what's on the needles....

Apparently I have had a severe case of startitus.  

So the answer to what's on the needles is..... LOTS......

two lace wraps, a baby blanket, a pair of socks, one linen and one hemp face cloth, not to mention the crochet afghan that is nearly finished from last year (must finish that), and countless swatches of lace and blanket designs, just waiting for yarn selection and to be cast on.

 

So I have alot to talk about.......

The two lace wraps happen to be the same design.  Let me explain....

I started the first wrap, using Lornas Laces, Helens Lace in the color Cumberbund.  I had purchased only one hank since it had 1250 yards, it should be enough for my wrap.  

Helens Lace is wool silk blend lace, very nice and I love the color. This is my first time working with Helens Lace ...... more later. The photo below is for color, the work is not blocked and as lace knitters know, any lace project looks like a heap of stuff until its blocked....proof positive.

As I started the wrap, I make a habit of weighing the yarn. I do this at different stages to get an idea of how much yarn I have to knit with.  Starting with the end in mind.  "If you don't know where you are going, you'll probably end someplace else", I love this quote. Its a book title from a freshman year required read, the book is not noteworthy, just the title.

I weigh the ball before starting, weigh the ball again after the border, then weigh the ball a third time after the first completed repeat, then measure the length of the the work..... It was after measuring that I realized that this pattern was using more yarn than, I had accounted for and my project would be too short for my liking.

I frogged the project to restart it a bit narrower than originally planned, to a length that is more desireable (to me).  Now for the rational..... since I like a wider wrap, and I had over 1600 yards of Malabrigo Silkpaca in Teal Feathers, (another new yarn to me, more later)......I had to start a second wrap that would be both perfect in width and length. Right?

I love knitting with the Silkpaca but, I had to frog it too.  I started the project on size US#4 needles and I didn't care for the openess of the fabric.  Frogged, then started again with a US#3 and I like it better.   

Its really important to change needle sized up or down to get a fabric you desire.  

I knit several repeats in the Silkpaca and did a faux or mock block while still on the needles to check the openness of the knitted fabric (pictured above).  I like!  And back to my Helens Lace project.

The Helens Lace project is about 65% complete.  

I will share more on the other projects and new yarns soon.

Happy Knitting!