Savannahchik Knits

This pattern has really made the blog rounds, and it's clear why. The repeat is easy to remember, you can make it any size you want, and the scallop-y edging is beautiful.

this one shows the shape best

this one shows the color best

I don't remember hearing much about the bindoff on the shawl, but it works really well. Those scallops need lots of stretch and the bindoff does just that. I may just try it on my next pair of socks, although I'm not sure how it would look against a rib.

Specs (do you really need specs on this one?)

Pattern Leaf Lace Shawl by Evelyn Clark -- distributed by Fiber Trends
Yarn Twinkletoes Sock Yarn. This is not the world's softest yarn. After the first soak the water turned a bright pink, but after rinse the second soak barely turned a color at all. I put in a healthy dose of deep conditioner and that seems to have helped. I'm not particularly sensitive so I don't anticipate it bothering me. Plus, Deb contacted the dyer and she's changing the yarn she's using! This is really good news because she's a great dyer!
Needles Addi Natura 3.75mm (US 5)
Measurements, etc. It's 48 inches wide by 21 inches high in the center. I did 9 repeats (I think). I made it to wear under my coats so I didn't want it any larger. And that was good, because I was ready to cast off by the time I did the last repeat!

Posted by Jody at 11:30 AM in leaf lace shawl | Permalink | Comments (23)

Is there any better way to start a three day weekend than with a little blocking?

dry, baby, dry

Posted by Jody at 09:18 AM in leaf lace shawl | Permalink | Comments (12)

Last time we spoke about the leaf lace shawl I was waxing the praises of the white cashmere merino laceweight. And it's true -- this yarn is to die for.

But I should know better. When I put down a project for months on end, something's wrong and I'm avoiding it. In this case, the needle size just wasn't right for the yarn's gauge. That pic from last November shows the leaves really nicely but in person they're not as clear. I was using a 3.75mm/US 5 and needle and there was more air in those YOs than I wanted.

I could have easily ripped and started from scratch but at 825 yards a ball I was going to have lots leftover anyway. So I visited the stash and came up with this.

it's twinkletoes sock yarn

At this much heavier gauge I'm still using a 3.75/US 5 needle. I like it so much more. See?

I've had this yarn in my stash for two years, and now I'm wondering why. The pinks are right up my alley, and the touch of purple that works its way in makes me smile every time I knit a stitch with it.

That's the happy-happy of it. The crazy-crazy? It's supposed to be knit and blocked by Saturday for the lace knitting class.

Posted by Jody at 09:01 PM in leaf lace shawl | Permalink | Comments (23)

I'm teaching a beginner's lace class at Woolbearers in March.

I'll be using the leaf lace shawl by fibertrends. I thought it would be a good one because it:

• uses a simple provisional cast-on
• includes both line-by-line instructions and charts
• works well in a variety of weights -- especially nice for beginners

I'm using lacey lamb and I *love* it. The label is all in chinese and I've always thought this yarn was cashmere -- but it's not! It's 100% extra fine lambswool and they say it's machine washable.

Don't worry -- there isn't a chance in hell I'll be dropping this baby in the washer. But still, there's something enchanting about a yarn that's so soft and fragile and can still hold its own against the ol' Maytag.

So the yarn -- if you haven't tried it yet you really need to. At $14/ball it's a great deal and I think it's a perfect Christmas gift for a lace knitter. It does split on occasion but nothing that's too bad. I just need to be conscious of it while doing k2togs.

I'm enjoying this yarn so much that I knitted way past what I told myself I needed to get done this weekend. I ended up not starting on Sugarplum until around 9pm on Sunday. It isn't such a bad thing because the quicker I get this sample done the quicker I'll get students signed up for the class.

Posted by Jody at 03:02 PM in leaf lace shawl | Permalink | Comments (12)