First Project: Shawl in the works
So after much flipping through books and magazines searching for the perfect way to showcase the beautiful Mountain Colors yarn, I settled on a Marialis shawl from Myrna Stahman’s shawl book (bottom of the page). It’s a beautiful Old Shale lace piece with lots of shaping and I think it’ll work out nicely.
I joined the spinner’s guild at a local bookshop last night to start work on the shawl. They’re a very nice bunch, very inclusive - they didn’t mind that I was not in fact spinning, but merely knitting. I promised them that I’d bring a spindle and some roving fairly soon.
I hope I didn’t swear too much as I started the shawl - it was being a little difficult. I’m wondering if I should rip back a bit and re-do some picking up . . . and you know, as I type this, I already know the answer. In my mind’s eye I can see a sagacious old knitter, an amalgam of the scores of experienced knitters I’ve met, saying “If you wonder if you need to rip out, you need to rip out.”
They’re wise, those sagacious old knitters. Inordinately fond of chocolate bon-bons, but very wise.
January 5th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
And bourbon… they like bourbon too.
January 5th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Yep. Absolutely do the ripping now.
You won’t be sorry.
Pass the bonbons, please
January 5th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
You mean you don’t rip out every new project at least a half dozen times before it finally settles down and agrees to be knit????
January 5th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
mmmmm…bon bons….
(what, precisely, ARE bon bons? I’ve just realized I don’t actually know.)
January 6th, 2007 at 1:02 am
…and what is the problem with bon bons?
January 6th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I prefer pink M&Ms in October. You know, for breast cancer awareness and to fund breast cancer research. I like breasts, you see, and if someone wants me to eat chocolate to save the boobies, I’m all for it.
Every other part of the year, I like anything of the dark chocolate variety.
…and ripping back lace makes me cry. The chocolate is a necessity in that case. Depending on the lace pattern, vino or something stronger may be in order after the ripping back and picking up is done.
January 6th, 2007 at 10:49 am
It’s possible to be INORDINATELY fond of bon bons????
January 6th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Do it man. If you have any question, it has to go.
Courage.
January 6th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Yes, whenever I ask my husband the “do I rip out?” question, he says, “I think you already know the answer.” Very sage-ish =-) Post pics soon!
January 7th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
bon•bon
1. a fondant, fruit, or nut center dipped in fondant or chocolate; a chocolate.
2. a piece of confectionery; candy.
[Origin: 1790–1800;
Bring them on!
January 11th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
My recommendation (more like MY own “technique”) when I have to rip out lace (actually almost every project it seems!) is to eat chocolate, then drink a glass of wine or a White Russian, breathe deeply, and FROG. Hope that helps!
=:8
January 11th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
When my sister was learning costume design and construction in college, there was a sign on the wall that said DON’T ASK, JUST RIP IT OUT.