Lace

I have not knit much lace. Except small sections of larger projects. One of my goals in 2008 was to knit a lace project.

My sister and I saw a Swallowtail Lace Shawl by Evelyn Clark at the Knit and Crochet show in Manchester, NH last summer and we both thought it was beautiful and we wanted to knit it. I finally started mine in November. It was the project I decided to take on my recent trip to Texas.

When I left, I had just started the Budding Lace Repeat. I spent the whole travel day knitting and tinking! My SIL could not understand why I would do something that was so frustrating. I could not understand why I could not get it right.

Throughout the 2 weeks in Texas, I knit mostly on other projects I had brought with me, but a few times I took out the shawl. There were two things I realized. I could not knit lace and talk to anyone and I was not “reading” my knitting. Once I realized the second point, and really looked at the knitting, I was able to knit without error (most of the time). And now I am one repeat away from finishing the center section of the shawl, and I can talk and knit at the same time. I am not sure what will happen when I move to the next pattern, but I feel ready. I think I will knit from the charts to get a better idea of the pattern as it unfolds.

The shawl is pretty. I am using Kauni - a wool with long color repeats. The shawl is going to be fairly small (27″ X 54″), but I am afraid to deviate from the pattern by adding more repeats of the main section because I am afraid I will not have enough yarn. The yarn is a little rough feeling, I hope it softens up when I wash it. And I could not find the center end so I am unwinding from the outside, which makes it awkward.

Here are a few pictures:

I am pleased with my progress so far. I’ll keep posting about how it is coming along.

“Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out.” Michael Burke

Cynthia