Monday 24 September 2007

The lace it did a-frogging go!

After blocking the sample of my horseshoeprint lace, which I should have done before I started knitting [when will I ever learn?], I decided I didn't like the edges. They look fine in the unblocked version but a bit scrappy after blocking.
What to do? Frog of course! I decided to use a simple edge pattern all the way around and to make the scarf wider. The original was three patterns in width which measured 12cm, after blocking it was 14cm [an increase of approximately 16.5%]. I decided to use five pattern repeats plus a K1P1 rib plus yarnover border which I 'created'. I'm sure this edge probably exists in some pattern book - it's ridiculously simple - but I just created one that I thought complemented the lace pattern by its simplicity: K1, P1, K1, P1, yo, sl 1, k1, psso for right edge, K1, P1, K1, P1, yo, K2 tog for left edge.

So, time to cast on again. I needed 63 stitches - 51 for the pattern repeats [multiple of 10 +1] and 12 for the border. I used a provisional cast-on; the gap between the stitches grew and grew until I had 15cm [6 inches] of yarn between the stitches and I was only halfway through knitting the first row!! What to do? [lightbulb moment]: Use a smaller needle than I planned to knit with and a thicker waste yarn! It worked perfectly.

So, after several hours of knitting yesterday, I am about a quarter of the way through the scarf. Now, I'm not sure about the length - will 150cm [60 inches] be enough? Decisions, decisions! This is what happens one chooses to design an original instead of using a pattern! LOL

1 comment:

  1. Lovely lace - you are so patient - love the socks too - my rule of thumb (or toe) is that I start decreasing for the toes just at the base of my big toe - generally you have 1.5 to 2 inches (depending on the pattern) of length with the toe decrease! Have fun!

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