(this is a re-post from my old blog)
As if I don’t already have a difficult enough time keeping my brain on track these days, I decided a month ago that I needed a lace fix….and an intense one at that. I saw the pattern for the Rona Lace Shawl at Knit Picks and just HAD to have a go. I’ve only knit one other lace shawl before, so you can see why this pattern will be such a challenge. Look at the variety in stitches…wowee. Love it. You heard me complain before that my biggest challenge as a knitter is not getting bored? Well this one will definitely keep me going.
Here is my progress. The yarn is also from Knit Picks, it is a laceweight 100% Merino called Shadow, in the Jewels colorway. Nice, nice yarn with great depth since it is basically 2 shades of blue plied together.
I am loving this pattern so far. Here is the coolest part (well, at least I think so) – the pattern is written out line by line, not in chart form. That I love. Following a chart is all handy-dandy since it is small and easy to take with you, but in the end when you are working on complicated stitch repeats, writing it out, at least for me, is the only way to go.
Besides, if I REALLY want to freak out a non-knitter (or knitter for that matter), all I have to do is flash the 3 PAGES of written out lace, line by line, and they will gasp for sure. It’s like looking through one of my brother’s electrical engineering books from college. All numbers, formulas, symbols and who-hauz you have no clue how to read. Now I can arm myself with my knitting pattern and go head to head with the math and science geniuses. ha ha. I’m on line 35. Big proud smile.
Here is what I’ve learned so far from this project:
1. Don’t get too cocky.
Every time I think I’ve memorized the repeat and can do it all without looking at the sheet, I eventually mess up. It also seems that every time I’m feeling good about it and I speed up the knitting – dropped stitch city.
2. Don’t try to watch TV or have conversations while knitting difficult lace.
I have to repeat that I do have Mommy brain and it flies away very quickly and suddenly, so this could be just me, but when engaged in something or someone else, I stop paying attention and I end up backtracking more than knitting.
3. Knit just a few rounds everyday and you’ll feel like you’re getting somewhere.
I don’t have much time AT ALL for knitting, so I keep this project beside the bed for my “bedtime reading” if you will. Even if that means one round before bed, I am still making progress.
4. Cheat when you need to.
I tried to knit the first 6 rows 3 times before I decided there was no way to knit 3 stitches with YO increases every other stitch on DPN’s. How do you make a YO between needles?? I couldn’t get it to work. So I cheated – I knit the first 10 rows on straight needles, then stitched the ends together to form the circle. Brilliant. In the end, who will notice?
There, I’ve cleansed my knitting self. There is a tiny ridge where the edges meet up, but it doesn’t bother me. You should have seen the horror when I was trying to knit the center on DPNs. Talk about some BAAAAD knitting. But we are all better now.
