Lace and alpaca are friends.
It was time to start something new today. All of my projects as of late have been those that had been percolating for awhile. Although it's satisfying to cross them off my list, it's nice to have a little unexpected thing creep in here and there.
Since I found the lace books the other day, they were to provide inspiration. First Book of Modern Lace Knitting has the "Azalea" Design Luncheon Set. Why not take the placemat and make it shawl-sized? The pattern repeat, once you get past the center, is only 6 lines long (with every other line knit stitches). Although the other patterns, such as those for tablecloths, are attractive, I worried about making them a) the right size and b) something that didn't remind me of a tablecloth every time I looked at it. Besides, easy lace is nice to have around; it makes for nice, portable knitting.
Here's how it looks after a couple of hours' worth of stitching. I'm unsure as to whether the pattern is showing enough; I expect that after another repeat or two it will be more well defined, and blocking should help. The book suggests cotton yarn, so the patterns are very crisp (as you can see); alpaca just isn't quite the same, although it's delicious. (I'm using Misti Alpaca Lace in color 7120.)
My A.V. v-neck is almost complete; the pieces are blocking and I'm praying the wet-wool-loving cat doesn't figure out how to break into the craft room. I hope everything is long enough. I'll just have to seam and knit the collar and then another one has bit the dust.
Thanks to Yarnzilla (where I bought the alpaca), I have another sweater on the brain: the first pattern in Vogue Knitting Fall '05, "eyelet pullover with peplum," as they call it. The shop sample wowed me. Although I'd love to use the alpaca yarn they used, I think I'll be cheap and order some Sierra from Knitpicks; I'll be getting red, because I don't have enough of it in my closet.
All that talk of me going to the Smitten Kitten for knitting with other people while talking about things was just talk. I've only been the once. I think that my Sunday morning time is too valuable to spend with other people; it's my most valuable me-time. Really, any free time I have is rapidly converted to me-time, because I don't get nearly enough of it. (I should remember that the next time I feel like popping out some spawn.)
Tipper @ 9:05 PM * link
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