All a Blur
It has now been snowing for over sixteen hours. This is a relatively light period of snow at about 7am. Yes, it really is that murky.
I spent a good deal of yesterday once again playing with MySQL and PHP and HTML putting together a web-fronted database to inventory my stash. I’ve got the data-entry bit down pat, but haven’t touched the update or reporting bits. I’ve also catalogued the yarn in the living room and in the office, including the mystery box in the closet. The bedroom closet awaits.
This blur is my latest WIP:
I’m practicing for Birch, so this is Baby Birch, with a 149 st. cast-on instead of 299. This is far from perfect, but it is recognizable as lace. I have high hopes for blocking.
Question: The kidsilk haze is difficult to see against the steel of the Addi Turbo and slippery too. Would I be better off with darker wood-tipped circs?
«Birch detail
I need to cast on something simpler, though. I can’t knit lace and watch the Olympics.
The forecast is now for 12-24 in. of snow (30-60cm), not as bad a what Ted got, but we’re going nowhere, nonetheless.
February 12th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
I love that lace! Is this the first time you’ve made lace (I could read your whole blog again but it’s easier just to ask). I’ve cast on for a lace shawl for the Olympics.
Clearly we’re both insane …
February 12th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
Darker coloured needles would likely help. The other thing you might try is knitting against a background that contrasts with your yarn. Sometimes fine yarns will disappear into the colour in the background…so the blue Kidsilk Haze might disappear into the blue of your jeans, for example. A white cloth on your lap as you’re working might be very helpful.
Good for you that you’re trying lace. The geometry can be very appealing.
February 12th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
I’m knitting Lopi at 3.25/1″ so it’s very easy to see…although I have started the project over a few times…I don’t want to do all this work and not like it, you know?
I love that yarn and have some planned for a pattern in one of the Vogue to Go books. I’ve attempted it a few times, but had to abandon it…it’s vexing me.
February 15th, 2006 at 9:06 am
Marq-
In my experience, the 10 thousand times I’ve casted on and then subsequently ripped out birch, the darker needles don’t help. The silk is particularly un-stretchy - so trying to get the yarn over the joins (I used Susanne’s Ebonys) is a particularly huge P.I.T.A. I’d say stick with the Addis.
February 17th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Hi! That’s such a pretty color. I love Kidsilk Haze and this is my favorite pattern. I think Birch, once you advance beyond 2-3 repeats, becomes a very easy pattern to memorize. Though, you’re right, who wants to focus on a pattern when there’re olympic games to watch! I actually knitted up a Baby Birch for my baby cousin’s Christmas gift, also casting on 149 sts. And, because it was so cute, I knitted one for my mom’s Christmas gift. Now, I’m making one for me, though it’s going much slower. Also, I think I had the same problem with slippery-ness using Addi Turbos and ended up using Crystal Palace bamboo needles. But then, I knit almost everything up on bamboo needles, really. ^_^