Monday 8 October 2007

From Tiny Acorns...




the Niebling Oak grows.


This large doily is about 3 feet across, and I made it for my kitchen table.

The oak pattern isn't as intricate as Lyra - it's a far 'sturdier' looking piece of knitting due to the large oak leaves that make up most of the pattern. That suits my kitchen and style, and I'm pleased (with some reservations) with the result.

The pattern is from Anna Magazine, August 1985. I knit it in Jaggerspun Zephyr wool/silk (mostly because I seem to have a lot of it) on 2.5mm needles. The pattern is straightforward to knit and uses similar stitch patterns to Lyra (and I expect many other Nieblings).

My reservations about the finished piece are around the mesh background - which looks a bit sloppy in places, and my blocking.

The Niebling Knitting group in Yahoo is currently doing a knitalong and I'm anxiously awaiting their views and verdicts on the best way to tackle the mesh. I expect some of it is the pattern itself. I knit this mesh the same as I did for Lyra - but I think this pattern flexes the mesh a bit more so it looks much less structured here.

To date my blocking has been almost entirely of pieces which are quite geometric and linear in their design. Niebling designs are more fluid. And my instinct to pull/stretch everything from the centre straight out doesn't do the Niebling justice.

In this pattern for instance you can see there is some curve to the large leaves. This curve isn't knit into the leaf (it's knit straight up) but can be introduced in blocking.

I'm not sure what the next big project will be.....but I expect it won't be long before something grabs me!

20 comments:

Adrienne said...

WOW! Very pretty!!!

fleegle said...

Fantabulous!

Fiona said...

Soo, that is just lovely. I don't know how you manage to work so fast and produce such beautiful results!

Beverly said...

It's gorgeous! I love the leaf motif.

lv2knit said...

I love it! It's not Lyra, obviously, but gorgeous in its own right. I am now on Round 29....much slower than you!!!

Linda said...

I love that , how do you manage to knit so fast!?

LittleBerry said...

completely different to Lyra but still stunning, I quite like the simplicity of the oak leaf patter. How do you knit so fast????

z's momma said...

That's beautiful(I know, I keep repeating myself).

I really like the big leaves and the simplicity of this table topper.

Holly said...

It's gorgeous. I don't see any problem with the mesh. You are so speedy!

Viknits said...

I love it Soo! I think that being a bit more sturdy and less intricate (or I suppose you could say 'simplicity') is equally beautiful as the intricate, delicate-looking Lyra, in a different way I suppose!
I love the sheep cosy in in the previous post too!

Anonymous said...

I'm so jealous!! It looks so stunning!

susubee said...

So beautiful!

I'm loving the sheepie tea cozy, too :)

DeltaDawn said...

Stunning! I'm going to have to add a doily to my drool list. YOur stoles are all so gorgeous!!

lv2knit said...

Thanks for the comment, Soo! I am loving it already and agree with you that the charts are nicely written. The yarn I am using (Fino Alpaca) is not slippery like Zephyr so the sts grab. It is very nice!

chemgrrl said...

Wow, another gorgeous pattern. I'm starting to come around on the doilies, thanks to you. I didn't know they could be so beautiful!

florencemary said...

Sooperdooper doily, Soo! I can't believe how quickly you've knitted it up...

Rosemarie Buchanan said...

Soo .. my god, where do you find the time?? I'm in awe of your work, and the speed at which it appears!

The Eiche (along with almost anything else Niebling) is on my to-do list.

I have PhoenixPalme nearly blocked, drop on over and take a boo; I have some pics on my blog, with more to come in the next couple of days.

Rosemarie

Lisbeth said...

It´s so lovely. can i have the pattern

WonderMike said...

LOVE THIS!!!!

Amarilis said...

Hola yo tambiƩn tengo hecho este tapete y me mide 63 cm
saludos