Anatomy of the amateur lace-knitter
1. Pattern with current row hemmed in on all sides by Post-It notes. Logic: Those little squares with the funny symbols will have nowhere to run, and will cease their attempts to blend in with the squares above and the squares below, and the patternÂ’s secrets will therefore be miraculously revealed. Truth: I tend to forget what row IÂ’m on.
2. Row counter. I REALLY tend to forget what row IÂ’m on. Note that the row counter is attached to a stitch holder, so that it can be attached to the knitting on the rare occasion when the lace is allowed to leave the house. Reason: I tend to forget the row counter almost as often as I forget what row IÂ’m on.
3. Stitch markers. These work beautifully as little landmarks if you put them between each pattern repeat.
4. Spilled contents of accessory bag, including crochet hooks, tapestry needle, waste yarn, and calcium chew (which we can pretend is candy when the need for chocolate is overwhelming). These items, combined with the size zero Addi, were used to rip back and reknit the same two rows FIVE times before a certain knitter got smart and stuck those stitch markers between each repeat. You see, she got all cocky after two successful lace projects and thought, “Sure, Madli is more challenging, but my superior powers of concentration mean I donÂ’t need stitch markers.” Yeah. I need stitch markers. The only reason you donÂ’t see them on the knitting in this photo is that the use of stitch markers allowed me to reach the end of the border, and the stitch markers will need to be repositioned when I begin the main chart.
5. Scissors: there merely as threat and deterrent. In addition to the stitch markers, I’ve found that teensy tiny threadlike laceweight merino responds pretty well to idle threats. Set a pair of scissors in sight of it and somehow the stitches aren’t quite as inclined to go leaping off the needle just to see how far they can drop. Lesson learned: sportweight and worsted weight yarns are cozy and comforting. Fingering/sockweight yarn is rather friendly and plays well with knitters. Laceweight yarn is kind of prissy and difficult, and this particular hank of laceweight merino (“Remind them that I’m handpainted,” it’s hissing right now) is actually kind of bitchy. I bought her in Rhinebeck, and told her for all these months that she was too special for just any project, and I think it went to her head.
6. Plastic project bag. With the zipper closed, you canÂ’t hear the knitting laughing at you.
7. Assorted work-related detritus: as a reminder of the things you really should be doing instead of wrestling with thread.
8. Gifties from other knitters: a reminder of the kindness of fellow knitters in the face of the tyranny of the yarn, and a reminder that IÂ’ve really been lazy about getting those wonderful flowers-in-a-can going. (Thanks again, Blossom!) The notepad beneath the flowers-in-cans is from Alison, who would cluck in sympathy and offer me coffee and chocolate were she here.
9. Another shawl just cast-on and waiting in a friendlier fingering weight. Just to let the laceweight know itÂ’s not the only game in town.
10. Crumpled tissues. Kristine, I was wrong when I said thereÂ’s no crying in knitting. I know that now. Sigh.
11. The shawl herself. MadliÂ’s Shawl. I hate her. I love her. It was rough going until I got those stitch markers between the repeats, and the first time I had to purl 7tog I nearly burned the whole thing because I found IÂ’d made the nupps too tight on the previous row. I had to wedge them open with a straight pin just to get the needle through. IÂ’ve got the hang of the nupps now, but IÂ’m still using a straight pin to wedge them open, because my needles (Denise) arenÂ’t sharp enough to reliably pick up all seven strands. I need sharper needles. I really do.
The laceweight beast, pinned out a bit so she can show off her pattern:
I need to be alone in my office with no music playing to knit this one. I should have it finished in a few years. Tonight, after I finish my work for the day, IÂ’ll leap into the main chart. IÂ’m hoping itÂ’s smoother sailing than the border was.
Hang in there FireKitten, you’ll kick Madli’s lacey @ss yet.
Posted by: spaazlicious
Well. You have well and truly frightened me from ever attempting that Madli b*tch. (what kind of sadist designed that thing anyway?) I can’t even master a damn Flower Basket. Poor me. *sigh*
Posted by: Norma
I feel your pain, Cari. Though my Flirty Ruffles is not quite as complicated as Madli (nupps drive me to distraction, and not in the good way), it’s still requiring a lot of focus.
Posted by: Nathania
Hang in there FireKitten, you’ll kick Madli’s lacey @ss yet.
Posted by: spaazlicious
Well. You have well and truly frightened me from ever attempting that Madli b*tch. (what kind of sadist designed that thing anyway?) I can’t even master a damn Flower Basket. Poor me. *sigh*
Posted by: Norma
I feel your pain, Cari. Though my Flirty Ruffles is not quite as complicated as Madli (nupps drive me to distraction, and not in the good way), it’s still requiring a lot of focus.
Posted by: Nathania
I’m a few repeats into my Madli. It gets easier.
Posted by: Christina
Well it looks great. And you seem to have everything you might need. Purl 7 tog? That’s just craziness!
Posted by: Vicki
Post-it notes! Hey, I’m getting out of the chaise lounge right now and going to get some. My FBS chart could use one right about now. Thanks. Good luck with the bitch.
Posted by: claudia
Madli.
You poor, poor dear. I’m sorry.
Posted by: Cassie
Fantastic start on the shawl. It is so very lovely already! Have you thought about making your row counter into a stitchmarker? I found that is a really easy way to remember it (with lightweight projects, I just tie it to the cast on “tail” from the marker loop).
At the end of this post there is one I made:
http://thewittyknit.typepad.com/projects/2005/06/just_because.html
Posted by: Anita
So, I’m guessing you’re not walking around the apartment muttering to yourself, “I love you madli…”
😉
Posted by: Lee Ann
Ah, but you’re off to a ragingly gorgeous start.
Is “nupps” really the word?
Posted by: alison
I’m a few repeats into my Madli. It gets easier.
Posted by: Christina
Well it looks great. And you seem to have everything you might need. Purl 7 tog? That’s just craziness!
Posted by: Vicki
Post-it notes! Hey, I’m getting out of the chaise lounge right now and going to get some. My FBS chart could use one right about now. Thanks. Good luck with the bitch.
Posted by: claudia
Madli.
You poor, poor dear. I’m sorry.
Posted by: Cassie
Fantastic start on the shawl. It is so very lovely already! Have you thought about making your row counter into a stitchmarker? I found that is a really easy way to remember it (with lightweight projects, I just tie it to the cast on “tail” from the marker loop).
At the end of this post there is one I made:
http://thewittyknit.typepad.com/projects/2005/06/just_because.html
Posted by: Anita
So, I’m guessing you’re not walking around the apartment muttering to yourself, “I love you madli…”
😉
Posted by: Lee Ann
Ah, but you’re off to a ragingly gorgeous start.
Is “nupps” really the word?
Posted by: alison
Oh, I feel your pain. I’ve learned to love stitch markers. Knitting lace is truly a humbling experience. Just when you think you soooo smart and such a talented knitter, that lace slaps you in the face and says “ha ha – dropped a stitch!”. Keep up the good fight and you will succeed in the end.
Posted by: Lisa
It’s looking great–you should be proud!
Posted by: Deb
Coffee. Chocolate. Now. Cry as much as you like. Swearing is good too. especially at the lace – keeps it in check. And I’m with you on that laceweight yarn thing – so snooty….It’s just such a difficult one when the end object looks so lovely.
Posted by: Alison
My feeble attempts at lace bow down before you. But I will admit that a part of my brain is saying “P7tog? Why? Why write a pattern that requires this? What sadist did this to you???”
Posted by: Cassie
At least it’s not P7tog tbl.
#6 is my favorite.
Posted by: Em
Believe it or not, your blog really cheered me up. Last weekend after working on a lace pattern the better part of a day, I realized the pattern was hopelessly screwed up (by moi). I frogged the whole thing and when directly to the fridge.
After reading your entry today, I am not the only one who can’t remember what row I am on, what pattern I am doing and has to have the silence of a jail cell to get the pattern straight. And you’re one of my knitting heroes…
I think I will pick up that lace shawl again!
Thank you thank you thank you
Posted by: Juliette
Have you tried Inox needles? I have some of the nickel-plated ones and the points are really sharp. Of course, I’ve only made one very simple scarf with laceweight merino and it sure didn’t have me purling anything together (much less 7 stitches). It really is beautiful, Cari, even though it’s clearly making you a little nuts at this stage.
Posted by: regina
Oh, I feel your pain. I’ve learned to love stitch markers. Knitting lace is truly a humbling experience. Just when you think you soooo smart and such a talented knitter, that lace slaps you in the face and says “ha ha – dropped a stitch!”. Keep up the good fight and you will succeed in the end.
Posted by: Lisa
It’s looking great–you should be proud!
Posted by: Deb
Coffee. Chocolate. Now. Cry as much as you like. Swearing is good too. especially at the lace – keeps it in check. And I’m with you on that laceweight yarn thing – so snooty….It’s just such a difficult one when the end object looks so lovely.
Posted by: Alison
My feeble attempts at lace bow down before you. But I will admit that a part of my brain is saying “P7tog? Why? Why write a pattern that requires this? What sadist did this to you???”
Posted by: Cassie
At least it’s not P7tog tbl.
#6 is my favorite.
Posted by: Em
Believe it or not, your blog really cheered me up. Last weekend after working on a lace pattern the better part of a day, I realized the pattern was hopelessly screwed up (by moi). I frogged the whole thing and when directly to the fridge.
After reading your entry today, I am not the only one who can’t remember what row I am on, what pattern I am doing and has to have the silence of a jail cell to get the pattern straight. And you’re one of my knitting heroes…
I think I will pick up that lace shawl again!
Thank you thank you thank you
Posted by: Juliette
Have you tried Inox needles? I have some of the nickel-plated ones and the points are really sharp. Of course, I’ve only made one very simple scarf with laceweight merino and it sure didn’t have me purling anything together (much less 7 stitches). It really is beautiful, Cari, even though it’s clearly making you a little nuts at this stage.
Posted by: regina
Two things I have learned when dealing with lace…it gets easier with practice (like Zen) and it’s worth the effort and tears.
Posted by: margene
Ah! That looks sooo familiar to me 🙂 I love knitting lace as accents in my socks and such but I’ve embarked on my first lace shawl and am experiencing similar frustrations, though I don’t have anything as harrowing as p7tog! Do they even make needles sharp enough to pull that off?
Hang in there, it looks beautiful so far!
Posted by: Kristi
Oh gosh, hang in there Cari. Madli is lovely to look at. I see you’ve got your lifelines. Patience!
Posted by: MJ
Oh Cari – just gorgeous! And well worth all the tears and frustrations. I know the feeling. My first lace shawl is in worsted, but I have laceweight waiting in the wings. It’s so comforting to know the pain I’ve had with worsted will be magnified 10-fold with the laceweight! lolololol
(((hugs)))
Posted by: Knitnana
Ummm. Ahh.
I think that you can knit (or purl) 7 sts together by passing them over the new stitch one stitch at a time.
You work the first stitch (purl or knit) and place the NEW loop back on the left-hand needle. Then pass the next X number of stitches over that new loop. This works in knit or purl and with any number of stitches.
At least, that’s how I do it.
(Ducking and running!)
Posted by: Sweet Caroline
I love it, hunny bunny. And of course you CRACK ME UP. Novel, dammit, NOOOOOOVVVVVEEELLLLLLL right now! I have to read it. You’ve turned me into a damned freak frothing at the mouth who is already trying desperately to figure a way of knitting, reading your book, and your blog simultaneously. hee hee hee……
Posted by: John
Um, uh, P7 tog? That’s crazy talk. But it looks great, I especially love the colors.
Posted by: sarah g.
Two things I have learned when dealing with lace…it gets easier with practice (like Zen) and it’s worth the effort and tears.
Posted by: margene
Ah! That looks sooo familiar to me 🙂 I love knitting lace as accents in my socks and such but I’ve embarked on my first lace shawl and am experiencing similar frustrations, though I don’t have anything as harrowing as p7tog! Do they even make needles sharp enough to pull that off?
Hang in there, it looks beautiful so far!
Posted by: Kristi
Oh gosh, hang in there Cari. Madli is lovely to look at. I see you’ve got your lifelines. Patience!
Posted by: MJ
Oh Cari – just gorgeous! And well worth all the tears and frustrations. I know the feeling. My first lace shawl is in worsted, but I have laceweight waiting in the wings. It’s so comforting to know the pain I’ve had with worsted will be magnified 10-fold with the laceweight! lolololol
(((hugs)))
Posted by: Knitnana
Ummm. Ahh.
I think that you can knit (or purl) 7 sts together by passing them over the new stitch one stitch at a time.
You work the first stitch (purl or knit) and place the NEW loop back on the left-hand needle. Then pass the next X number of stitches over that new loop. This works in knit or purl and with any number of stitches.
At least, that’s how I do it.
(Ducking and running!)
Posted by: Sweet Caroline
I love it, hunny bunny. And of course you CRACK ME UP. Novel, dammit, NOOOOOOVVVVVEEELLLLLLL right now! I have to read it. You’ve turned me into a damned freak frothing at the mouth who is already trying desperately to figure a way of knitting, reading your book, and your blog simultaneously. hee hee hee……
Posted by: John
Um, uh, P7 tog? That’s crazy talk. But it looks great, I especially love the colors.
Posted by: sarah g.
I have never heard of a nupp…I am so intimidated by lace. But when that perfect bitchy yarn calls to you, what can you do? Keep going, Cari, you are inspiring us. Back to my socks.
Posted by: Bettina
i think i have to remember to close the zipppers on my plastic project bags…
it’s going to be gorgeous!
Posted by: mrspilkington
I’ve finished one pattern repeat on this shawl.
Nupps suck.
I too contemplated the matches or scissors and then put it down and knit a sock.
Posted by: Steph
Well, Madli is going to be exquisite, and I have no doubt that you will soon gain the upper hand. Don’t take any sh*t from her!
Posted by: Sarah
Try bryspun circulars – I just got some and the point is great! I’m not sure if it’s p7tog great, but it’s worth a try. The shawl will beautiful and then you’ll forget all about the blood, sweat, and tears you went through to make her.
Posted by: Stephanie
I have never heard of a nupp…I am so intimidated by lace. But when that perfect bitchy yarn calls to you, what can you do? Keep going, Cari, you are inspiring us. Back to my socks.
Posted by: Bettina
i think i have to remember to close the zipppers on my plastic project bags…
it’s going to be gorgeous!
Posted by: mrspilkington
I’ve finished one pattern repeat on this shawl.
Nupps suck.
I too contemplated the matches or scissors and then put it down and knit a sock.
Posted by: Steph
Well, Madli is going to be exquisite, and I have no doubt that you will soon gain the upper hand. Don’t take any sh*t from her!
Posted by: Sarah
Try bryspun circulars – I just got some and the point is great! I’m not sure if it’s p7tog great, but it’s worth a try. The shawl will beautiful and then you’ll forget all about the blood, sweat, and tears you went through to make her.
Posted by: Stephanie