Masked Ball in Venice - Part I

I've finished the first clue of the "Masked Ball in Venice", just in time for clue 2 to be published tomorrow. It's a fun knit. Looks much more difficult than it is. I am always amazed what can be created with "yarn overs and knit two together." The design is from Monika Eckert, a German designer. I love to knit, but have absolutely no talent to design something like this. First you have to be able to draw. My drawing ability is almost zero. No kidding! I once drew a birthday cake and it turned out like a tuna can. The yarn, Cashwool from Baruffa is a delight to work with.

Now I have a whole day to knit on my socks before the new clue comes out.

Knit on merrily.

This time: The Real McCoy

I've previously blogged about my project for the Herbert Niebling Lace Knit-Along and my decision to start over with a different yarn after having knitted the first pattern set with Blackberry Ridge's lace weight wool yarn. Well, I received the Alpaca Cloud yarn from Knit Picks. It's wonderfully soft, the color is "smoke", an nary a knot. So here is a rough pic (on needles, unblocked, just pinned out a bit) of the first pattern set, the second pattern set doubles the no. of "leaves," but otherwise is the same. The pattern design is from Niebling's later years and, to me, appears simple but elegant. A rough measurement suggests each pattern set will block to about 20 to 25" suggesting an adequate size for a circular shawl since the original pattern shows three repeats. The beauty of the pattern, however, lies in the fact that an extra pattern set could easily be added if one where inclined so.

Now to knit on my Dale of Norway sweater with a photo of progress made so far to come tomorrow.

Argh!

Another yarn woe with a project. I've joined the Niebling Lace Forum on www.knittedlace.info and we are currently having a knit-along of one of Herbert Niebling's lace patterns. We are able to knit the Niebling pattern of our choice. Herbert Niebling was a a well-known German designer of knitted lace and his patterns were originally pubished by Burda Verlag, a German publishing house. Most of his work was done in the 1940s and 1950s. His patterns are currently not available in a published collection, so those of us who were not fortunate or smart enough to amass the Anna magazines in the 70s and 80s, are paying dearly on E-Bay to collect the patterns. There is also a Yahoo group advocating with Burda Publishing to have Niebling's patterns re-issued as a collection. With this history in mind, I chose the pattern Minettara, a beautiful lace pattern for a circular table cloth from the January 1985 issue of Anna Magazine. Since I had bought some lace weight wool yarn from Blackberry Ridge Farm at the 2006 Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan, Mich., I decided to use it. Well, now we are to the "argh!" of this post.

The yarn looked beautiful in the skein, a single ply, non-dyed yarn, of appropriate softness for a shawl. Then, I attempted to wind the yarn into a ball, and there, the trouble started. The yarn broke eaily and frequently while winding, making me question the yarn's ability to stand up to the final blocking of the finished cloth. Nevertheless, I decided to start knitting with it. As I was nearing the end of the first repeat, it became abundantly clear that this particular project was not going to happen with this particular yarn. What to do? Knit Picks to the rescue. I've ordered 3 skeins of Alpaca Cloud, hoping that this yarn is of a more substantial nature.

In the meantime, I have "wasted" precious time on this project. But then, maybe not! It gave me a chance to try out the pattern with a lace weight wool rather than the normal doily crochet cotton. This exercise in futility also gave me a better feel for the pattern. From the sample, I believe it will look fabulous with a lace weight yarn and larger needles and will make a beautiful shawl. I am also intrigued by the pattern's construction; Niebling decreases the no. of stitches gradually over several rows towards the end of the first pattern set, which leaves the pattern not exactly round at the end of the 60 rows. Yet the picture in the Anna magazine has the table cloth blocked as a circle. I'm not sure whether or not this will be taken care of as the design progresses or if the type of material I have chosen affects the shape of the shawl. At any rate, I will know the outcome of this experiment when I have finished the shawl. Until then I shall knit on other projects until the new yarn arrives. "Knit on."

Amethyst Shawl revisied

OK folks have asked (bugged?) me for the pattern for this shawl. My tardiness was actually just a ploy for you to come and visit my blog. Here is what I came up with. It's the best I can do by myself. I don't have a chart maker or I would have charted the pattern. I designed and knit this shawl purely visual, i.e. I started out attempting to show my daughter how to continue with the candle flame pattern and then just kept knitting. Then I decided that the triangle shawl was just too boring and went on from there. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them. In case you can't cut and paste the pattern and you really, really, really want to make the shawl I'll be glad to e-mail you the pattern. The only thing I ask that you not use the pattern for commercial purposes. If you have any suggestions on how I can improve the written instructions, I'll take all advice.

Amethyst Shawl
Yarn: Coned or skeined fingering weight Merino. 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needle.
Candle Flame Pattern: My piece of paper states that the following was written "as originally notated by Linda Clark". I no longer have the source of where on the Internet I found this.

Instructions:
Cast on 1 stitch then:
Row 1: (right side) (K, YO, K) into cast on stitch
Row 2: P3
Row 3: K1, (K, YO, K) into second stitch, K1
Row 4: P5
Row 5: K2, (K, YO, K) into next stitch, K2
Row 6: P7
Row 7: K3, (K, YO, K) into next stitch, K3
Row 8: P9
Row 9: K4, (K, YO, K) into next stitch, K4, cast on 3 stitches.
Row 10: P1, K2, P11, Cast on 3 stitches (the cast on of 3 stitches forms the beginning of the next flame)
Row 11: (K, YO, K) into first stitch, P2, K4, (Slip 2-k1-p2sso), K4, P2, (K, YO, K) into last stitch (this forms the beginning of the next flame on the other side of the triangle)
Row 12: P3, K2, P9, K2, P3
Row 13: K1, (K, YO, K) into next stitch, K1, P2, K3, (Slip 2 stitches knitwise-k1-p2sso), K3, P2, K1 (K, YO, K) into next stitch, K1
Row 14: P5, K2, P7, K2, P5
Row 15: K2, (K, YO, K) into next stitch, K2, P2, K2 (slip 2 stitches knitwise-k1,p2sso), K2, P2, K2, (K, YO, K) into next stitch, K2
Row 16: P7, K2, P5, K2, P7
Row 17: K3, (K, YO, K) into next stitch, K3, P2, K1 (slip 2 stitches knitwise-k1-p2sso), K1, P2, K3, (K, YO, K) into next
stitch, K3
Row 18: P9, K2, P3, K2, P9
Row 19: K4, (K, YO, K) into next stitch, K4, P2, (slip 2 knitwise-k1-p2sso), P2, K4, (K, YO, K) into next stitch, K4, Cast on 3 stitches
Row 20: P1, K2, P11, K2, P1, K2, P11, cast on 3 stitches

Continue increasing in this fashion until your shawl is the size you want it, i.e. repeat rows 11 through 20, always remembering that the no. of candle flames will increase and therefore, the no. of repeats across rows will increase as well.

When you have reached the size of the triangle you want, then reverse the process, instead of casting on three stitches, cast off three stitches. The three stitches which are cast off represent the top of the candle flame on the edge of the shawl. Decrease until you have one candle flame remaining. At the top of the candle flame, slip 2 knit-wise, k1, p2sso. You then end again with 1 stitch, the same way you started the shawl.

Inner Border:
Adapted from Rosedale Counterpane Pattern at http://www.knitting-and.com/ Pick up the same no. of stitches on all four sides, plus 1 extra stitch at each corner.Place 1 marker each before and after corner. Make last marker a different color, indicating beginning of row.
Now work in the round instead of back and forth.

Row 1: Knit to marker. At marker, make YO, move marker, K1, move marker, YO and knit to next corner.
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: Knit, increase at each corner as in row 1
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: Purl to marker. At marker, make YO, move marker, K1, move marker, YO, purl to next corner.
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Purl, increase at each corner as in row 5
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: YO, k2, (YO, slip 1 knit-wise, K1, PSSO) until end of first section, depending on no. of stitches, you may end up with either 1 or two stitches to be knit before corner YO, K1
Row 10: Knit
Row 11: YO, K2, (YO, sl 1, K1, PSSO) , K1 or K2, then knit corner YO, K1
Row 12: Knit
Row 13: YO, K2, (YO, sl 1, K1, PSSO), K1 or K2, then knit corner, YO, K1
Row 14: Knit
Row 15: YO, knit to next corner, YO, K1, etc.
Row 16: Knit
Row 17: YO, knit to corner, YO, K1, etc.
Row 18: Knit
Row 19: YO, purl to corner, YO, K1, etc.
Row 20: Purl
Row 21: YO, purl to corner, YO, K1, etc.
Row 22: Purl
Row 23: YO, Knit to corner, YO K1, etc.
Row 24: Knit
Row 25: YO, Knit to corner, YO K1, etc.
Row 26: Knit
Row 27: Count no. of stitches in each section, excluding corner stitch of K1. Then take pattern of Candle Flame (Rows 3 through 10) and decide how many purl stitches you want to place between each candle flame. The stitches between the markers must divide evenly into the no. of purl stitches between the candle flames plus 1 stitch for the base of each candle flame. (Remember you started out with one stitch and increased that stitch to 3?). You will want to manipulate your stitches, so you have may be 1 or 2 purl stitches before the YO for the corner. Once you have figured out how many purl stitches you want between the candle flames: YO, Purl 1 or 2 stitches; knit 1 (base for candle flame), purl X stitches (no. of purl stitches between the candle flames), repeat until you come to the end of the section and end again with 1 or 2 purl stitches; YO, K1 (corner)
Row 28-36: Continue with flame pattern.
Row 37-42: Repeat rows 9 through 14

Outer Border:
Adapted from Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls by Martha Waterman, Ocean Wave
Attach border sideways by knitting last stitch of right side row of border to one stitch of shawl. Only right side rows are attached. Ease border by attaching every 5th row to one stitch of shawl at corners.
That's all folks!

Another Shawl Finished

The problem with doing an Elizabeth Zimmermann Pi shawl is the edging. 597x2 rows to be exact and grafting together the first and the last rows. But then comes the payoff: The blocking of the shawl and finally seeing the whole picture, and the sum of the parts is always bigger than the parts themselves. I am not a knitter who can plot a series of patterns on a chart and see the whole picture. I need to knit one section, add the next pattern and then see if the two patterns make a pleasing whole. So each shawl is an adventure for me.

The yarn for this shawl was hand spun by my daughter from commercial roving. It is a multi-color teal; I have also made a scarf with a Lithuanian Lilies of the Valley pattern from the same yarn. The shawl started out as a knit-along on the EZasPi yahoo group. Of course, as with all patterns, I had to tinker with it. I made it a true Pi shawl rather than dividing it into four sections at the 288 stitch increase. I also found an edging in a 1983 German knitting magazine (Burda) that I thought would look well with the rest of the shawl. It was originally intended as a lace edging for a handkerchief. So here it is. Seventy inches in diameter.

And now on to the next shawl, finishing the edge on a self-designed shawl and Myrna Stahman's Gracie version of a Faroese shawl.
Knit onward!

Yarn Snob: To be or not to be

Several of my knitting groups have been discussing the no-no word of a-c-r-y-l-i-c. I don't consider myself a yarn snob although I prefer my daughter's hand spun lace yarn. I knit with yarn most suitable for the occasion. When I knit hats for our local elementary school, I use a acrylic from a stash that is both old and self-perpetuating. In other words, the more I knit, the fuller the tub seems to be. One of these days, I have to be able to get to the bottom of it. On the other hand, I also buy "step-up" acrylics, if and only if they are on sale and dirt cheap, again for charity projects. I also have a large stash of 100% wool yarns, to be used when the urge strikes me. Right after my daughter's hand spun yarn is yarn on cones, both reasonably priced and 100% natural fiber.

So with this in mind, I thought I'd share two pics of shawls I knitted from a cone of Wildfoote sock yarn (Brown Sheep) for which I paid a whole dollar. It was an off-color and my then local yarn shop gave it to us at cost at one of our knit nights. What a deal.

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Pi shawl knit with Wildfoote Yarn

Spiral Shawl
from a Gathering of Lace
Wildfoote Sock Yarn

Of Borders and bargains...

Almost a week has passed since I last posted. Time flies when you are knitting. I have the misfortune to simultaneously come up with two borders for two different shawls. Both are done, but for the lace border. Now those of us who knit shawls that are finished with lace borders know that 576 stitches on the needles means having to knit 1152 rows in order to complete the border for the shawl. For me, at least the border normally takes just about as long as knitting the rest of the shawl. Knitting 1152 rows of any pattern is tedious. There was a discussion on a group to which I belong about how to get around the tedium, but after all is said and done, the no. of rows remains the same, whether I divide the task into 20 stitch sections or have a bowl of MMs beside me. Celery sticks were suggested for those who are diabetically or dietetically challenged, but I do not consider celery sticks or carrots a reward.
In the meantime, the glutton for lace knitting that I am, I have started a third shawl, the Gracie Shawl from Myrna Stahman's book on Faroese Shawls. It's an easy lace pattern and there is a rhythm to the pattern that makes it easy to follow. I found the yarn at my "local" LYS. To be truthful, my daughter actually found it for me. My local LYS (local yarn store) is about 50 miles away, but that's as local as it gets around this part of Michigan. It's a pound cone of natural colored Brown Sheep Company wool (Nature Spun fingering weight). The color is a tan/gray, and the wool has the feel of yarn with little processing. What a find, on the bottom of a shelf in the far corner of the store, hidden behind a basket of something.

On the same shopping trip, I also found a copy of the first book in the Jamieson series, at 40% off. The colors are beautiful. Before I go to knitter's heaven, I will absolutely have to knit one of the Fair Isle sweaters in the book, even though knitting sweaters is not my idea of having fun. Ah, the pleasure of the hunt!

The doily is done in plenty of time for Christmas. Unfortunately, my back problems prevented me from properly blocking the edging, so that each point was properly pointed. Oh well, only other compulsive blockers will care, and only momentarily. It was fun knitting a small project, and it has given me impetus to knit some larger projects I've been drooling about. I have this massive collection of German lace knitting patterns (Kunststricken) that I've been itching to get started on, such as Duchrow, Niebling and Engeln. The only problem I have is selecting one project. I don't think I have enough years left to knit every one of them. I wonder if I'll be able to take my knitting patterns and stash into the afterlife? You know there is a serious addiction problem when you dream about knitting, take your knitting to bed with you and on getting up, right after grabbing your glasses, you grab your knitting. Knit On! Renate

I did it...almost!

Another shawl designed and almost finished. I took the candle flame triangle shawl found on the net as an inspiration, but instead of only knitting the triangle, I decreased the pattern and made a square for the inner portion of a square shawl. I then added an inner border inspired by and based on a vintage design from Sarah Bradbury's site http://www.knitting-and.com/. Now, "all" I have left to do is come up with a border and knit it. As all of us shawl knitters know the border is usually an excercise of endurance since it will take 1624 rows to knit all the way around. Oh boy, I'm sure glad winter is coming. The yarn is 100% Merino, amethyst, fingering weight from Brown Sheep Company. I bought a one-pound cone from http://www.paradisefibers.com/. This was my first purchase from this company and their service was excellent. The balance of the pictures are in the photo section under works in progress. Constructive criticism and comments are welcomed.
Renate
Peace, Frieden, pax. paix

And another Shawl in the Works

A new shawl in progress. Let's see that would make it shawl no. three on needles. This pattern is a triangular shawl--well maybe. I'm mulling over the final shape. It may also look nice as a square one. So the shawl is a design in progress. I can't give you a link to the pattern. My daughter says she got the pattern of one of her knitting groups, but the link apparently was broken. While it is called a candlelight pattern, the pattern looks to me like many of the leaf patterns one can find in lace pattern books. The shawl is being knit with Nature Spun fingering weight; color is amethyst.
Peace (Frieden), Renate

Lace Knitting

I am enamored with lace knitting, particularly in shawls. As I knit and the pattern unfolds and becomes visible, I am always amazed that order and beauty comes out of what in the beginning seemed to be utterly chaotic. I am currently working on the Knit-A-Long Shawl from the EZasPi Yahoo Group. The shawl is knitted with handspun lace-weight yarn.

I have also started an Orenburg Shawl. This is going to be a long-term project since the yarn is commercial cobweb I picked up at the Michigan Fiber Festival. The yarn is a challenge, but I have promised myself that I will finish the shawl before I die.
Otherwise, I have a modified Einstein Coat (Sally Melville) on the needles and have started to dabble in Alan Dart's toy patterns. Unfortunately, I have to pay an arm and a leg for the patterns, since they are in demand in the US and mostly listed on e-bay. My first project is the Baa Baa Black Sheep pattern; however, I will have to sing "Baa Baa Brown Sheep" since I am using oddments I have on hand. Peace, Renate

The Knitting Blahs

I have the blahs, the knitting blahs more accurately. I'm at loose ends. No new projects planned. NADA! And the creative juices seem to resemble today's weather: dreary. I've finished a shawl for a friend and have started another one -- a knit-a-long with the EZasPi, a Yahoo Group. But it's only Tuesday and the next clues are not coming out till Friday. So, I have reverted to finishing UFOs. I'm knitting a Sally Melville's Einstein coat for myself--not with any particular enthusiams, however. I'd rather be doing lace, but Fall has arrived in northern Michigan, and the snow will fly soon. So it's time I get cracking and finish it.
The picture at the top of this post is the Shetland Tea Shawl from a Gathering of Lace. The shawl was knitted with yarn spun by my daughter.