I can hardly believe it’s been a year since I started this blog. I have enjoyed getting back into blogging, although looking at my monthly post counts, I’ve not posted as much as I did at first – I suppose that’s inevitable. But I have kept up, which is fairly impressive for me, I do tend to get bored of things.
Looking at my stats, I’ve posted 148 posts, and had 618 comments, although some of those will be me replying to people – something I do try to do, but don’t always get round to – they’re all read and appreciated though, so thanks to everyone who’s commented over the last year.
I am conscious that lately most of my posts have been finished knits, I try to think of other things to post about, but I think the winter and the flu stole my inspiration. Hopefully now the sun’s making a more regular appearance I’ll be inspired to a bit more variety, but for now, here’s another finished knit…
I’ve spent about an hour this morning trying to photograph this successfully, but it’s not been easy – the pale yarn and the sunshine haven’t gone well together. I tried it against the pale green wall in the conservatory, but it looked a bit washed out.
Then against the wardrobes in my bedroom
But that wasn’t ideal either. So I tried the garden.
And various trees and bushes.
None of them are perfect, but they give an idea.
I started this project just over three years ago, it’s Purity from Rowan 43, and did the stocking stitch centre in no time, but was then defeated yet again by written directions, coupled with the lack of a close up photo of the lace.
It all went horribly wrong, and I put it away for nearly three years until I could summon up the courage to rip back five long rows of Kidsilk Haze. I did manage it, and then sat down and made myself a chart.
Which made things a lot easier, although it still took me a while to see the pattern. It’s a six stitch repeat, as I worked out once I’d charted it, and I put a stitch marker every 30 stitches, so at least I knew that if I hit the marker at the wrong point in the repeat, I only had that bit to sort out. On the wrong side rows I diligently counted 30 between each marker, just to double check.
It’s garter lace, just to add another level of fun, but I did get there eventually. I used a crochet hook for the cast off, which I think gave a similar effect to the one in the book, but I was a bit past caring by then.
The reason for the garter lace is that the top straight edge of the shawl becomes a collar when it’s worn, so it needs to look the same on both sides. It’s all very effective, with the pointed ends rippling down the front nicely.
The construction is basically a shallow triangle, knitted from the bottom up. The top is then knitted on, and then stitches are picked up round the curved edge for the other border.
And you sew the ends together.
I’m not completely happy with the picked up stitches, there’s quite a distinct line round the bottom.
Maybe I should have picked them up closer to the edge. But I think that if I was going to do this again, I’d do a provisional cast on and short rows. But to be honest, there’s practically no chance of my ever doing this one again, the lace was very tedious, and whilst it’s pretty, I’m not sure what I was thinking of when I started it, I have no idea when I’m going to wear it – most of the ones on Ravelry are being worn by brides, and I have no plans to get married again!
I’m toying with the idea of dyeing it, but I think I’ll wait until I have an occasion to wear it, and dye it to match. The only problem with this is that I haven’t blocked it, as I like the frothiness of the lace as it is, and it might flatten out when it gets wet. Perhaps I’ll just find somewhere to drape it artistically and leave it there!
And one last photo – spotted on one of the bushes I was using, ladybirds and spiders.
This is gorgeous Helen! I have always wanted to make Purity and you might just have spurred me on!
Go for it! It’ll be perfect whilst you’re laid up after your knee op.
Oh gorgeous shawl, that’s very pretty – and well done for picking it up after so long!
Had to giggle about the ladybirds though. Not just a mr and mrs ladybird, there’s threesomes and veritable orgies going on in the bushes at the moment :)
Ahem. Of ladybirds.
Thank you! I was determined to finish it one day, I don’t like to let things beat me…
There were definitely ladybird orgies going on, all over the garden, not just on the box tree. I’m not sure what the spiders were up to though!
Congratulations on your blogiversary! That is such a pretty shawl – I bet unpicking all that KSH was a nightmare! Worth it in the end tho’! It’s lovely to see the sun starting to appear in people’s photos again!
Thank you! It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be to unpick it – I ran a needle through the row I wanted to get back to, then just pulled it out very slowly, one stitch at a time. I had to cut the fluff on the edge of the yarn a few times, but the yarn itself survived intact, which was a surprise!
And it’s lovely to have the sun out again :)
Your shawl is beautiful! I love how it looks like a shrug on the hanger. Isn’t it strange that there was no chart on the pattern, it’s clear that a chart would be much easier to read. I do hope you find somewhere to wear it. :)
Thank you! It does look a bit like a shrug, it might be a thought to wear it like that – I’ll have to find a suitable (very lightweight) pin to hold it together.
Rowan are very bad for not putting charts in. They say it’s to save space, but this one wouldn’t have taken up much space at all, and it makes life so much easier. In fact British designers in general are very bad about charts – Louisa Harding and Debbie Bliss are two more culprits who spring to mind.
oh, what lovely photos of white lacy knitting in the sunshine!
and what a pleasing profusion of 7 spot ladybirds. We used to have some of them, then they all got eaten by harlequins *shakes fist*
happy bloggaversary (am miles behind in reading, sorry!)
I am attempting this again and like you I originally began a couple of years ago though I was unable to undo my previous and had to start again. Being the novice knitter I’m a bit confuse about the lace and I’m wondering if you can explain how I’m to begin. The pattern says to cast on 20 stitches, is this on the existing stst or do I start new and attach later?
It’s a long time since I did that bit! But I seem to remember that you do cast on 20 stitches at the beginning of the first two lace rows, I think I used a backwards loop cast on, but you could use a cable one if that’s easier for you, then you sew those bits to the edge of the lace on the other side when you’re done.
I know that there are some errata, I think there’s a link on the Ravelry pattern page.
To be honest, and not wanting to discourage you, it’s not the best pattern if you’ve not knitted lace before – I’ve done lots of lace, and I still struggled, as you really can’t see the pattern at all whilst you’re knitting it. Use lots of stitchmarkers and count your stitches after every row!
Good luck!
Thanks for knid & nice posting.
I’m from Korea. I’m living in Seoul which is the capital of Korea.
I tried to understand this pattern, but it was difficult to follow the pattern because of my language barrior, especially at picking up part.
I fully understand with detailed pictures you posted.
Thanks a lot.
ps/ I got to your blog through Raverly.
Dear Minnimol: I am making this shawl for my sister’s big birthday. I agree with all of the comments regarding the difficulty of reading this lace pattern and the lack of images in the book to illustrate the lace pattern. I also am unlikely to ever do it again. My project is also white with a beaded lace border. I am just about to undertake the second lace border but do not understand the instructions regarding picking up. They only suggest one cast on edge but there are two. I am not sure where to go from here but will check for additional error messages in the pattern. Creating the chart for the lace is brilliant! Thank you.
Margaret