Tuesday 11 September 2007

The Challenge Begins

I've cast on for Lyra. Strangely I was REALLY intimidated by the pattern. I can not remember the last time I worried about tackling some knitting. But I was. So much so that I cast on and knit about 2 rounds and then took a break (bear in mind at that stage a round was 8 or 16 stitches). Then I knit another one or two and took a break. That pattern continued until I got to round 19 and came across an abbreviation that was not on my handy dandy English translation page.

Eeeeek.

Jane and Rosemarie to the rescue (I sent out a couple of SOS's) - they confirmed the meaning of the abbreviation and I was off again.

Tonight when I picked Lyra up I realised it was of course just a series of knits and purls and YO's all of which I had tackled a million times (probably more). The panic was gone and I was loving it.

I've just finished round 40 and I resent having to put it down. Sleep. Such an inconvenience. (And don't get me started on this working for a living thing.)

I can't stretch it out on this needle for a proper photo - but this one gives the idea. I'm using Lorna's Laces, Helen's Lace yarn (natural colour) with 2.5mm needles.

Yesterday I used my very rusty mathematics skills to estimate that the 179 rounds of Lyra will require around 64,000 stitches. 32,000 of those stitches will be plain knitting. The other 32,000 will be patterned.

To put it into other terms 64,000 stitches is about 7 - 8 pairs of socks (depending on size). Or in the terms that were running through my brain last night - a whole freak load of knitting!!!

15 comments:

blog-blethers said...

Soo, your lace work is just stunning! Isn't it strange how some patterns seem to have that effect on us and scare us silly! And you are absolutely right ... its a variation (albeit a very beautiful one) of plain, purl and yo's. Hope you enjoy the rest of the 64 000 stitches as much as you are at the moment!

And 'the orange thing' (the gorgeous hemlock, mrs!) is looking great!

fleegle said...

It is an amazing pattern, isn't it? You are almost up to me at row 47. But I put it down to finish the Moth and do some boring border.

Knit faster so I can see the end result!

Angelika said...

I love knitting in a round. None of those pesky purl stitches that slow down your progress. Lyra looks great so far. Can't wait to see more.

Linda said...

Beautiful knitting. I know that intimidating feeling for a knit. I was like it with Venezia, now I am realising it is just a sweater in stocking stitch!

z's momma said...

Lovely! Will live vicariously through you and Fleegle and Lacefreak until I cast on.

Quick question: You might have mentioned this in a previous post, but what method do you use to start?

LittleBerry said...

looking good soo I do love Helen's Lace... the rate you knit you'll be finished this time next week...

Yarndancer said...

Wow, looks great! Can't wait to see it when it's done!

susubee said...

That looks beautiful! I agree that sometimes casting on is the hardest part. Once you start knitting, everything just kind of works itself out. That's what I love about lace and colorwork. Seeing the pattern unfold is absolutely mesmerizing.

You'll be finished in no time at this rate:)

Rosemarie Buchanan said...

Yeeehaaaaa!! Wow, it's so cool to see it on the sticks!
Did you give my belly-button start a try?
Glad to be of help ... let me know how the mesh swatching is going .. I'd be interested to see some pics!

All the best!
Rosemarie Buchanan, from Vancouver Island, on Canada's Glorious West Coast!

Nevisknitter said...

It is looking beautiful so far.

Holly said...

Lyra will be lovely, Soo! You do such gorgeous work. I will enjoy watching your progress. And I bet you'll be done before you know it!

florencemary said...

I've had to do a tiddly bit of research here, but I reckon Lyra is sumfink to do with Herbert Niebling? Whatever, it's rather wonderful! But I cannot understand all the procrastination about numbers of stitches and equivalent garments thereof. Purleese, Canadian cousin!

And, btw, I've got the fake cast sorted for tomorrow and an excuse on the cards. Crap pubs round here though....

Lacefreak said...

Wonderful work! It's looking fabulous in the yarn you picked. Glad you got past the initial discomfort and are having as much fun as I've been having with it. I had to take a break to continue with some edging but I'm making headway on mine. I will be checking in to see how it goes!

Batty said...

Beautiful work! I'm somewhat surprised that an experienced (and fast! wow, you're fast!) lace knitter would feel intimidated by a pattern, but then, why should I be? Some of those things look frighteningly complex.

Really, there's only one thing to do: start knitting. Then you're committed, it's too late to chicken out, and it's definitely wrong to just stop knitting.

Keep on going! It's looking better than good!

Viknits said...

Beautiful work as always Soo! You speedy knitter!
I've put some more Venetian photo's on my blog for your perusal. There's not loads, just a few to tempt you :p
I'd never dare work out how many stitches are in a project - think it'd scare me silly!