Tuesday 5 August 2008

Mysteries...

I've got a few mysteries to clear up (or try to clear up) today.

The first mystery is - why the heck has it been so long since my last post?

Theoretically, this should be the easiest of the mysteries - but alas, the answer eludes me. Work has been busy but not crazy, no whirl of social events to blame. I've even got knitting stuff to share.

Mystery one remains unsolved. All theories welcome.

Mystery two began Sunday morning when I heard something being put through the letter box. Expecting it was another takeaway menu for the local curry house I didn't rush to pick it up. And when I did pass by the front door about 30 minutes later I was suprised to see it wasn't a menu -- it was last Saturday's 'Rebel Knitter' supplement from the Guardian!

There was no note on the paper so I was initially clueless about where it came from. A bit of Poirot like exercising of the little grey cells and I realised I actually had a few good leads.

It had to be someone who knew I knit. It had to be someone who read the Guardian and someone who would be kind enough to think of me and save the supplement for a week. Finally it had to be someone who might be passing by my house on a Sunday morning but unable to stop.

Someone running perhaps. (Not from the law -- for exercise.) Or someone cycling (similarly for exercise). (Someone perhaps training for a triathalon.)

J'accuse Gavo! (Gavo being Shirl's partner.) I haven't yet confirmed my theory - but I'm pretty confident. Thanks Gavo!!!

Mystery two. Solved. (I think.)

Mystery three is a mystery that I think will ALWAYS be there for me as long as I'm knitting lace. How does this:


Become this:


How can this limp mass of string:


Suddenly(ish) transform into this:


Ok - no real mystery - but blocking is a little bit of knitting magic.

This stole was knit for Old Maiden Aunt Yarns as a sample for some her new yarn. It's a luxurious Alpaca, Silk, Cashmere blend in a cobweb weight. It feels gorgeous and knits up beautifully.

The colourway (which I haven't captured as accurately as I'd like) is a beautiful combination of blues and greens which blend together beautifully.

The lace pattern is Japanese Feather Lace from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. If you don't have the book (go get it!) you can get the stole pattern from Knitspot.

I knit it on 4mm needles.

20 comments:

fleegle said...

And it is most mysteriously lovrly!

Kai said...

Another fab lace FO! It's stunning and I LOVE it! :)

Nevisknitter said...

That stole is stunning, yet another patttern for my ravelry queue

the Lady said...

Lovely! Every time I see one of your shawls I wish it were for me! :-)

Kate said...

Blocking is the nearest to true magic you can get. Better than pulling a rabbit out of a hat, anyway. :-)

Opal said...

Gorgeous stole! I love the mysterious magic of blocking lace. I just wish it didn't involve so much crawling around on the knees. :)

Yarndancer said...

Your lace is always so lovely, Soo! This one is gorgeous!

DeltaDawn said...

Stunning! (As usual) And I love that crochet thing - makes me (almost) want to try some crochet. Must not do more things though!

Gale Bulkley said...

As usual, another beautiful piece.

Bonnie said...

Beautiful. I love seeing everything you create.

florencemary said...

Spookily wonderful! Lace is the only knitting that I regularly block, and yes, it transforms one's knitting, innit!

Lovely yarn (you can almost feel how soft it is through the, um, computer screen...), and I will check out the pattern - very pretty.

Donna said...

That's delicious looking - the color and the pattern are lovely.

LittleBerry said...

stole is beautiful and such a pretty colour...

feltboots said...

Another beauty !

What's cobweb lace like to wear ? It looks so delicate that I fear it would snag on the slightest thing so I've dismissed it as a good choice for me. However, that yarn looks so gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Blocking remains the most magical part of lace knitting. <3 It makes it all worthwhile.

And your stole is beautiful.

cici said...

This looks awesome. I want to try more lace.:D

Anonymous said...

Ooo, I am currently working on a stole in that very pattern, and it looks like a crumpled mess. So your finished one is very inspiring. I'm using 5 mm (US 8) which is a little big and I kind of wish I had used a smaller size, but I press on. Yours is lovely!

Unknown said...

It's lovely! Gorgeous sounding yarn too - I'm looking forward to seeing it on her website.

Blocking really is magic!

Anonymous said...

Your lace knitting is completely breathtaking!

Viknits said...

Ooooh I've got that pattern in my faves and the exact same yarn (different colours, obviously!) which I'm keeping for it - I'm very inspired (and now impatient to cast on!) by seeing yours! It's stunning! I shouldn't visit your blog, it makes me impatient, and usually at a time when I've already got about four projects on the go. Anyone found a way round the need to sleep yet??