Why Not Wyoming?

After the disaster of the mismatched SeaSilk melon scarf I confess the joy of knitting has been somewhat lacking in my life. I think I'm on the road to recovery now - assisted by the decadent socks that are Frappuccino Lace!

I've completed the first of the Latte Lace socks (due to the colour I've chosen I've decided it's more a blackcurrant frappuccino lace). I really like the lacey ribs and the little bit of lace detailing on the heel flap.



On the melon scarf front I've decided to rip back to the end of the first skein, and then finish the stole using an edging in the second skein. I am hoping (really really hoping) that the difference in colour will be less jarring this way. I haven't selected a border yet - so that is this weekend's task.

Finally, I learned a lesson yesterday on the importance of knowing your audience following a long and excited speech by me on the glory of the latest sock yarn from Cazza - Captain Jack and Davy Jones. See, the colours are inspired by the characters, and oh so luscious! Anyway, I waxed lyrical and then realised I was talking to a non-knitter who had never seen a Pirates of the Carribbean film. Sigh.

But I'm still dead excited about these yarns!!

P.S. Does anyone know what the sudden interest in the Sarcelle Stole is?? Over the past week there have been a gazillion (well, perhaps not a gazillion)(but lots) of searches for Sarcelle Stole leading people to my blog. Of course, that's what the blog is here for, and I hope they enjoyed seeing my finished Sarcelle -- but why the sudden interest? That's what I want to know. So if you are someone who has come by this blog as a result of a search on Sarcelle Stole, and you know why there are so many of you all of a sudden let me know. Thanks!

P.P.S. That reminds me of something odd I've noticed in the blog accesses. Google analytics displays a world map that pinpoints where your visitors are from. I love it! But I've noticed that I've had visitors from every US state but Wyoming. What's that all about?

I now need to decide whether my next quest is to lure a visitor from Wyoming to the site, OR to see how long I can go without anyone from Wyoming happening upon the blog. I'll ponder that today. (Another busy day in Soo's world.)

Sarcelle Shawl - Ta Dah!

Yesterday morning I finished the Sarcelle Shawl and began my first adventure in blocking. I was VERY concerned about the blocking as the shawl is knit on the bias so isn't rectangular as it is being knit. It has to be coaxed into a rectangular shape through the magic of blocking. Which I wasn't entirely sure I believed in.

At first I tried to block the shawl just by pinning the wet shawl onto my yoga mat (thanks to a knitting forum tip) - and that was frustrating and after about 25 minutes of tugging and pulling I gave up. Taking advantage of my new status as a member of the internet knitting community I did a bit of a blog trawl and discovered many people recommended blocking wires (which I didn't have) or fishing wire (which I also didn't have). But I did have some beading wire and I thought that was close enough to fishing wire. (Well, actually I don't really know what fishing wire is - but how far from beading wire can it be? A wire is pretty much a wire.)

Anyway, attempt number two began with me threading the beading wire along the perimiter of the shawl. I then pinned the shawl to the mat using the wires to coax the shape I wanted and to keep the edges straight. So much easier!! Although I think the whole experience has convinced me that blocking wires would be a good investment if I intend to make much more lace which needs blocking.

Having said that, the finished result isn't a perfect rectangle and I think I will block it again before I give it to CC.

The shawl was knit on 2.75 mm needles in Kid Silk Haze - just over 4 balls.

Pre blocked it was 62 x 14 inches

Post blocking it was 69 x 18 inches

Using Kid Silk Haze I found the needle choice important (critical). I tried 2 sets of needles before I settled on some gorgeous Colonial rosewood needles which made the process so much easier.

The pattern was very clear and easy to read. The main 6 row repeat pattern is easily memorised but the shawl kept me interested to the end as there are enough milestones to make me feel I was making progress.

If I were to make the shawl again the only thing I would change would be the decrease edge. (As the shawl is knit on the bias, in the 'even' section on side is increased alternate rows, while the other is decreased.) Purling the last 2 stitches together made that edge much more rigid than the other (which was increased by knitting 2 in second last stitch).

In other news.... My sock knitting continues. Inspired by the Sockathon I've completed a pair of Opal Rainforest Chameleon socks and I am approaching the toe of my first Monkey. Monkey is a pattern I'm really enjoying and expect I'll make a few more pairs over the coming months. The final pair will be Bayerische - a masterpiece of a sock I think!

Progress Report

Sarcelle Shawl is going well - and due to my obsessive knitting at the moment I'm over halfway! Well, according to the pattern I'm over halfway -- but I've decided to make it a bit longer than the pattern so by my modified reckoning I'm halfway as I've decided to do 11 or 12 of the 36 row repeats in the 'even' section rather than the specified 9.

It's looking lovely and I'm now in love with the Kid Silk Haze yarn. The rosewood needles and a bit of experience mean I'm much more comfortable with it. I'll happily use it again. It knits up like a cloud and feels really special. The fuzziness is soft and doesn't overpower the lace pattern - just softens it a little around the edges.

In the background I'm working on a pair of socks. (I will explain more of the sock thing in another post soon.) They are in Opal Rainforest 'Chameleon' yarn. It's lovely to work with. I'm slightly annoyed about a fault(?) in the yarn - which means the striping in the socks is different. In sock one, the 5th stripe from the top is much smaller than all of the others.... It's more striking in the photo than in real life and I haven't decided for sure how much (or not) it annoys me....

Sarcelle Stole

I'm making pretty good progress on the Sarcelle Stole. This isn't the best picture for showing it off but it gives the basic idea. I'm quite pleased so far.


And I'm even more pleased that I've discovered these rosewood knitting needles! They are a giant leap from the bamboo needles I was using (and an entirely separate experience from the nasty circular needles I started on). I really can't believe what a difference they make. I'm so in love with them that I've ordered a second pair - just in case something untoward should happen to thse ones!! (I bought them from Purlescence - a lovely supply of special knitting luxuries!)


The pattern is satisfying to knit - largely repetitive (so soothing) but with just enough milestone moments to keep me interested. The basic pattern is a 6 row repeat which is pretty quickly memorised. Row 5 requires some casting on (14 sets of 4 stitches) which I found annoying to begin with but I've gotten used to it -- and it's a money row -- it tidies up all those (deliberately) dropped stitches into a nice heart-ish pattern. There is no 'rest' row - so you do need to pay attention even on the purl rows - but it's not tooooo taxing.


Discovering this internet knitting universe has proven to be an expensive adventure!! On the weekend I'll post the treats (or some of them) I've acquired in the last couple of weeks.

What happened next....

When I finished the coat I was so impressed with the result (no false modesty here!) I wanted to show it off. Showing it to my non-knitting friends was good - but I really wanted to share it with knitters.


So I did a google search to see if anyone out there had any interest in knitting......and found a resounding YES was the answer. Until then it hadn't occurred to me that there might be an internet knitting community. (I know, I know - it's obvious that there would be....but somehow not to me.)


I found forums and blogs and online yarn shops and... It was amazing! Until then, knitting was something I think I thought only I did. (Well, not quite - but that I was a distinct and shrinking minority.) I bought my wool at John Lewis and Liberty and made do with what they had. (In fairness both are well stocked with Rowan and Debbie Bliss - but lacking when it comes to hand dyed luxury and specialist yarns.)

Anyway - this has re-energised my interest in knitting and I found myself one night last week in an online shopping daze for yarns and patterns and needles and..... heaven!


As a result I've now got two socks on the go (socks? what am I doing making socks?), and today started a beautiful stole for a friend's birthday. (Theoretically her next birthday....but I'll keep my options open.)


It's the Sarcelle Shawl pattern and looking beautiful so far. I'm knitting it in Rowan Kid Silk Haze. It's like knitting with nothing!! So fine and light. I started on a pair of Pony circular needles (2.75mm) but made a special shopping trip today to replace them with bamboo straights as the points weren't 'pointy' enough, and the join between the cable and needle kept catching the stitches. (So annoying.) To be fair to Pony I should say that the bamboo needles are from them and are plenty pointy and smooth.


I discovered a wee problem at the end of the first set of repeats, which I've attempted to correct with a bit of yarn and a darning needle.......




Before - the middle pattern isn't quite complete.





After - I'm not entirely convinced .... but it's an improvement and I can work on it again after blocking.....