is great to see you back!! And not just knitting… The shawl (I presume it will be a shawl?) is looking terrific. I like the combination of stitches. Very nice!

   Posted by Ev  on  06/03  at  04:32 PM
   Location : in a blur



3. I’m so glad you’ve got your groove back - somewath and that Chatters will be back!  I’ve missed it and all of you!!  Not that I was completely consistent with attendance… but I DID miss it! 

   This Saturday, I will be in IL.  It is graduation week in the family.  My son graduates tomorrow (June 4) and my niece on Saturday.  However, I should be able to sneak away for a bit by later on Saturday night.  My sister has several computers I could use to say Hi!

   Posted by Kathleen  on  06/03  at  05:08 PM
   Location : somewhere south of you! :)



4. Robbyn,
   You’re back!!! You’re shawl is going to be another beautiful lacework piece! I even love the swatches. Take care!
   Carol

   Posted by  on  06/03  at  07:14 PM
   Location : home after a baseball game!



5. It’s good to see you back.

   Posted by Charlotte  on  06/03  at  09:06 PM
   Location : Missouri



6. oh, joy!! how good to see you have your mojo back, and i see that your wheels are turning rapidly- i love the fact that you ‘think out loud’ when you’re contemplating stitches and patterns (saves my tiny peabrain a lot of work at times!)-

   i’m in the midst of an explosion of baby items needed asap, so i too have simply soft scattered around- mind you, *my* mojo is somewhere filed under ‘sloth’ or ‘too busy’, but i have the yarns and the patterns in mind- the simply soft is excellent stuff indeed, and it definitely has its place among the varieties of yarn available- it’s very forgiving too, as i’ve frogged many a mile of it and then successfully used it again-

   summer has been with us forever it seems- instead of looking lush and green the yards already have that crusty dusty brown appearance-

   chatters on saturday will be marked on the calendar and provided i am not overcome by little people, work, or trolls from under a bridge i will be there-

   much love to you and hooray for your return- stay happy-

   Posted by  on  06/04  at  07:18 AM
   Location : right here pretending to work



7. So glad to hear your mojo is back! And it’s come back with such a bang too!

   Posted by Opal  on  06/04  at  08:10 AM
   Location : Honolulu, HI



8. Good to have you back. Take it easy and enjoy,

   Posted by  on  06/05  at  02:24 AM
   Location : On top of a mountain



9. Oh, honey, so glad to have you back!  And the swatching means you have your spirit back, at least.  :D

   Posted by Colleen  on  06/05  at  02:38 PM
   Location : home, listening to a storm



10. Glad to see you back, lovely work!!
    Vicki

    Posted by vicki  on  06/05  at  03:15 PM
    Location :

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