Lacey

I finally did it - I started my Swallowtail Shawl. I am still plodding along on DH's sweater. I should really take a progress shot soon. I need to keep taking breaks from it though, so a couple of nights ago I picked this up.


This is after 10 (of 14 total) pattern repeats of the rosebud lace pattern. This is my first shawl, and my first foray into knitting with real lace weight. At first I thought I wanted to do something more complicated, but now I'm glad that I started with this. It's little, and the pattern is fairly simple. So far. (I know the next section gets more complicated.) I'm okay with complex patterns normally, but I quickly learned that picking up dropped stitches in lace is a whole new category of fun of which I was previously unaware. This wee shawl is not without mistakes already, and I figure some of them will be glaringly obvious when I block it and you can pick out every stitch! It is my second attempt too. The first try got ripped out after six pattern repeats. I'm able to tolerate a few mistakes this time around as I'm learning a new skill. Sometimes it's good not to be a perfectionist - I'd have myself driven crazy!

Also on the go lately is another pair of socks, for MIL's birthday:


I'm doing a few things differently here. I usally work socks on 2.25 mm bamboo dpn's, but this time I decided to try out my 2 mm Regia Sock needles. They're a little shorter (15 cm) than the average dpn, and you know what? I really like them. They're really light, and they're fairly slippery (although that may in part be the yarn), and I find the shorter length actually works for me. The working right needle seems to spend a lot less time poking me in the wrist than usual. It's funny because just a coupe of weeks ago I was eyeing 5 inch dpn's and thinking I could never use them. I guess you never know until you try.

The yarn (Apple Pie, Blue Bayou colourway) is a very soft wool-silk-angora-nylon blend, and the colours are gorgeous. It doesn't split, and is knot-free. The big irritation for me though, is that it has a lot of slubs and splices. A LOT of splices. Probably upwards of twenty in a single skein. Ordinarily ths wouldn't be a big deal, but the splices are thicker and end up as big bumps in the knitting. It's also a little thicker than most sock yarns I've knit with, so the fabric is very dense, especially on the 2 mm needles. That's why I opted for the plain foot in stockinette. Usually I like to carry ribbing down the foot, but I think it's already going to be a bit of a stretch to wear these with shoes.

Given that there are so many other beautiful handpainted sock yarns out there in the same price range that I'd like to try, I don't think I'll buy this one again. But the socks will certainly be pretty! I've just started on the second one.

That's it for tonight. We're supposed to be waking up to a big snowstorm tomorrow morning. As if I haven't seen enough snow lately! Welcome to March everybody!