The only real knitting I got done yesterday was on the Snowdrop, which I am pleased to report, is approximately 60” across the top. I now know that I’ve got more than enough yarn to go on with this for a while yet so I believe that I’m going to go for about 80”. I realize this probably sounds gargantuan and huge, but then I am a very long ways from little and petite. 80 inches will give me enough width and depth (I hope and believe) to balance my bulk. I’ve got 17 snowdrops across. Since I’ve decided not to do the stockinette triangle and will proceed straight through with the lace pattern, I’m guessing that 27 snowdrops will give me, roughly, the width I want.
Of course, by that time, I’ll be setting an evening aside to knit a single row. As it is a row and its return (I know this is 2 rows but I think of them as a single unit in a way. You start on the right side and work all the way around to get to the starting point again) is taking me a half hour - not that I’m any speed demon knitter :) We watched Dr. Dolittle last night - the new one. (While I can’t help but feel that Rex Harrison was probably quite a bit more like the Dolittle Lofting had in mind, the charcaterizations of the animals in the more recent film are hilarious and entertaining). Anyway, by the end of the film, 2 hours time, I had completed 8 rows. I know as the shawl gets wider each row takes longer to do - but I find this a bit disheartening. Oh well, nothing to do for it but to do it!
The alpaca mitts and I grumbled at each other this morning. I will be taking them apart and restarting. I should have known better than to put this lovely, silky yarn on metal needles so we will begin again on wooden pins which should have the friction to keep the stitches from sliding around. I’ll also be using needles a size bigger and knitting with more tension rather than keeping things loose. That should improve the situation somewhat :)
I’ll also pass along some links I found last night for what look like useful items for the Dulaan project…
A child’s hood and mantle. I’ll probably try this one next.
...all courtesy of Wool Works.
And this link, passed on by barbara-in-east-texas, for a type of vest, or body warmer, appropriately fiddled for size, also looks promising.
Have a great weekend folks and knit on :)
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that little animated rabbit is absolutely too cute-
aha, you have reached the phase in the shawl where you begin what i call ‘kamikaze knitting’-when i get to that stage in a project i know i am going to work on through it and have a finished item- it’s when the project rather than the process is the motivating factor- well, that has confused even me!!
what yarn did you use for your little ‘onion dome’ creation- that looks so soft and comfortable?
stay happy-
Barb - Well, I have a soft spot for bunnies, so I was also captured by this little charmer :)
The dark red cap is Encore, a deep red and black sort of marl and the pink and white is a strand of white Caron Simply Soft and a strand of TLC baby sport in (I think) rose sparkle. They don’t seem to have that color any more.
Wow, you are way ahead of me, size-wise. I also have 17 snowdrops, or I would if I weren’t doing the center plain. Mine will probably finish at about 60” wide because I’m using #6 needles. That’s what Stephanie recommended and I never thought to use something else, since I’m new to lace. Good luck and thanks for doing this shawl, since it really made me get back to mine.
Laura - No thanks due :) I’m glad things are coming together - you’ll post a picture when it’s done, right? I’m using worsted weight mohair which is why I went with the size 10 needle. It seems to work pretty well :) If I’d been working with 6s, I’d have given up a long time ago - LOL!
Sounds like some good prgress on the shawl. I will be interested to see it finished. Being plus size too, I am always frustrated with shawl pattern. I love to knit them…but they always are gifts for someone else.
Maureen - That’s the way it has gone for me as well. I love shawls but all the ones I’ve knit have gone to other people as they’re usually too small for me. THis one, I’m determined to keep and if that means I have to make it in the giant/colossal size - then that’s what it means - LOL! At least I know I have enough yarn :)
Hi Robbyn,
I love the peppermint socks. Couldn’t find a mention of the yarn—what’s the brand?
Rob
Rob - It’s Marks and Kattens Clown (click on “Clown” for the picture link). It’s a wool/cotton blend. Feels a bit stringy to work with but doesn’t feel bad on the tootsies and I think it may soften a bit with washing :)
I know what you mean about rows taking a long time to knit. Didn’t IK Knits have a feature once about a woman who knitted a wedding dress? I can’t remember how many hours it took to knit each row, as the bottom of the dress had a huuuuuge circumference, but I’m sure it was a very long time.
Pam - I remember that article and the wedding gown pattern is available, gratis, at IK’s web site. A beautiful gown, to be sure, but I simply cannot imagine such an undertaking!
On the other hand, it puts the lengthening rows of the shawl into perspective, doesn’t it? :)
