Saturday, March 21, 2009

Softscapes...

Ok, here is my first attempt at a "Scarflette". I used natural creamy colored wool. I was VERY intimidated by this pattern at first and had to talk myself into it, but once i got going, it was actually fun! I plan to make more over the Summer so that we have them to stock The Paper Sparrow next Fall and Winter....


And talk about intimidation! This is my first attempt at knitted lace. I saw this pattern for a shawl, using worsted weight cotton yarn and figured i am already crazy so what harm would it be to try??? I don't know if you can see the little strip of purple yarn running thru the stitches just an inch from the needles, but i call that my life line. If i make a mistake in my knitting, i can rip it out to that little purple piece of yarn and the rest will be saved. I learned this little trick the hard way, after ripping out the entire project twice. I find that this sort of thing cannot be done while watching your favorite television program. No Ma'am! I cannot even talk and knit at the same time with a complicated pattern like this. You MUST give this kind of pattern your full attention. (Ok, i can hear all the accomplished knitters reading this laughing now! But for me, a relative beginner, this is HARD!) Anyway i read somewhere that by running this little piece of yarn thru the stitches after finishing a set of steps in the pattern, you can protect the correct part of the work if you make a mistake later on.....
The pattern is quite pretty and i keep looking at it and feeling such a sense of accomplishment. Don't know what the finished product will look like or if i will finish this in my lifetime! But i am learning so much from this piece...
Now, for work you CAN do while watching your favorite program, i like these mindless afghans to keep me going. This is a big crocheted granny square afghan i just started for my daughter Carly. She picked the colors to go with her living room, and no matter how many shots i took of this, i could not get the color to come out true in the picture. The colors are deeper and have a nice luster to them in real life....Next? A crocheted cotton poncho for Lola!

15 comments:

Lola Nova said...

For heaven's sake, I am so impressed with your work, just lovely! Good for you for challenging yourself, I have been trying to that myself. I find I learn so much that way.
Keep it up, you rock!

Alpaca Granny said...

I love your scarflette and good for you for jumping into lace. Lifelines are good! Wish we could thread them all around our daily lives. Make a mistake and just fix it by pulling out the lifeline. ☺

Mare said...

Thank you Ladies...i have been in love with shawls forever, and i have been eyeing a few that looked very complicated, but when i walk myself thru the steps, i know i could do it. Just have to remain focused!!! This challenge to learn new things is all a part of my decision to learn as much as i can while i still can! hahaha I've already printed out a pattern for a very filmy, spider-webby type shawl that i might start next. I just might have to give myself some pep talks tho! :)

Phill said...

I'm beginning to believe that every time I come here I am going to see some amazing new thing you made, or even more freaky, some complicated new skill you have mastered. The scarflette is neat! That hole in the middle thing intimidated me too. The knitted lace is really neat. It's a good answer to "This shawl is too delicate for everyday wear." With the knit piece, it would be a little tougher than crochet.

Hilary said...

You did it......the scarf looks great...wasn't it easy once you saw how it was supposed to go. I love making them. My shop is full of them in all colors.

Kelli said...

Mare thanks so much for your well wishes. I appreciate you! And I love your work! Hope someday I can learn how to sew and knit! :)

Mare said...

CM, you always make me feel so good! Thanks!
And Hilary~ thank YOU for that pattern! I was trying to use a pattern for a similar scarf my daughter found in her Martha Stewart magazine, and it was so...confusing. That's when i asked you for yours. It knit up perfectly, and i am sure the next one will look much better! Thanks again!

Mare said...

Awww Kelli,it's my pleasure...And i think knitting and/or crocheting would be just the thing for you! I find it so therapeutic.

Archie and Melissa said...

hi mare!
oh what a wonderful post! i love your knitting and crocheting!

i cannot even imagine knitting lace! wow! you are amazing!

xoxoxo
melissa

Mare said...

Thank you Melissa! The lace i am knitting isn't really true lace...in the way that most lace is made from a much finer yarn. But i thought this would be a great way to learn using the worsted weight, bigger needles and cotton yarn. I've got about 8 inches of it done now...and just about 70 more inches to go! woah....

Zitrone said...

Wow! I am impressed with your 'scarflette (love the name). Did you knit it the 'continental' way? It's lovely no matter what method you used. And lace knitting? Where have I been that I'd never heard of it! The 'lifeline' idea is fabulous. Wish I had known about it before I unraveled my 264 St. afghan beginnings, my new afghan pattern with CABLES. I was so proud of my newly found expertise in cable knitting that I messed up something..... Beginning again, but that's alright. Isn't that what it's all about sometimes???

Mare said...

Hi Zitrone! Yes, i do think we learn best from our mistakes but sometimes i wish there was an easier way! Try the lifeline with the new afghan and see how well it works. Now when i finish a pattern series, i run that piece of yarn thru the last row of stitches as an insurance policy. I knit the scarflette in the traditional English way, as my Continental work is coming slow...but sure! :)

Stacey said...

You are one patient woman! And may I add, very talented as well. :)

Paula said...

Wow! Those are beautiful Mare! Good grief, can you just NOT impress me for once? LOL

crimsoncat05 said...

your knitted lace is quite beautiful! I wish I could remember the crocheting my Gram showed me, but it was too long ago... I like that you can do some of those projects in front of the television! hope you're enjoying some Spring; I left something for you on my blog. :D