How about some actual knitting content?
I took the Icarus shawl with me to the mountains this past weekend and was binding off the last stitch just as we were pulling into the motel parking lot. I must admit this project took way longer than I expected it to. I think I started it either the end of last October or the beginning of November. Granted I would knit a bit then put it aside for a couple of weeks then pick it up again out of ufo guilt. It was a very easy knit and I see myself using it often (I am always cold and tend to stay wrapped up in blankets most of the year) but I really had to make myself work on it. I was often bored with the pattern because it was so much of the same, but I had to count every stitch to ensure I did not make a mistake. I admit I thought it would be a bit funny to wrap up in it naked and take a pic to put on my blog as a 'you thought that pic was bad, well what do you think of this' gesture, but realized that might not be the smartest thing to do...
I realized in blocking this that I will buy blocking wires for my next lace project. After trying for hours (I kid you not- I started blocking at about 1:30 and at 5 I finally walked away from it) to pin it to my bed straight and perfect, I broke out a 4 square foot pvc frame I use for square foot gardening and basically sewed it to the frame. It is still not perfect, but it will do. At one point I was crumpled on the floor ready to cry - The Gaming One was quite concerned about that and very sweet and encouraging (Thanks Sweetie!).Pattern: Icarus Shawl (Interweave Knits, Summer 2006)
Yarn: Peru Alpaca (ebay purchase) No idea how many skeins because I spit spliced the ends together as I went along.
Needles: Size US4 Circs
Finished size: 80 inches across top edge, 40 inches from top edge to bottom point. I believe I could block it even larger after some blocking practice...
This little pink kitty toe always makes me smile. All his other toes are black except for his pink, pinkie toe.
7 comments:
The shawl is really lovely. I hear ya about blocking wires. They are on my list before my last piece of lace gets off the needles. I realized last time that my eye is not as straight as I had thought.
I love Icarus, it looks great. You have nothing to apologise for, absolutely nothing, drama like that comes with the territory. x
LOL, I would've seen the humor, but I know what you mean. Icarus is gorgeous! It's on my to-do list, but then so are blocking wires--I can't even imagine hours worth of blocking. :-0
Gorgeous! You know, I think lace blocking is a pain no matter what. I have wires and it is still a long, arduous struggle to get the dang things through every little stitch.
I have a cat with all pink toepads except for one black one :)
Your shawl is beautiful. I hope you get lots of warmth from it in the years to come
I had to do a little catching up, here, but wanted to say I don't think there was anything at all wrong with your MagKnits pic, and what a shame it all panned out in a way that we end up having to miss the point of it in the first place: What a beautiful sweater! Unfortunately the internet has yet to provide "stupid people blockers."
I put this comment here, because I also wanted to talk about Icarus (What? Me, go on and on?!)I had EXACTLY the same feelings, all along... and mine is in the same color. Wonder what that means? You're more patient, though - I gave up on the whole blocking thing after 20 minutes of back-breaking nonsense and decided, "Eh, it'll be fine." (Not so much, frankly, but it'll do.)
Beautiful shawl.
I agree with rachel's comment above -- blocking sucks with or without wires (and, of course, they didn't help at all with my circular shawl). Did you try using string (pulled tight) in place of wires?
I think a good blocking board is more important than the wires. The grid on it really helps with pinning things out straight. Of course, my blocking board is not big enough for a whole shawl or big item, but I frequently pin part of the item on the board, and part onto a towel on a carpet. And a yard stick helps to check for straight lines when not on the board.
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