Ah.
Moving right along....This week we'll do charts A and B. As many people have said, these charts seem to go very quickly.
Here is my Hanami.
How are you doing with yours? Any problems? Loving it? Hating it?
Let us know!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Week 5
Wow! We're over half way done! And, if you're doing the conventional version like me, you have finally completed the basketweave section. Let's all take a moment.
And the winner is.....
Beadntat!!!
Congratulations-you have won the midway prize.
Some laceweight yarn and stitch markers are coming your way.
If you can email me at: t.baadmedicine@gmail.com with your name and address, I'll send you the prize.
Remember - there is one more prize at the end...keep posting and commenting.
Congratulations-you have won the midway prize.
Some laceweight yarn and stitch markers are coming your way.
If you can email me at: t.baadmedicine@gmail.com with your name and address, I'll send you the prize.
Remember - there is one more prize at the end...keep posting and commenting.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Finally checking in!
Hi all,
I keep meaning to post about my progress on my Hanami, but since I portion out each week's allotment to work a little bit each day by the time I finish with one section it seems everyone else is already on to the next ! But I couldn't let the end of the basketweave section go by unremarked. I enjoyed knitting it but I'm excited to be on to something new.
So here is my Hanami so far, in what is really a light lilac shade of Misti Alpaca laceweight and not the blue that my camera is determined to capture. I was originally going to work this in a silk/merino blend from my stash, but at the last moment I caved to the fact that the yardage wasn't really enough and let these two balls jump into my basket at my LYS.
Since I have heard rumors that the Misti doesn't actually grow when blocked (does anyone have any experience with this?) I am worried that the length won't be enough at the end. To try and protect myself I've knit an extra repeat of the basketweave chart (really), then put in two lifelines, one at the end of the basketweave section and the other at the start of the transition chart. That way, the theory goes, if it is too short I can remove the purl row between the two sections and pull them apart, knit up more of the basketweave, then graft together again. At least that is my backup plan if needed (hopefully it won't!)
Looking at completed Hanami's, I've also been less than content with the abrupt end between the transition panel and the first 'flowers' panel. To fit with the theme of the shawl overall, I made a few extra copies of the transition chart and then got creative with the white-out, erasing selected decrease/yarnover pairs in this area, then adding back in a few more of these pairs in the upper empty zone. On the chart, at least, it now looks like the basketweave is being blown apart in this area - almost like a dandelion puff in the breeze. We'll see how it looks in the knitting itself - I think I'll have to be a few rows beyond that point to really stretch it out and get a good look. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Happy knitting everyone,
Megan
I keep meaning to post about my progress on my Hanami, but since I portion out each week's allotment to work a little bit each day by the time I finish with one section it seems everyone else is already on to the next ! But I couldn't let the end of the basketweave section go by unremarked. I enjoyed knitting it but I'm excited to be on to something new.
So here is my Hanami so far, in what is really a light lilac shade of Misti Alpaca laceweight and not the blue that my camera is determined to capture. I was originally going to work this in a silk/merino blend from my stash, but at the last moment I caved to the fact that the yardage wasn't really enough and let these two balls jump into my basket at my LYS.
Since I have heard rumors that the Misti doesn't actually grow when blocked (does anyone have any experience with this?) I am worried that the length won't be enough at the end. To try and protect myself I've knit an extra repeat of the basketweave chart (really), then put in two lifelines, one at the end of the basketweave section and the other at the start of the transition chart. That way, the theory goes, if it is too short I can remove the purl row between the two sections and pull them apart, knit up more of the basketweave, then graft together again. At least that is my backup plan if needed (hopefully it won't!)
Looking at completed Hanami's, I've also been less than content with the abrupt end between the transition panel and the first 'flowers' panel. To fit with the theme of the shawl overall, I made a few extra copies of the transition chart and then got creative with the white-out, erasing selected decrease/yarnover pairs in this area, then adding back in a few more of these pairs in the upper empty zone. On the chart, at least, it now looks like the basketweave is being blown apart in this area - almost like a dandelion puff in the breeze. We'll see how it looks in the knitting itself - I think I'll have to be a few rows beyond that point to really stretch it out and get a good look. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Happy knitting everyone,
Megan
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Tell me I'm crazy
I think I need someone to tell me I'm crazy. Either that, or I'm brilliant. I just don't know which, right now.
Here's the deal: I'm making the blossoms-only version, but realizing that the blossomy half of the Hanami pattern doesn't constitute half of the length of the finished stole (in the original version) -- meaning that if I just do the blossomy half, twice, I'll end up with a fairly short stole. So, I could add an extra repeat of chart F at either end, and lengthen the ruffles. I could also (or instead) add an extra repeat or two of chart A when I pick up from my provisional cast-on.
OR... (this is where it gets crazy) I could design a graphic of a cherry blossom and create it in lace in the centre section (running from the provisional cast-on, before going back to doing chart A etc. in the other direction). The large charry blossom would then sit in the middle of the wearer's back.
(Image borrowed from Flickr user sandcastlematt)
So, tell me I'm nuts. Tell me I'm brilliant. Tell me what you think!
Here's the deal: I'm making the blossoms-only version, but realizing that the blossomy half of the Hanami pattern doesn't constitute half of the length of the finished stole (in the original version) -- meaning that if I just do the blossomy half, twice, I'll end up with a fairly short stole. So, I could add an extra repeat of chart F at either end, and lengthen the ruffles. I could also (or instead) add an extra repeat or two of chart A when I pick up from my provisional cast-on.
OR... (this is where it gets crazy) I could design a graphic of a cherry blossom and create it in lace in the centre section (running from the provisional cast-on, before going back to doing chart A etc. in the other direction). The large charry blossom would then sit in the middle of the wearer's back.
(Image borrowed from Flickr user sandcastlematt)
So, tell me I'm nuts. Tell me I'm brilliant. Tell me what you think!
Seven is my new lucky number ...
Last night at SnB I began my seventh attempt at the Hanami. I have to apologise to the people around me for my lack of interesting conversation but I have completed 2 whole rows of the pattern! This is a HUGE milestone for me! I'm feeling quite hopeful about this project now. Thanks to everyone for your tips and tricks. They really got me through that nasty moment when I botched attempt #6 ( I was questioning my lace knitting skill and my aptitude in general). Let me finish a few more rows and I'll post some pictures!
Some Progeress at Last
Five repeats
So, funny thing: I plodded through the first 2 or 3 repeats of the lattice portion of the pattern (I'm making the asymmetrical version) with the suggested markers in place, but I wasn't really enjoying knitting the pattern. Then last week I took the markers out, and now I love it! Turns out the markers were somehow keeping me from reading the lace I'd already knitted (which meant I had to look at the printed pattern more), and also made me feel like the rows were really long. Weird, huh?
And then I spent all day yesterday traveling, and made all kinds of progress. I'm trying to decide if I want to lengthen it or not--I'm tall, and have kind of wide shoulders--so I may block what I have so far in the next few days.
Rebecca/Archiknist
(Andrea, 100% silk from Schaefer Yarns, in the Lillian Gilbreth colorway)
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Finished!
All done, I made it without the ruffle on the end. Just simple garter, mirroring the basket weave end. The color in the top photo is pretty accurate.Finished size is 18" x 67". It's made from Zephyr wool silk and I used 1.99 oz - just under 630 yards. (3.25mm needle) I bought a 4oz ball from Sarah's yarns so there were no ends to weave and I have enough for a second one. I like the basket weave end very much and want to make a second one just in basket weave next time.
I blocked it without wires, because I don't own any. Makes me wish I did, boy howdy!
I suppose I could have just as easily blocked it to 17" and gained a little length, but I'm not even 5'2" and the person it's for is shorter than I am, I think the width is more desirable. Increases the cozy factor IMO.
It was fun, I'm glad it's done!
Rowan
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