Just for Fleegle

As requested close ups of the PLT mystery stole....

PLT Mystery Stole 3

I finished clue 4 last night. I am very intrigued as to what the theme could be. I'm not very good at things like this as I can never relate to what the symbols mean etc so I have not attempted any guesses as to what the theme may be.

I just know the Zephyr is lovely yarn to knit with, I like Melanies other patterns and the instructions are clear so all in all it's a lovely knit and a lovely shawl, that doesn't mean to say I'm not looking forward to what the clue is......


Elsewhere on the knitting front only socks have progressed in so far as I have turned the heel on the 1st Elemente sock and started the 2nd Hundertwasser sock..... I am hoping after jobs are done to get back onto the VLT shawl I am getting ready for finishing the main body of the shawl and to move onto something different....

Discovering Borders.....

Nothing like being adventurous (or is that stupid) in your first venture into designing is there????


I've spent days getting my head round borders and the maths associated of trying to make a border fit to a shawl, counting rows and stitches etc etc..... then the best way to attach them and considering I've ever only done one stole with a knitted on border before I think the answer is stupid rather than adventurous. It really doesn't help when your husband can get his head round what you're trying to doing better than you and he can't even knit, it really is insult to injury..... anyway undeterred I have got this far.....

Both are edgings from Sharon Miller's Heirloom Knitting book (this book has become my bible recently) the bottom one is the Doris edging and the top one is the Rippled Diamond Edging... I have modified the Diamond edging slightly and added a bead to the centre of the motif to tie in with my beaded flower motifs in the main body of the shawl......

I think the Diamond edging is the one I am going to go for as although on this sample it looks too wide, I have to remember this is a swatch and the final stole will have 10 full motifs across plus borders..... plus it was a bit more interesting to knit than the Doris edging, but I drew the line at a knitted lace border ;o)

I have also decided that I have done enough 'playing' now and to actually start to knit this stole, because I know myself well and if I continue playing I will just go backwards way and nothing will ever be produced from this playing....

Birthday Girl!!!!

Happy 40th Birthday Tanya

As some of you may or may not have noticed on my sidebar under the heading of "On the Needles" I had something entitled "Lacy Surprise" I can now reveal this is what it was....

First steps....

Nearly Halfway....

Pre-Blocking....

Blocking...

Finished!!!

As you've probably all guessed by now this is Hanami by the talented Melanie otherwise known as Pink Lemon Twist, the creator of the Mystery Stole along that's gripping the lace knitting world at the moment..... It's a beautiful and unusual pattern in that it's asymmetrical and as always with PLT it has a theme....

For those of you out there contemplating knitting this, do so it's quite an easy pattern to work. One tip I would say is when you get to the non-basket weave section I would highlight either all the K2tog or the Sl1-K2tog-psso making it easier when you're knitting from the chart to see what is what when glancing down at the chart. I also wrote the number of all the plain knit stitches between these other stitches so I wasn't counting all the time and it did make it a lot easier and quicker..... Here's the details of materials I used...

Yarn: Yarn Treehouse Bloom Colour C09 yarn held double to give correct weight for pattern

Needles: Knit Pick Classic Circ 3.25mm

Beads: Size 9 Güttermann Blue lined Lilac seed beads

Variations:I omitted the ruffle option and worked 6 garter stitch rows after the last pattern block and added beads on the CO edge

It probably took me 5 weeks of knitting but I was only knitting 5 out of every 7, due to my lace knitting schedule I've set up to allow me to work on different projects ; yes I know it sounds sad but at least all my projects get attention and it works for me.... some days I did more, others I didn't do any.

I loved knitting the stole and would definitely do another at a future date which I think is always a good recommendation for a pattern, the basket weave after doing the first repeat was probably the most enjoyable bit.... I think when I do a second one of these then I would perhaps repeat chart C a 2nd time, repeat half of chart F again and finally just do half the number of rows of Chart G.

The yarn from Yarn Treehouse was as lovely as ever and think it lends itself well to the pattern.... I had 10g left out of 2 x 50g balls (held double) working an extra repeat of basket weave and a further full repeat of Chart G.

As you've probably now guessed from the title of this post this is for my friend Tanya who is 40 today; I couldn't post any earlier as she reads my blog from time to time and I didn't want to give the surprise away.... that's the only drawback of your knitting friends who read your blog you can't post photos and details of their presents as you knit!!!!

So Tanya when you read this I hope you had a lovely and memorable 40th birthday despite yet more rain.......

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TANYA!!!!!

Finally....

Well after a minor set back last night when I nearly finished the last repeat and I dropped a stitch and developed a hole... I put it down in disgust and left it and sorted the mess out this morning and finally came up with this....




I think I prefer this to the 1st nested version, I don't think I want to go any closer with the motifs seeing it's my first voyage into design and knitted lace. I do think once there are more motifs it will look better but if I was going to do a scarf definitely the stacked on top of each other motifs work best.....

Nesting.....

After Fleegle commented about nesting the motifs rather than stacking them, I swatched again last night and came up with this.....

Here's a full view so you can compare the two....

Mmmmm I like both, but perhaps the nested ones should be nearer to each other?

Comments as always greatfully received....

Mmmm Decsion time....

I completed another repeat last night...



I quite like the lozenges sat on top of each other. The other option is to add rows in between the lozenge pattern repeats and perhaps put another motif in, but I think it might make it too busy.

The motif on it's own keeps your interest whilst knitting without being too intense if you follow me, so perhaps time to leave it alone an think about a suitable border.....

All comments gratefully appreciated.....

Lacy Days....

The thing with me and blogging is either seem to have nothing to say or everything to say..... no happy medium so to speak... Anyway yesterday and last night I had a real lace day :)

For those of you who were kind enough to leave me positive comments on my adventures into designing my 1st lace stole thank you I found them very encouraging... but please feel free to leave constructive criticism too.....

Anyway here is the complete pattern repeat knitted up.... I am now going to repeat the motif again and then decide if I do or don't want space between the rows of motifs, I am happy with the motifs sitting next to each other......

After telling you about the Pippa bag fiasco the other day I did cast on this last night. So this is now my intrim knit between Pink Lemon Twist Mystery Stole and Mums' VLT Beginner stole.... and before you ask yes I did complete Clue 3 last night before starting..... I think my productivity yesterday came from lack of productivity last week.....

This actually was the first mystery stole that I joined back in May, but by the time I had found it and then organized my yarn from the States the last clue was being started.... so here's what this is going to be when it grows up, Midsummer by the Goddess Knits. I am using "Classic" from Yarn Treehouse; its 100% wool and is quite springy to knit with, the pattern called for 5.0mm needles but I preferred the look with my 4.5mm Knit Picks Options :) it's actually going to be a gift for my goddaughter Sarah for her Christening in September.

The photo shows me part way through what was Clue 1

And just to prove that I didn't cast on before finishing clue 3 here you go, I just love knitting with Zephyr :o))))))))))))))) but I really do not have a clue what the theme is going to be...


And last, but not least (no I didn't manage any of this yesterday) an update of were I'm at with the VLT, I know you can't see the stitch patterns (I am halfway so just repeating the patterns in reverse order) but I can't believe how big its getting. I really hadn't noticed as most of the time it's screwed up on my knee in ball....


So all in all a very enjoyable Lace day yesterday......

A little something of my own....

I came back from Woolfest with some lovely lace yarn (OK 3 hanks) from Natalie of The Yarn Yard the yarn was just so beautiful that it cried out for me to have a go at doing my own design.

I have to admit that it was the green one that called to me most and I did come up with the start of a design but it wasn't just what I wanted so I have put it to one side for when I have a little more expereince & confidence in designing, hopefully!!!

So I turned to the blue hank (I have no idea what it's called) but it shades ever so subtly and reminds me of Blue Denim Jeans. With this yarn sat on my desk just within my sight, out of the corner of my eye I started to look at motifs.

Now my problem is I see so many nice designs in my pattern books but I realise that less is more if you follow. I usually tend to end up picking a motif start to work with it then think it's un-interesting etc... so stop and change to a different motif and so it continues the result being nothing is produced.... Anyway after reading a post by the talented Lace Maven about how she designed Merilyn's Stole using elements from the Heirloom Knitting Book by Sharon Miller, I picked up my copy and hey presto an idea was born....

Anyway after a few false starts I eventually found a motif I liked and what's more I modified it, so I feel like I really have designed something rather than just literally taking the motif and placing it with other elements, and of course the use of beads is inspired by the Pink Lemon Twist Mystery Stole

So just to keep you interested here's a photo of the start of the sample swatch.... What do you think so far?

State of Play......

Thought it was about time that I updated my blog, but to be truthful until now I haven't had anything really to update it with and here's why....

I finished a project a couple of weeks ago (I can't reveal photos yet) and started the Pink Lemon Twist Mystery Stole 3 and completed clue 2 so I had nothing so to speak on the needles for week day knitting after finishing the current clue. I cast on the Pippa bag as mentioned in the previous post..... that was a Sunday night.

The bag just kept glaring at me (OK all of 5 rounds of it) everytime I sat down to knit I was too tired or jobs needed doing so needless to say I did absolutely no knting at all last week.

I was all poised to start clue 3 on Friday when it came out but a severe thick head preventing me from starting so in the end I finished off my first sock of the pair of my "Der Blaue Mond" socks from the Opal Hundertwasser range.... huge repeat!!!!

So Saturday whilst in the shop (I have a pair of socks on the go in the shop for when I'm working and a pair in the house for other times) I decided I could get the second sock of the Opal Neon pair finished (I like to call them Flash Gordon for obvious reasons), they took a little longer than expected to finish but I did finish them Saturday evening....


These are for a friend's birthday at the end of August so I am in plenty of time with them :)

This then took me to Sunday & Monday (my weekend) which was spent doing the VLT stole, yesterday did see some progress made which after Sunday's pathetic 24 rows was a relief. So tonight I am going to start clue 3 of the PLT Mystery stole.........

What happened to the bag I hear you say? I frogged it, for something which was meant to be a fill in between lace projects, it actually stopped me knitting and as time is precious why knit something I'm not enjoying and that actually stops me knitting other things too......

Oh yes I did start something else as well yesterday, photo tomorrow.... ;)

Clue 2 Complete....

I am really enjoying knitting this pattern, I love the design, the subtle use of beads and I love knitting with the Jaggerspun Zephyr and I especially like the colour seeing I dyed it myself. In the past when I have tried to dye things I'm usually less than happy with the results but I seem to be getting the knack of this..... It isn't quite a solid colour but is various tones of the apricot shade....

I downloaded the pattern on Friday morning, managed 10 rows throughout the afternoon, fully intending to do a further 10 Friday evening. I couldn't help myself I did 20, which left me with 20 to knit on Saturday.... I'd finished by teatime....

I have made myself a promise that the VLT shawl is for my weekends (Sunday & Monday) and then I will do the PLT mystery stole the rest of the week as time permits... should I have extra time then that is to be used for non-lace projects to use up my stash such as the yarn for a couple of felted bags, scarves, etc...

I cast on for Pippa Bag last night.... I decided that rather than knit two identical halves, I will knit it up in one piece then sew the bottom up. I bought the Kid Classic awhile back and as it was a discontinued colour 849 - Sandstone, it was cheaper. It's most definitely not my colour at all, but it was intended to be a first attempt at a felted bag so thought just in case it doesn't work I opted for buying the yarn at a reduced price..... needless to say when it is knitted I am going to dye it!!!

Am not sure when it will be ready to dye after last nights knitting as I was so bored with it after my lace knitting that I managed to do all sorts of little jobs I've been putting off...... I think I managed 4 rounds in 2 hours :(

For Helen & MissAliceFaye

Helen left me a comment that she thought the photo on the front of my Wild Fibers Magazine in my Woolfest post was lovely. I replied saying there was one on the inside far nicer.... so here it is, just makes you want to go "Awwwwwwwwwwwww..."



After commenting on MissAliceFaye's blog about her Jamieson & Smith's Chrsitening Shawl and subsequently correpsonding about their lack of up to date photos on their patterns, typewritten instructions and their Online Shop as such.... you have to ring up to order..... Miss Alice Faye kindly expressed to see my first real shawl which was beautifully named "CW108"!!! which I worked in Munrospun 3ply; a £5 bargain off Ebay. So as promised here's the photo... I had to reduced some of the repeats due to the limited amount of yarn. It really was a lovely pattern to work once I'd charted it and will do a 2nd at some future date.....

Clue 1 of the PInk Lemon Twist Mystery Stole

Here it is....


I finished it on Sunday after starting Saturday evening, it really was enjoyable knitting it; not just because of the Addi lace needles (3.5mm) and the Zephyr yarn (this was my first time of using it), but the pattern was good to follow too.... There are beads on there but they're quite subtle and tend to catch the light when you handle the fabric....

I would recommend anyone whose thinking about joining to join before the deadline of midnight 6th July.... I'm looking forward to Clue 2 and literally which dirction the stole is going to head off in next.....

I have also completed another lacy project but more at a future date on that...

Both pairs of socks are progressing well as is the VLT shawl....

Woolfest

I know it's been 5 days since I went to Woolfest but it's taken until now to get the Camera into my hands to take photos of my purchases (which I have to say were somewhat restrained); and after all it was no use posting a blog without photos, was it?

I really enjoyed the day it was my first visit and people tell me it's getting better each year... there was a nice selection of stalls, a good place to get a drink and plenty of places to sit down....

Anyway here are my purchases:

Wild Fibers Winter 2007 (Has the Heartland Shawl Pattern in), Fiber Trends Flower Basket Shawl Pattern & Spin Off Magazine. At the front Volume 2 of Barbara Walker's Treasury, Inch worm & Drop Spindle by Michael Woods and then roving and laceweight from the Yarn Yard, by the way n it was lovely to meet you and chat.....

For those who want a close up of just the yarn, I'm not sure what the colourways are called.... but n if you read this if you can identify the colours I'd appreciate knowing what they are for when I put them on Ravelry

Tomorrow I will post my completed Clue 1 of the Pink Lemon Twist Mystery Shawl.... BTW this will close at Midnight on July 6th... so if you want to join just click the button in the sidebar and that will take you to the Pink Lemon Twist website with details of how to join the group.... the first Clue really is lovely....