February 21, 2010
Half-Way Up the Mountain
So, here it is, the Flower Basket Shawl four of eleven repeats in:
Impressed?
Yeah, me neither.
Despite my best efforts, the yarn I chose is too dark and you can’t see the pattern, except maybe if you squint and look at the left side of the photo. But it has all the right holes in all the right places and I suppose that’s 95% of the battle with lace. Knit a couple of wonky holes, and you’re screwed. Who knew it wasn't the yarn, but the air that mattered?
All in all, considering I chose this for the challenge factor, the knitting is going laughably well. I’ve reached a gold-medal-worthy milestone, at least by my definition of gold medal (that’s the benefit of not joining any of the knitting Olympic groups—you get to make your own rules, and no one can say squat). 74 rows in, the project has gone from being intimidating and insurmountable, my knitting Everest, to—there’s no nice way to put this—a bit of a yawner. Methinks I could finish the rest of this project standing on my head. Of course, I could have a karmic, neener-neener comeuppance waiting in the wings once I scrounge up the missing insert; who knows what lurks. (None of this is meant to take away from the beautiful, well-written pattern, by the way.)
P.S. Just finished watching a movie with Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith called “Ladies in Lavender.” Not life-changing, by any means, but a sweet, quiet, slightly sad, evocative British effort. Most importantly, though, Judi Dench knits a lot. Granted, it’s a pair of drab grey socks but we'll take what we can get, eh? You should watch it if for no other reason than to see the curious basket she uses to store her yarn in.
It's lace, though. Don't judge it till you block it! Then judge away.
Posted by: Emma M. on February 21, 2010 09:17 PMHey -- if you despair of finding the insert, you can buy the pattern again, this time on line, for instant delivery without leaving your house, from Patternfish:
http://www.patternfish.com/patterns/3978
(No affiliation, just get in trouble over there all the time)
Posted by: Elizabeth D on February 22, 2010 05:20 AMI hear blocking is the magic that transforms lace from boiled ass to magnificent loveliness. Don't give up the ship yet.
Posted by: kmkat on February 22, 2010 06:47 AMI love the color, but I agree, it might not be too much right now, but block it. I have had projects that didn't look worth the knittin', that just looked great, after blocking.
Have a great one,
Cat
You dear, dear readers. In the picture, the shawl IS blocked. Sigh.
(Well, semi-blocked with a steam iron, not the whole soaking-it-in-water thing. But blocked enough to make me still say, "Sigh.")
Posted by: Ryan on February 22, 2010 11:05 AMI am guessing that dip in the tub, pin it out unmercifully is the key to this one. As you point out, air is the key, and a hard blocking will produce more air. It really is lovely in the picture, and I would guess better in RL
Posted by: PICAdrienne on February 22, 2010 12:08 PMI agree with the other commenters that a serious blocking may make all the difference in the world. But I'm commenting to thank you for posting about the movie.
Myria found it for me and I watched it - with great pleasure - this afternoon. It's, as you said, sweet and evocative. It's the kind of thing that the British seem to do so well and when the Americans have a go at it...well...you want to save it for the last day of your life because it will go on *forever*.
Oh - and I have seen those baskets - in the parlors of my grandmother and her immediate circle, many years ago :)
Thanks again!
Posted by: Robbyn on February 22, 2010 02:41 PMI'm not the most experienced lace knitter, but I think getting it off the needles and blocking mercilessly could make a big difference, and I hope you persevere.
Still, I'm sorry you're feeling let down now. Good luck!
Posted by: ccr in MA on February 22, 2010 05:40 PMNope. If it's still on the needle it ain't blocked. There's no way there would be all that amazing black lace out there if dark yarn didn't show well. Finish it, block it for realz, and if you still don't like it, dye it some solid color.
Posted by: Carrie on February 23, 2010 03:51 PMYour shawl is looking good, although I am a mamber of the Block It 'Til It Screams Nation.
Posted by: ellen on February 25, 2010 10:04 AM