Sunday 30 September 2007

How much yarn is too much?


(I know I said I wouldn't mention the 'L' word again but I have to say thanks so much for all the lovely comments! Despite all of my best efforts, none of my friends knit so hearing what knitters think means a lot to me.)

I've spent a fair bit of time this week photographing my lace stash for Ravelry. For those of you not yet on Ravelry, it includes a stash inventory, which includes all the relevant details (colour yardage, weight) and (if you care to supply them) photos.

I learned that I have a lot of lace yarn. A whole lot. Enough to get me through any future lace yarn shortage without too much trouble. But what are the odds that sometime in the next week I'll find a pattern or yarn that calls out for a yarn I don't have?

Next week I'll tackle the sock yarn.


A bit of cast on activity this week. I'm undecided on the colour and how it is knitting up so far. I'll finish this one and check it out with the owner of the intended foot. This is a modified Monkey. The modification is simply to replace the purl stitches in the pattern with knit stitches. I like the effect and it speeds up the knitting. Wahey!

To keep the spirally pattern I'll also replace the heel with an afterthought heel.





I couldn't stay away from Niebling toooo long so I've also cast on the large 'Oak' doily in the August 1985 Anna magazine. Another really lovely pattern from the genius Niebling portfolio.


This time I used Rosemarie's circular start which I really liked. (You can find her detailed instructions here.) The start uses a provisional cast on in scrap yarn which really helps to give the first few stitches some structure when you start knitting for real.




You then thread the yarn end through the stitches, cut away the scrap yarn and heh presto a very tidy starting circle.

18 comments:

fleegle said...

Those are gorgeous socks! I am surprised you are doing Oak. It's rather indelicate--one of the few I don't think I would even consider doing. But I might change my mind after I see yours. I was thinking about Campanule next...

Fiona Reynolds said...

Gorgeous socks and sounds like you have been busy.

Linda said...

I like your Monkey mods. I still haven't knit them but I may copy you on thatone if you don't mind when I do. The next lace looks lovely.

Angelika said...

With that Niebling craze going on they better publish those patterns again and I mean soon.

Anonymous said...

*is at a total loss for words*

Lucy said...

Beautiful socks Soo - Thanks for visiting my blog - I'm hoping to do some more work on my Babette soon - Flickr photo site has a Babette Group - lots of lovely work there - I am a member and feel quite ashamed at my lack of progress!! So much to do at this time of the year though with Christmas looming!The Babette is a long term project - that's probably not a good thing as I procrastinate!!! Will post again on my blog when I do another square (or more - you never know lol !!)

Viknits said...

Thanks for a lovely comment Soo, I have to admit being rather pleased with myself at completing that project without having to frog!
Those socks are going to be lovely, and so is oak, definitely. I see what Fleegle means about being less 'delicate' looking, but it's still striking, and I think when we see closeups it may be more intricate than it looks in the more far-away photo.
Vik x

z's momma said...

I love your yarn stash (sorry, had to run off to Ravelry and admire). As for Oak, that was going to be my 'tester' Niebling, but I decided to do Thistle instead. There's a KAL on the Niebling Yahoo group for Frosted Ferns, which is supposed to be very similar to Oak (in fact it's been renamed Oakey Dokey). Also, I noticed you're using zephyr. Will this be a shawl?

Kathy said...

I personally love the Oak pattern, I don't yet have a Neibling, but am working on that.

I don't actually think there is too many Neiblings I would turn my nose up at.

Your work is phenomenal Soo. I am glad you popped my blog otherwise I would never have ended up here.

K

Adrienne said...

WOW, you've been busy! Those socks are beautiful!

blog-blethers said...

What gorgeous yarn you've chosen for your Monkeys. I've still to knit this pattern and I very much like how you've modified the pattern.

florencemary said...

Would you believe it, I've just cast on for Monkeys as well (funny old world!). I'm knitting the original, but I'll bear your mod in mind for future use... Love your yarn, which is...?

I'm not even clicking on my 'stash' button on Rav, as my stash is paltry and shows what a hideous stinge I am. Might just have to check out your lace weight stash though and have a quick drool.

Holly said...

I just had to oogle your lace stash in Ravelry. I think that's a great way to attack the job of catalogueing the stash - I had been sort of at a starry-eyed standstill on my efforts. Your lace stash is lovely! Your monkey sock looks great - I can't wait to see the final result. And I, for one, am happy to read plenty more about your Lyra and other Niebling adventures - it is very inspirational!

Cinders said...

Gorgeous socks and doing some back reading of your blog, thanks for all the info on neibling and other lace bits.

Lacefreak said...

Those socks are outstanding! I envy your desire and ability to knit them. I just can't get into them myself but I love seeing yours. Your Lyra is beautiful and I'm glad you posted on it for all of us even though your friends don't knit. It was a real treat to see someone else making it. I can't wait to see how "Oak" comes out. I've been tempted by that one but I have other Nieblings that I want to do first. As for stash excess, I have way to much laceweight yarn myself so I have no stones to cast in your direction!

Rosemarie Buchanan said...

No such thing as too much yarn, thread, knitting needles, patterns, or TIME TO KNIT !!

Your Lyra dressed out is gorgeous. You have every right to be proud. Now, can I please mail all my Nieblings to you so you can dress them, too?? ;-)

Your current adventure is the Eiche, or a portion of it, I believe (the "oak" table centre). I'm not participating in the Neibling group's KAL, (although I'm keeping up with the posts, and I've already knit that piece!)as I'm working on my fifth, or possibly sixth (if the Chatelaine magazine Lily of the Valley is a Niebling?) Niebling, the PhoenixPalme. Very, very tedious knitting (yes, I can actually watch TV and knit this thing!), but the end result will be breathtaking(ahem, she said without a trace of modesty).

Your Lyra is so beautiful that I hope you're going to do a gallery page of ALL your Nieblings. I love the Eiche and intend to knit it one day, too. Can't wait to see yours all done!

Hugs from across the pond ...
Rosemarie Buchanan on Vancouver Island!

LittleBerry said...

Lyra was beautiful you have every right to mention the "L" word again and again.....

This one looks interesting too, I love reading your blog and what you're up to the socks look great too...

Anonymous said...

Those monkeys look great.