Are lace knitting instructions more of a challenge than you think?

Lately, my projects involve lace knitting instructions.

About a month ago, I started a what I thought would be a quick project.

It’s a small purse originally designed for a bride. I thought it would make an elegant formal bag, perhaps for a prom or another formal.

I glanced at the instructions, and the degree of difficulty according to the publisher. I thought it would be within my skill.

Well, yes it is. I did learn a few things about knitting lace I want to share, though.

Knitting Tip #1: The “finishing” may take longer than the main section.

In this case, the main part of the pattern went quickly. The edging, though that was difficult challenging.

You see, the knitting graph supplied didn’t quite explain the pattern.  After knitting and frogging the same section twice, I decided to see if I could find the same — or a similar — pattern in another source.

And there it was: in the first book I searched. Not only a similar knitters graph, but also written instructions for the knitting. Yippee!

Knitting Tip #2: If you’re new to knitting lace from a graph, look for a pattern that has both the graph and written instructions.

The main part of the purse alternates a row of lace with a row of knitting in the round. So every other row is all knit stitches. It’s nice to have a “break” in concentrating on the lace pattern.

The edging, though, had knitting and purling in all rows. Plus, the knitting switched from circular knitting in the main section to knitting back and forth on two needles in the edging. To keep straight which row was right and which wrong side, I made notes on the graph.

Knitting Tip #3: If you own the pattern, it’s okay to make your own notes on it to clarify the instructions.

And there’s nothing like frogging to make one appreciate lace lifelines!

You can see the white crochet cotton thread running through the stitches on the needle. I like to take a large eye needle and thread it with the crochet cotton, then thread it through the live stitches on the needle. This works best if you’re using circular needles: the thinner cord part of the circulars usually leaves more room for the needle and thread.

Knitter’s Tip #4: Use lace lifelines, and use them often.

Here’s a video link for lace lifeline knitting instructions (scroll down to Fixing Mistakes to find the video “Using a lifeline.”)

I have more tips, which I’ll share in a later post.

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You’ve completed the knitting instructions: now what to do with the leftover yarn?

Well, after 6 months — 4 of which they sat on a shelf waiting for me to be inspired to knit them again — I finally finished my knee socks!

They are my first very own hand knit knee socks, custom-made using several sock knitting instructions which I combined. I do like the toe-up knitting instructions, because the sock can be tried on as you’re knitting. That way, changes can be made immediately and — at least theoretically — keeps the frogging to a minimum!

The patterned sock yarn is: Austermann Step Sock Yarn in the Sunset Fairisle colorway. The Fairisle pattern is in the dyeing of the yarn, so it’s like a self-striping yarn: except better! It’s soft, treated with Jojoba and Aloe Vera extracts. While knitting I noticed how soft it is on the hands. According to the label, the extracts and softening power last through hundreds of washings. I’m thinking they’ll be very helpful in the dry winter weather!

The solid toes, heels, and cuff are Wildfoote Luxury Sock Yarn in Temple Turquoise. The Fairisle colors really seem to “pop” with the contrast of the solid yarn sections.

There’s enough yarn left over, that one skein of the Austermann Step Sock Yarn probably would have been enough without the contrast.  Wow! One skein for a pair of knee socks for size 10-1/2 feet!

So, when the knitting instructions are complete, what to do with the left over yarn? Options include:

• Saving the yarn for later because sometimes the right project just doesn’t immediately jump out. Especially after finishing a big project, sometimes another yarn is calling to be knit, yes?
• Starting a project, and adding yarn as you get it from future as yet unspecified projects. This option adds the risk of maybe having an incomplete project that will end up either incomplete for a long time, or possibly being unraveled. Of course, if you like to work this way, it’s something to consider. This also could run the risk of adding to your yarn stash if you end up buying yarn to finish a project you can’t stand to remain incomplete another minute.
• Finding a small project now. After finishing a big project, the idea of a project that can be completed in an evening or two before starting another larger project has a certain appeal.

Needless to say, I decided to start looking for a small project. And one found me:

A tiny mitten! Jumping in without a pattern is always an adventure in itself. After making enough mittens to have memorized the basics of a mitten, it was easy. The Fairisle yarn makes a lovely pattern in stockinette stitch, without a great deal of thought. And since the mitten needed to look like a mitten but not necessarily fit anyone or anything, it’s a very forgiving project.

Now what to do with it?

It could be a doll mitten, although I quit playing with dolls some years ago.

How about a Christmas mitten? It — or perhaps a pair with an attached cord — would make a neat homemade ornament for a Christmas tree. And, it could also be used on the outside of a package as decoration: to be used by the recipient as an ornament.

Would you like a copy of the pattern? Subscribe in the box on the sidebar to get your free knitting bag pattern immediately, and you’ll get my Tiny Mittens pattern a couple of days later.

Projects in progress

Right now, I have three projects on the needles, although thankfully not the same needles!

The more I talk to knitters, the more I realize I’m not alone. And there are perfectly good reasons why each of these projects remains “in progress.”  You may have the same problem challenge.

Here are my current projects:

I started these socks in the early spring. It was unusually cool for South Carolina. And now, well, it’s summer. Thankfully, there’s air conditioning. These are my first pair for myself, and I’m not sure how to finish the tops. the first cuff I tried was too tight. And, then other projects popped up.

This is actually the second of two fingerless mittens. You can see the cuff here. The color is actually a deeper purple. And it’s Caron Simply Soft Yarn -Iris, so it’s, well, very soft! Mittens in summer? Yes, the fingerless ones are nice for folks with arthritis or other conditions of their wrists and hands. They do seem to decrease the stiffness and aching, at least for some folks.

My final project is the one I started last.

I saw the directions for Entrelac in the round, and well, just had to try it. It’s challenging and interesting. And I’m not quite sure what it’s going to be. I’m thinking maybe a cell phone purse, and am open to suggestions. These colors are also brighter than the picture shows.

Here’s a final picture of the base row of triangles for this entrelac. Yes, they do look odd. And they do straighten themselves out after the next tier: the first tier of rectangles.

Be sure to check out other fiber artists at Alpaca Farm Girl’s Fiber Arts Friday.

When is knitting with crochet thread worth the effort?

Knitting with crochet thread is definitely a challenge.

Maybe that’s the reason it’s called crochet thread or crochet cotton.

I’m using two strands of #10 thread, and stockinette stitch.  I like how the two colors of thread make their own pattern, even though it doesn’t show up well in this picture..

Even so, my progress has been slower than I’d like.

I’m trying to decide if it’s the size of the thread … the small circular knitting needles … or because the thread doesn’t “give” like yarn. Or maybe it’s a combination of more than one.

Right now, I just can’t figure it out.

What I do know is I seem to be finding excuses — maybe any excuse — to avoid knitting this project.

First it was one thing, then another.  And when I find myself looking for chores to do instead of knitting … well, I know there’s something not quite right.

The project started off okay. Here it is on May 1:

And now it’s probably about half finished:

It’s definitely at the, “Do I want to continue with this or just rip it out and start over?” stage.  And, I can’t decide.

Somehow the prospect of knitting this project has become, well w-o-r-k. 

My general rule of knitting is: it should be fun … or at least enjoyable.  In all truthfulness, I do like the softness of the knitted fabric. It has a nice thickness to it, and just might make the whole project worthwhile.

So, instead of ripping out my hard work, I’ll take a page from Scarlett O’Hara … and think about it tomorrow.

After all, it is only knitting …