After the fabulous splurge on Friday, I spent the weekend running a few more errands, watching a movie, reading, and knitting. Veronica also came over for a couple of hours to gab and spin though I mainly worked on the Bee Fields Shawl. I managed to finish up the bee hives and start in on the bee swarm section.
The swarm has been a little tricksy for me as there is patterning on every row and for some reason I’m having a hard time reading the chart symbols as purl decreases. There was an instance where I got it completely wrong for one whole row and mixed up the p2tog with p2tog through the back loop. Much swearing commenced as I laddered down to fix every single stitch so that they were slanting in the right direction.
Veronica said she couldn’t see the mistakes, but I could and that’s the whole point. It would have bugged me to no end if I had left it in. Plus, laddering down didn’t give me as much of a headache as ripping back would have. (For a good tutorial on how to do this, check out TECHknitting’s tutorial.)
At least I’ve finally got the edging down to the point where I don’t really need to be bothered with looking at the chart. The alternate method I’m using to make the picots has really helped me cope with all the cast on and bind off rows. (Instead of using a backward loop cast on, I’m using a lace cast on which doesn’t put such a hitch in my knitting stride.)
All in all, I’m having a grand time with this shawl. There’s just the right amount of challenge to it that has my brain tingling with a little effort. I love the color and the feel of the yarn. The texture of the stitches makes me smile. This project definitely gets 5 stars.
Still, Clapotis is lurking in the edges of my horizon. I can’t stop thinking of it or the lovely Boku I purchased for it. Maybe it’s the lure of working with large needles and thick yarn. Compared to what I normally work with the Boku and size 8US/5.0mm are huge! Perhaps it’s the thought of the soothing stockinette stitch that tempts me.
Either way I’m having a really hard time resisting the call. I tell myself that I already have 3 shawls and 2 pairs of socks on the needles. I also promised my mother she would get a scarf by October and a shawl for Christmas. The last thing I should be doing is casting on for another project.
Shall we see how long I can hold out?
September 4th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
” I tell myself that I already have 3 shawls and 2 pairs of socks on the needles. I also promised my mother she would get a scarf by October and a shawl for Christmas. The last thing I should be doing is casting on for another project.”
Oh please, that’s nothing! I have two stoles on the needles now, 3 pairs of socks, two sweaters, *and* I think I will cast on for a third lace piece in the next day or so. Gotta have variety you know!
September 4th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Hmmmmmmm… have you cast on yet?
I love the edge of your shawl. Very pretty.
September 4th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
The shawl looks wonderful! I’m glad you are enjoying the knitting. Still, it’s tough to hold off of starting a new project. I know I’ve been eyeing something but I have too many things to finish so , like you, I will see how long I can hold off. I’m going to have to take another look at that shawl myself!
September 4th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
I can imagine how soft it’s coming out! Gorgeous! You don’t even want to know all the stuff I have OTN. Maybe I’ll use my marine malabrigo to make this pattern.
September 5th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Grin Opals that Boku could be a lovely scarf for her….. I like that yarn it is nice to work with. I currently have a multidirectional scarf in it and a nearly ready to be felted mess of a mitered squares bag (don’t ask I was trying to redesign something) on the needles in it.
And now I look at your Bees and I WANT to make that grin. It was very nice to see that pattern in a not honey related color.
But umm shall I mention the Journey to a Shawl KAL, Spun Stitches KAL, Campanula for the Cure KAL, Secret of the Stole KAL, Secret of the Chrysopolis KaL, and oh yes Mystery Shawl KAL
PLUS a shetland lace wedding shawl to knit and a faroese lace shawl for another friend to wear at the renewal of her vows and knitting for the new grandbaby Mina Nichole Medina who is now a whopping 2 weeks old ;-)
September 5th, 2007 at 1:10 am
The Bee Shawl is gorgeous, Opal. But I know how you feel about the call of another project. I feel it every day. But I am forcing myself to finish socks before I start another project. I have a feeling you have more self discipline than I. If it were me, I’d cast on for Clapotis right away. Hope Onyx is doing OK.
September 5th, 2007 at 1:55 am
Wow that is turning out beautiful! Just remember the Clapotis – is just cast on 2 to start LOL.
Give a hug to Onyx.
September 5th, 2007 at 1:57 am
It is a certain kind of self-imposed torture when we get great new yarns (and fabrics and toys) for new projects, and feel that we must finish our current projects before starting the new stuff.
The bees look great!
September 5th, 2007 at 2:09 am
You’re making great progress with the Bee Shawl, so where are the Knitting Police to tell you that you shouldn’t cast on for Clapotis? If you like Bee, you will finish Bee.
September 5th, 2007 at 2:51 am
Love the Bee! And thanks for the link to correction instructions! ;)
Now…as for Clapotis? You could cast on, and treat her as the “respite” piece…b/c it’s a soothing, almost mindless knit. Great for when Bee becomes a bit too challenging…
(and I’m a wonderful enabler in all respects – including helping you start yet another project!)
(((hugs)))
September 5th, 2007 at 3:51 am
Hmm… maybe dangling the clapotis as a reward for finishing some projects and starting one of the items for your mom will help? : ) Good luck!
September 5th, 2007 at 5:40 am
It’s the bee’s knees! My “honey” yarn is on its way from Vermont as I write. And no, I didn’t break my vow of yarn chastity. I had a paypal credit balance. (That doesn’t count, right?)
Of course, I don’t know when I’ll get to it. (Sigh!)
Guess this is a good problem to have…
Hoʻopōmaikaʻi!
September 5th, 2007 at 5:52 am
I just got the pattern for Bee Fields, it’s so gorgeous. Oh, and that sweater pattern, I was considering making it too. Something about the thought of a lace sweater thrill me…but the blocking of it, not so much. You can totally do it though, Opal. You are a lace rockstar!
September 5th, 2007 at 6:18 am
i love how your bf shawl is turning out – the picots are cute! i also can’t see the mistakes, but that’s due to lack of lace experience – everything looks good to me…..
September 5th, 2007 at 7:16 am
I’m so impressed with your “Bee Fields”. You said the bad words though – patterning on BOTH sides! Run away, run away! But I know myself well enough to know that eventually something will come along that I cannot live without. And it will have (deep breath) patterning on both sides. So when that happens, I’ll just have to sit down, consign my soul to God and have at it :)
As for your knitting temptations, maybe this wll help. When something seriously sings to me, I actually have *less* trouble making it wait because I know I will do it eventually. Not everything sings, you see – some just whistle tunelessly through their teeth :) So when they *do* sing, I know they’ll be there when I finish whatever it is I’m working on.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:51 am
It was fabulous coming over – thanks for the invite. I think you should just go for it and start the Clapotis… really…. you don’t always have to have self-control! :)
September 5th, 2007 at 8:30 am
Good tip on the picots – I hate the backwards loop CO, it’s so tight!
The shawl is lovely!
September 5th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Thank you for the lace cast-on link, it is very helpful and informative. I enjoyed reading all about your Bee shawl and I am very glad that you did not have to unknit that row. I love the picture of your edging, it looks like it is a picture in Victorian Lace Today. I know what you mean about new projects, I may be in need of an intervention very soon myself.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Very pretty shawl – I love the edging. Oh, go on and cast on for Clapotis….what’s one more thing?
September 6th, 2007 at 2:22 am
It’s really pretty. And I’m the same way, Opal. No one else would ever be able to see a tiny mistake 15 rows back, but if I noticed it I’d have to break out the dpns and ladder it.
I have a lovely cross-stitch that I did some years ago of a young woman looking in a mirror in her wedding dress. Along the back of the dress, there are supposed to be French knots for buttons. I realized that I forgot to do those only after I’d had it framed! Oh, it’s beautiful, etc., (and no one would EVER know if I didn’t keep pointing it out to them) but I see those little darn non-existent French knots every time I look at it. *sigh*
September 6th, 2007 at 2:48 am
Your beefield looks gourgous, I started, and frogged it. I may try again some other time.
September 6th, 2007 at 3:03 am
It’s looking stunning! And thanks for the cast-on tip. I have this project for way later, but I saved the note for reference.