Monday, February 8, 2010

Lace ... Grrrrrr.

Wash cloth: Easy-peasy.


Toe-up socks: Getting there.


Cuff down socks: So far so good.


Lace: AAAARGGHHHHH.

It looks so lovely and innocent in the picture. Don't believe it. When the camera's gone, it's the devil.

Does anyone have tips for successfully knitting lace? On Saturday I spent an hour knitting one row. This evening I spent an hour and a half knitting one row and then tinking three. I can't seem to do the pattern repeat correctly across a row. Fortunately every other row is a purl row, otherwise it would be half the size it currently is.

I wrote the pattern for each row on a separate piece of paper in a notebook in big handwriting. I count the stitches at the end of each row to make sure it is correct. I turned off music and television. It isn't the pattern's fault; it's not that hard and it's written well.

It's me.

Can you help?

17 comments:

kelly said...

it does look so very pretty! it just takes practice, i'm sure by the time you get near the end you'll have memorised the pattern repeat! i'm also quite slow at knitting lace, mostly as i can't take doing too much in one sitting.

Theresa said...

Oh Honey, I could help you but I would probably pull the yarn and undo what you did and you would hit me over the head with the needles:) Hugs to you and I think the lace is GORGEOUS. What are you making a tablecloth? :) Keep at it, you make so many beautiful things.

Jill said...

I could pass this on to my mom who helps to run a yarn shop in Oregon - don't know if that's what you really want - maybe you just wanted us to GRRRRRRRRR with you!! You are oh so much more patient than I am - I would have put it down long ago!

Jenny said...

I'm guessing that by now you're making at least three pattern repeats on every side of the center stitch? Have you tried placing stitch markers between each repeat? That really helped me when I made my first shawl.

Otherwise I would just encourage you to keep at it, it does loo lovely so far, and once you get used to lace knitting it's highly addictive!

/ Jenny

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

Wish I had advice for you but since I don't knit... but it's beautiful regardless.

Thimbleanna said...

Well, it all looks beautiful from here! I've never delved into lace, so I have no ideas!

Maiden Jane said...

It looks really nice. I second the markers between stitch repeats. That helped me. Counting and checking after rows helps. My first was a feather and fan and after a while I memorized it. But I'd occasionally make a mistake. Once in a while I had to rip back. One time, I did so and started on the wrong row. Kept knitting and realized I had reversed the front and back. But I had knit about 2 feet before I realized it! I left it. I figured that the stole is wrapped around me so no one would notice....sigh...learning lessons...patience!

Linda said...

I am so sorry I can't help with your lace, but it does look so beautiful and perfect to me:) All of your knitting projects are amazing:)
Warmly
Linda

Dogwood said...

You know I am not the one to be able to help you. I am still doing those knit/purl things!

Love all your projects. You are very talented with those needles! Who cares if it takes years to complete we won't tell.

Have a sweet day...

Kitty said...

That looks like the forest canopy. I made that as my first shawl, and what helped for me was to study the chart, and to understand why you are decreasing and why you're increasing and how it shapes the whole piece. I have a hard time knitting from written directions because I can't see why I'm making the stitches.

You'll get the hang of it, but I remember how challenging it was at first. Just keep with it and it will get easier!

Rachel said...

Looks good to me. More than good - beautiful! I wish I could help relieve your GRRRRRs, but all I can do is send good, positive thoughts your way. Or maybe I can convince the lace fairy to pay you a visit. ☺

5orangepotatoes said...

So pretty! Wish I could help, but I don't have a clue.
lisa

Jill's Mom said...

Your lace looks good and it is sure to be beautiful if you don't give up. Use stitch markers at each pattern repeat until your brain picks up the pattern. if you use a chart you can see the sense of the pattern and that helps. Also mark each line of the chart with a different color marker to help you remember where you are. I guess the most important thing to learn about lace is that it requires more attention than other projects. Most of us must work in quiet without distractions in order to keep our sanity. Also, work in shorter periods changing off with projects that do not require so much concentration. In the end it is worth it. You will have an incredibly beautiful item that is totally unique. HMMMM, I think I may try that pattern too!

Hilary Martin said...

Don't you have some pictures of San Francisco that you wanted to post????? :)

Erin Wallace said...

Your lace is lovely, but I seconf the GRRRRR! It's not easy to knit! Certainly not like knitting a hat! But keep it up, as I have, and eventually you will have a gorgeous piece of lace that you can look at with fondness and even pride. And maybe, once we get done with these projects, we'll end up knitting more lace!! We'll be lace knitting fools!

M.E. Greene said...

Good for you for giving it a shot! Lacework can be aggravating, but I've found that after the first few inches it finally starts to come together. I don't know if I have a specific piece of advice except to just keep at it. For some people it helps to have the pattern in chart form, and for others it's easier to have the actual stitches written out in words. Maybe if you were able to translate the pattern to the form that works better for you that would help?

Woollywotnots said...

Your knitting is fantastic. Love seeing your pictures. I would suggest stitch markers will be your saviour. In the meantime, thread a bit of wool through in a contrasting colour to mark. Don't give up, you're going great guns!