Tag

lace

19
Jul
2011

Mirror World

Mirror World is now available for purchase as a download, for $6.00 either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog … buy now

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Triangles mirrored make diamonds. Diamonds stacked make columns. Columns of diamonds and off-set triangles intermingle and play across a crescent of a field. And as they play, they all see themselves in the other. Because triangles mirrored make diamonds, and diamonds halved make triangles.

Knit in one piece from the top down, this shawl begins by casting on 11 stitches at the back of the neck and increasing eight stitches every other row to shape this shawl into a crescent. Finally, an eyelet-increase row is worked just before the bind off to ensure that a thorough blocking is possible.

Yarn: Madelinetosh ‘tosh lace,’ 950 yards (968 meters), 100% superwash merino, 1 skein, shown in ‘curiosity’

Needles: US size 2 (2.75 mm) 40 inch (101 cm) circular, or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions: 4 stitch markers, tapestry needle, 1 safety pin or row marker

Gauge: 6.5 sts/inch; 10 rows/inch (6.5 sts/2.5 cm; 10 rows/2.5 cm) in washed and blocked stockinette

Blocked Dimensions: 17.5 inches (44.5 cm) down the center back

Skills Used: reading charts, casting on, binding off, knitting, purling, k2tog, k2togtbl, sl 1-k2tog-psso, slipping stitches, ssk, yarn over, weaving in ends, blocking lace

This pattern is only charted. Though written directions may become available at a future date.

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12
Jul
2011

In which I am a joiner

I’m not much of a joiner, never have been. Most of the time I’m perfectly happy doing my own thing, at my own pace, in my own way, but apparently not this summer.

It started with the KnitGirllls’ Stash Dash. (Here’s the official Ravelry thread). I’ve never done a stash down or a yarn diet before, mostly because I like my yarn stash, and see no need to stress out about it, or try to get rid of a large chunk of it. Plus I’m a student which is kind of like being on a continual yarn diet, without a solid end in sight. But the stash dash isn’t so much about getting rid of stash as it is about knitting (and spinning and crocheting and weaving) a crazy amount (5 kilometers, 5000 meters, just under 5500 yards) in a relatively short period of time (between May 27th and August 15th), which makes it ok because crazy goals are fun, and there’s nothing saying I’m not allowed to buy yarn. I’ll be at 2258 yards, once I add my latest shawl by the way.

Then there was Tour de Fleece. (Rav group). Never participated in Tour de Fleece before either, but I figured it would help with stash dash, and I had 1/2 a pound of a green merino/silk blend that I knew I needed motivation to spin, and keep from languishing. So I figured heck, why not. 1.6 ounces are spun and plyed so far, plus some more are singles. I don’t know what the weight of the remaining fiber is, but I’d guess about 5 ounces (I’m not measuring for fear that I’m really far off in my guesstimate, and I have something much closer to 8oz left).

And yesterday afternoon, it was 11 shawls in 2011. (Again, here’s the Rav group). I like shawls, and I like a challenge, and I might be a touch crazy. ‘Nuff said, I’m doing it. Plus there are some stunning shawls and amazing knitters in that group. (I haven’t dared count how many shawls I’ve knit so far this year, but I don’t think it’s very close to 11 yet).

I guess I should probably get back to knitting.

 

 

PS. The pattern for Mirror World should be out later this week. Fingers crossed.

25
Jun
2011

FO: Mirror World

As promised this weekend’s finished object, and tomorrow there will be handspun.
No buy now buttons, just some pretty pictures, and project stats.

Pattern: My own (pattern available soon-ish)
Yarn: Madelinetosh, Tosh Lace, colorway curiosity
Yardage: one 950 yard (868 meter) skein
Yarn Source: Knitty City
Needles: 2.75 mm 36″ circulars
Gauge: 6.5 sts/inch; 10 rows/inch

I’ll also be playing with the layout of the blog this weekend, so if things start moving and changing (possibly drastically), that’s what’s going on.