Another lace update

I have started my friends birthday cape at least four times so far and each time I've made a mistake. Normally this wouldnt be too much of an issue because I can usually spot it and pick back down to it on a few stitches and fix the error. Unfortunately this pattern is a bit more complex than it looks at first glance so its difficult to figure out where mistakes are and even harder to imagine fixing them in my usual manner. Sooooo, its still sitting in the bag where I threw it in disgust the last time I messed it up and I really HAVE to get back to it soon because my friends birthday is in November and I really want to have it finished for her.

Since I threw the cape aside Ive been working rather diligently on my Victoria Shawl project and am pleased to be able to say that I'm exactly half way through the body of the shawl.

I have been a bit worried the last couple of weeks that it might not come out as big as the pattern says because I'm knitting it on 3mm needles and the pattern calls for 4.5mm. But now that I'm halfway I decided to dry block it and have a look-see and I'm no longer overly concerned. The border on this sucker is HUGE and to be honest looks like a wee bit of a challenge but I'm still majorly keen to get the shawl finished and I'm pretty sure it'll be fairly close to the measurements stated in the book.

Half a Victoria Shawl dry blocked

Extreme close up

Tomorrow I head up to the local TAFE to talk to some teachers about my suitability for a course I'm interested in doing next year so I wont have heaps of time to knit but I hope to spend a good part of Sunday knitting either the Victoria Shawl or re-starting my friends birthday cape. Wish me luck ;o)

Disasters in transit - moving right along

I am sad to report that my cap shawl has had an unfortunate frogging incident.

A few days ago I was taking it with me to my partners store where I intended to work on it while I kept him company for the day. I was moderately devastated upon arrival to discover that about 20 stitches had slipped off the needle and at least 9 rows of knitting had unravelled while in transit. With the pattern being so lacy it was impossible to pick up the unravelled rows (and believe me, I tried my hardest) so I decided to frog it and start it again on smaller needles at some later date. I did dry block it and take a photo of it to show how much I had done (you can see the damage in the lower mid to right corner of the pic). Here 'tis...

I have started knitting a new project (just cast on last night) its the lady's circular cape (Ravelry link) from VLT which I'm knitting from a divine baby alpaca 2ply (laceweight) in black for my closest friend as a birthday gift. The pattern calls for a 4.5mm needle but I'm using a 3.25mm instead to compensate for my super loose knitting tension and the fact that the yarn has very little halo. Fingers are crossed that it will turn out as pretty as the pic in the book...

Here is the pic from the book
Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby

I have also been asked to knit a baby blanket for a friends sister who is due to deliver in about 10 weeks. I know the lovely lady in question from Derby. The reason I mention this is because she had asked me to design a motif that included cats and quad skates. So I designed a cutesy little kitten curled up sleeping next to a roller skate and am going to knit the image using the intarsia knitting technique. Stay posted as I intend to put the charted image up here for download once its finished. Maybe.

Cap shawl addiction

Im totally in love with the circular shawl I'm knitting. The pattern (Ravelry link) is so simple and so pretty. I can see myself knitting half a dozen of the darn things. I have actually been knitting this with exception to everything else since I started it. Im already nearly finished the uncharted section and am so keen to get started on the next chart. Heres a quick photo update, although, its not a great photo but you can see the difference since the first photo I posted.

My life in lace

Now that I have my dental and health issues more or less under control I thought it was time I got busy working on some of my yarn projects that I've admittedly, been neglecting for a little while.

I've finally bitten the bullet and started on my first lace project (after sadly frogging the first 'first' attempt). Its the Victoria Shawl (Ravelry link) from Victorian Lace Today (VLT). I 'm liking how its knitting up, even though I stupidly didn't read the chart key properly and have knit it in stocking stitch instead of garter stitch. Its wonderfully soft and the yarn is SOOOOO fine that the finished piece will be incredibly delicate. However the pattern is kind of repetitive and I'm getting a teensy bit bored with it.



Solution; I simultaneously started my SECOND lace project as well. Its the Cap Shawl (Ravelry link), also from VLT. I have been itching to start this shawl for ages because its absolutely gorgeous and, shock, horror, I'm knitting it for ME. For this project I'm using my superbly yummy Mongolian Cashmere that I got a while ago and have been too chicken to use till now. I have to say, this yarn is just to die for. It has a marvelously springy quality and is possibly the softest thing I've ever felt in my life. If you want to buy some (c'mon you know you do) go to Knitters Addiction.

As is my wont, I am also working on a THIRD lace project (I know, I know), but this one is crochet. I'm making a lovely crochet poncho out of a fabulously fluffy yarn from Moda Vera and its coming along nicely too. You can find the pattern for this here. I'm planning on replacing the buttons with some ribbon.

Updateroonies

OMG, has it really been almost a month? Well, what can I say .... I AM Evil.

I FINALLY finished that darned poncho. Here is a pic...

The woman I made it for loved it and was more than happy to shell over her hard earned dosh for my efforts. ALSO, I wrote down the pattern as I went along, so now I have it all ready to be put into a pdf which I may even consider posting here for a free pattern download if I get enough interest.

Made a crochet shawl over the last three days.



Admittedly it took me about a day and a half longer than it should have, but I had a very painful tooth extraction yesterday and have been sleeping quite a bit to deal with the pain in my jaw. The shawl looks great though and I'm sure someone will want to pay me a goodly sum for it (tee hee).

I went out on a limb and purchased two of the books I've been lusting over from an absolutely AWESOME Aussie book site called Fishpond. The books are; Victorian Lace Today and Knitted Lace of Estonia. Both books are just gorgeous and I have decided that I want to knit almost every pattern in VLT.

The Moo sliced open one of his toe pads a few days ago, although I have no idea how. I have been keeping him inside for the last two days to ensure that its kept clean and doesnt become infected. Unfortunately this means hes inconsolable because he cant go outside and keeps wandering around howling as if someone is cutting his throat. Blardy drama queen. He's okay though, and his toe is looking good enough that I'm planning to let him out tomorrow.

Back to the knitting!