I spent about 6 hours yesterday working on the Anice shawl. One more day like that and I'll be half way finished. It is really pretty and magical.
I have very cleverly (or so I thought) added more tools to my repertoire in an attempt to have my knitted rows completed exceed my knitted rows removed. They are: little yellow sticky notes to isolate the 10 stitch grid I'm working on and a pink stitch marker at either side of each set of 10 stitches for said grid. The stickies are a real hit, they make it so easy to see the pattern, except their sticky leaves them fairly soon. I'm using lots and when you're not looking, the exhausted stickies seem to fly all over the floor and under my rocker (this may be a sticky death ritual). The pink markers, which I thought were particularly brilliant (she said, humbly) have a trick they play, and it took me a few rows to catch on: they somehow move themselves in the night, so the next day, I may have 11 stitches between one set and 9 between the others, or worse, even 8. After spending too much time tearing out several rows and counting and re-counting my stitches, I have concluded this is just something I have no control over, resulting from the types of stitches in each block. Boy, and Monte said this would be easy (I'm not going to let her live that one down).
However...try as I may for perfection, this is still trying, and every few rows I have found a dropped stitch hanging on for dear life with its fuzzy neighbor. I have a question for those of you who are seasoned lace knitters: is this just part of the learning curve and it will, truly, get more comfortable? Or is this because I'm using mohair, and it's harder to see stitches? Is it better to start on smooth yarns? How have you found success? And a last aside here...those who know me know how I love my rock and roll...I am listening to New Age music while knitting so as not to be distracted (right there on my list with elevator music).
I am signing off now to go pack...I am headed out of town for a brief 4 days. I will write from the road and share some photos of that other world. Until then...have a great week...and again, I'd love to hear all your suggestions or thoughts on this business of lace knitting! ---Martie
8 comments:
Hey, Martie, be patient with yourself -- this is indeed the learning curve. you will learn most of the ins and outs of lace knitting just by doing it. Now brace yourself for a long comment, because I had lots of thoughts when I read your post!
Here are some suggestions for the problems you've mentioned. First, if the stitch counts between your pink stitch markers change, try using REALLY BIG (like three quarters of an inch, no kidding, try it) soft rubber ring markers -- this prevents stitches, especially the yarnovers, from migrating to the wrong side of the markers. (Also, the soft rubber ones don't sproing off across the room like hard plastic markers do.) Stitch migration had been a real problem for me. Can't tell you how many rows I tinked till I realized what was happening...
If your pattern has a wrong side of all knit or all purl stitches, count the stitches between the markers as you do the back side, and do it on every row -- you will not be distracted by doing pattern stitches, and usually you can fix any problems right then and not have to tink back. If the count in a pattern section is wrong, turn the work so you're looking at the right side and check the previous row's stitches against the pattern. For me, the big offenders are yarnovers that I either didn't make or that slipped off the needle, and double decreases where I forgot to pass the slipped stitch(es) over. It is humbling to find out that even if you are an experienced knitter, stuff like that can happen way too frequently. Ahem.
To keep the yellow stickies from flying off, I've got two suggestions, both of which I use:
One, use a magnetic board. My cats will jump onto my lap from time to time, and this is a good way to keep my pattern marked correctly.
Two, do the Great Removeable Tape Trick. Get some Scotch Removeable Magic Tape (at any office supply store, in a blue plaid box instead of a green one). Pull off a piece a little longer than the part of the graph with the pattern repeat. Double one end of the tape back on itself about half an inch (this is the "handle" to move it around with). Tape this piece to a CLEAN piece of paper with nothing printed on it (back of a used envelope works great) and scribble over the tape with a permanent marker, any color, to cover it completely. Use this colored tape to underline the pattern repeat on the graph -- just keep peeling it off and moving it up to the next row as necessary, grabbing it by the turned-under end. Each piece of tape will last many rows.
I presume you have figured out by now that rather than working from the original book, magazine, or commercial pattern, you should photocopy the graph and maybe increase its size. This is permitted under copyright law, for your own personal use. Outline the repeating section of the graph so it's obvious (I use a fine red permanent marking pen).
Last, for the fuzzy mohair dropped stitches, here is a suggestion that a friend of mine got from Lily Chin at a Stitches West class several years ago: to find the dropped stitch, hold your work up flat against a window (in daylight!) -- the light will make the fuzz "disappear" and you can see the core yarn easily so you can pick it up.
And my favorite New Age music to knit by is anything by either Ray Lynch or by Jon Mark (try his "Standing Stones of Callanish").
Last but definitely not least, USE A LIFELINE! Monte or somebody else up there can probably explain it to you. Or answer me back and I'll explain. First, get a big roll of dental floss, the "tape" kind ...
Be patient. Most of the things that will work for you are things you invent or develop or learn as you learn lace knitting. You will invariably do some things differently than other knitters, but that's okay -- each of us "sees" our lace through different eyes. So don't take my suggestions as any kind of Lace Gospel -- they are things that work for me. Get input from as many lace knitters as you can find!
Good luck!
Martie - Yes, it's part of the learning curve, and it will get easier. I have found a lifeline extremely helpful. It takes some time each time you place one but it makes unknitting lace a lot easier.
Martie - Yes, it's part of the learning curve, and it will get easier. I have found a lifeline extremely helpful. It takes some time each time you place one but it makes unknitting lace a lot easier.
Hi Martie,
It's true the hardest thing about lace knitting is keeping your place in the pattern and tinking really sucks! Kay has lots of excellent suggestions. Here are a couple more from me. Post-It notes do come in an extra sticky version (I think Staples or other office supply store should carry them). I have also enlarged and copied my patterns and use a pencil or highlighter to cross off the rows completed (make multiple copies for each repeat if you need to). Don't get discouraged--just think how fabulous this shawl is going to be when you're done!
Lace knitting is kind of like New Age music, once you get used to it....you'll really like it! ;-)
Dear Kay, Avis & Ruthie:
Where to start? I will be inserting large rubber stitch markers and a lifeline in my work when I see it next (I left it in NM this week to give us both a break)...that is an *excellent* idea and would have saved me much grief so far. Also Lily Chin's method of holding it to the light in a window is fabulous...I was laying it out on a black cloth but it wasn't working so well.
First thing I did before I started was to copy the pattern chart for the center of the shawl, then have it enlarged until it fit perfectly on an 8.5 x 11 sheet. The pattern repeat is 60 rows (including the even numbered purl rows), so I had this enlarged chart copied onto 30 pages of white card stock. I then took my colored pencils, and on each page, I colored the chart symbols of one row. I numbered all these pages and hold them together with a binder clip; I wanted to have them comb-bound, but there wasn't enough room on the edge. I had considered using a magnetic board, but Bob the Cat owns the only table next to my rocker and I knew that was hopeless to even go there ...so the charts live in my lap. I will also be looking for extra sticky stickies. Who knew.
I am SO re-inspired. Thank you all. While searching for some lace photos, I found two incredible blogs featuring lace knitting I can only dream of. I will post about them soon. It is an amazing world, that we can al meet and connect this way.
Thanks for being such great support!
Martie
I've just discovered your blog as I was just wondering if anyone in blogland has tackled Anice yet. First can I tell you that you write beautifully and your knitting looks wonderful, especially what you have done so far on Anice. I've just cast on Birch from Rowan 34. These days my knitting progress is slow, unless its something for my 1 year old son, I can manage one row in 20 minutes! Can't wait to read more on your progress - I've found Kay's advice really interesting too.
Sarah
Hi Sarah:
I'll have to go research Birch from Rowan 34. I love all things Rowan...I congratulate you for even considering knitting with a one year old son! Hope we can keep in touch on our Rowan projects...
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention. When you use a lifeline, on the edge of your pattern WRITE DOWN which row your lifeline is on! Then if you have to use it you'll know which line of the pattern to re-start with. I usually use the same row each time, but whatever you use, write it down. "Oh, I'll remember." No, you won't. Guess how I found out about this problem...
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