Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Swatching…

So I’ve been swatching…

...and I’ve come to the reluctant conclusion that while a lace castle was an interesting idea, it won’t look the way I want it to look - solid :) You’d think that would have been a duh wouldn’t you?  It isn’t quite out of the question, but after spending yesterday looking at pictures of castles and going over every lace stitch pattern I can find, I don’t see that it would be feasible.

Not unless I want a blanket-sized castle… That might be an interesting idea for a lace shawl done in frog-hair yarn (thanks Barb!) on microscopic needles but it’s not what I had in mind for the blanket.

Between searches, while I was mulling things over, I worked out a couple of things..

The first attempt at a window didn’t come out so hot…





The second came out much better.  I envision these as tower windows (God knows where they’ll actually end up!) and I even like the seed stitch texture for the tower(s).

It would, however, be entirely too much for the castle I think.  This was a preliminary swatch for the castle texture -

- but I think it would be way too busy unless the castle was (again) blanket sized.  I considered several things and am still thinking about others.  I want something that suggests stone but doesn’t so dominate that the texture is the only thing the eye sees.  While I was playing with a door concept, I tried throwing in random and occassional purl stitches onto the castle walls to see how that would work…





It’s not perfect, but I think it’s a step in the right direction :)

While I was swatching last night, we watched The Man From Earth.  The movie has an intriguing premise which, unfortunately, gets piddled all over by illogical arguments and unwarranted associations. Dan Brown would love it.  It is however a perfect knitter’s film in a couple of respects.  It is entirely set in the main character’s living room and there is no action of any kind.  It’s all dialogue - so you never have to look up from your knitting.  However, if you do - try to get a good look at the vest the older woman is wearing.  It’s a beautiful piece of entrelac :)

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1. Oh I love the tower window. I think your ideas are great. I can’t wait to see what they look like combined!

   Posted by Lisa  on  11/15  at  08:58 AM
   Location :



2. Lisa - Thanks, sweetie :) This is looking like a long project as every time I start swatching, a dozen other possibilities jump into my head and I have to work them all out too :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  11/15  at  10:27 AM
   Location : I won't tell if you won't :)



3. Have you ever knit a ballband dishcloth a la Mason Dixon Knitting? The end result couldn’t look more like bricks if you actually mortared the stitches together with a trowel.

   You don’t need the book for the pattern; it exists online as well:

   http://www.canadianliving.com/crafts/knitting/knit_a_ballband_dishcloth.php

   Something to think about…

   Posted by Ryan  on  11/15  at  01:31 PM
   Location :



4. I love the tower window too! Gorgeous texture.

   Posted by Opal  on  11/15  at  05:05 PM
   Location : Honolulu, HI



5. Ryan - You know, I never thought of that.  Definitely should be checked out - thanks Ryan!

   Posted by Robbyn  on  11/16  at  08:24 AM
   Location : I won't tell if you won't :)



6. Opal - Well, after all my complaining, I have found a way to add some lace to the castle that doesn’t look too bad.  At least I don’t think it doea...I’m working up a prototype now :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  11/16  at  08:26 AM
   Location : I won't tell if you won't :)

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