Heirloom Lace Doily Placemats

 

 

Heirloom Lace Doily Placement for Breakfast

 

Heirloom Lace Doily Placemat in Cesari Wool

My Heirloom Lace Doily Placement project is half done! I am using a free heirloom lace pattern that I came across on Ravelry. I choice Liz Snella’s  pattern since it had natural breaks for color changes; also it has text and charts which are helpful.  

For color changes, there are areas where there are 3-4 rows of knitting which works well in the finished project. 

The one issue I have with the pattern is that a K3Tog is used where a slip 1 K2Tog PSSO would give a much nicer line which would be a good design feature.

While I am generally not one to make utilitarian projects or knitted items that require more than one, of late, I have been on a lace doily kick. My mind likes the way that the knitting goes round and round while the pattern slowly emerges.

I give a tip of my hat to Kay and Ann of Mason Dixon Knits for their exploration of ways to use your knitting to decorate your home and spread your love. With this project, I’m accomplishing both. 

I tried the Two Color Lace Doily which is another free lace pattern and knitted one and a half doilies but I found the pattern boring for what I wanted to do. When I tried modifying the pattern, I didn’t like it so I frogged it and started a new pattern.

In knitting, it’s important to know when to frog your work. I think that it’s better to frog something that you’re not happy with rather than let the unfinished piece nag you from the depths of your knitting bag. What do you think?

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Sunset on a Knitting-filled Fire Island Vacation

Good bye Fair Harbor Vacation

 

The end of vacations is always bitter sweet, especially summer ones on Fair Harbor’s car-free beach. While the weather wasn’t sunny and bright every day, it allowed us space to re-charge our batteries and get away from the everyday routine. 

One great advantage of vacation knitting is that you have a tangible reminder of your joy-filled hours of sitting by the beach adding stitch after stitch to your projects.  As I mentioned earlier, I like to have a few different projects to keep me busy and depending on other factors some may not be appropriate. For example, I brought the Black Malabrigo Fountain Pen Shawl which I’m making out of Malabrigo sock yarn. It was too thin to knit in the oceanside wind. (So much for finishing it on vacation!)

Some of the sunsets we experienced during our vacation. Sunsets in Fair Harbor are spectacular even if the weather has been poor. The third sunset occurred miraculously between thunderstorms.

Fair Harbor Bay Sunset

Sunset on Fair Harbor with Sailboats

Post-storm Sunset in Fair Harbor June 2009

Here’s the progress that I made during our Fire Island stay:

- Black Malabrigo Fountain Pen Shawl – Using  Malabrigo Sock Yarn bought at The Point NYC.  Source: Interweave Spring 2009. Finished 6 out of 10 repeats. Although given how the yarn is being used, I may add 1 or 2 repeats (if I have the stamina.) This pattern is relatively easy with only one nupp per 16 row pattern. It borders on being boring.

- Carnation Pink Nightsong Shawl – Using cobweb weight cashmere yarn from Silk City Fibers and a free online pattern. The pattern is interesting in that there is no center spine. It is probably better done with a single YO in the center but I decided to keep mine consistent. I like the way that the patterns expand and squeeze in. If the yarn wasn’t so TINY, I would probably be done with it. It hurts my eyes to do.

- Hemlock Ring Blankie – Using the pattern by Brooklyn Tweed, I am having fun with this project (although it out grew the needles while I was on vacation!) It turned out to be the perfect yarn for the weather. Thick enough to with stand the wind. I had fun changing colors. I finished 6 out of the Feather and Fan repeats. I think that it will look good once it’s done. It lays flat (unlike the sample in The Point).

- Heirloom Doily Placemats- I finished 1 1/3 of the Liz Snella Heirloom lace pattern using Cesari Wool. I think that this wool will hold up for this use. I find it rough on my hands. Also, since it’s not a very processed wool, there are bits of stuff that haven’t been cleaned out of the wool. (The plus for those who want to wear the yarn is that it has lanolin which helps for rain protection. (I also finished 1 1/3 of the Two Color Lace Doily which I frogged.)

-Green Mitered Tank Top - Out of a 100% cotton with a slub (which is great for those of us whose knit stitch isn’t perfect!) It’s a hospital green that seems to be in all of the windows along Fifth Avenue this spring/summer. The pattern is a Norah Gaughan from the Vogue Knit Summer 2009. It’s an under rated pattern since it is great for all types of figures. I finished the main knitting portion (I didn’t do any sewing, etc. on vacation.) I was very proud of myself for making the increases in the front following the mitered corner to look like darts. 

- Long Sleeve Linen in Grey, Beige , White – I think that I finished the front of this long sleeved ribbed sweater and plotted out the sleeves. It’s been taking WAY to long to finish but I’ve lost interest and keep plodding along. 

Do you keep track of your vacation knitting? Do you find that it gives you special joy? Please let me know in the comments section.

Submitted by Knitted Yarns Editor-in-Chief

 

 

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Creative Knitting Supplies-Stitch Marker Alternatives

Corliss on the Bay-Fair Harbor General Store

In preparation for our vacation, I had stocked up on knitting supplies but I underestimated the number of stitch markers that I would need. With 4 lace projects going at the same time, additional stitch markers are a necessity! Unfortunately, I underestimated how many I would need.

When you’re away from your LYS, knitting supplies can be difficult to come by. This is particularly true when you’re on a beach vacation in an island town that only has a food store and a general store which focuses on household supplies and beach goods. 

We went to Corliss on the Bay, Fair Harbor’s lone general store. A couple of years ago, I had bought some attractive paper clips that I thought might do the trick. But alas, they were out of stock. The helpful clerk brought me over to a sewing section (which contained about 7 items) where they had a massive box of safety pins. Since I’m working with fine lace weight yarn, I didn’t want it to get ripped on the safety pin coils which has happened to me in the past. I examined the children’s beading section in hopes of some alternative without luck.

My husband went to the owner and asked about washers and other plumbing related supplies. The owner showed him a plastic box filled with various sections filled with different sized black rubber o-rings. When I saw them, my eyes lit up. They were perfect! I hope that no one in town needs any in the near future since I cornered the supply of small sizes. 

 

o-Rings as Stitch Holders

 

O-Rings as Stitch Markers on Nightsong Shawl in Pink Cashmere

It’s funny since one of my knitting buddies bought up the supply of black stitch markers from a merchant at MDSW. These black rubber beauties were equally good!

When I got back to my knitting, I found that these rubber o-rings were better than the hard plastic stitch markers since they gripped the metal circular needles and helped keep my stitches in place. I am so happy. I’m planning a trip to Home Depot when I get back to NYC! 

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Not Your Grandmother’s Antique Lace Doilies

 

Cestari Wool on Fair Harbor

Of late, I have been drawn to old fashioned lace doilies. It’s not that I have a burning need for lace doilies or that I am redecorating every flat surface of my apartment with perfectly round circles of tiny little stitches of white knitting cotton. Rather it’s the way that the patterns emerge as you knit round and round. It’s the wonderful selection displayed on Ravelry and how others have used these designs in other areas such as baby blankets and shawls. 

As a result, I have spent more than my fair share of time looking at the work of other Ravelers who have shared their work online and patterns posted on free sites. While many of these patterns don’t have charts to accompany them, many of the patterns use only a small number of stitches which is relatively easy to chart. 

Using some wonderfully colored magenta, lavender and black wool from a small VA producer named Cestari that I acquired from a friend during a yarn swap, I am making a friend a set of 4 placemats since the wool feels itchy. It’s interesting that the wool still retains its lanolin which may be affecting my hands. I am using size 8 needles, double points at the center and then my Denises. The problem with the Denises is that there is a tendency for them to open. Fortunately, the wool grips itself so that I haven’t had dropped stitches!

Two Color Lace Doily in process

Based on the lace doily in lavender that I made my friend Amanda, I decided that I would need about 60 rows to make a circular placemat. After looking through the lace doily patterns on Ravelry, I decided to make the two color lace pattern. I tried two times and found that the pattern didn’t lend itself to being adapted for my purposes, so I frogged two half complete versions. While the idea of using a pattern that was made for two colors was good, I found the pattern didn’t hold my interest. Also, it was ripply which I didn’t like either!

Heirloom Lace Doily - Do Over

Heirloom Lace Doily on Fair Harbor Beach

Instead, I decided to switch to the Liz Snella’s Heirloom Lace Doily. At the center, it’s similar to the Hemlock Ring Doily and Blanket. Since it has a couple of places where there are 4 rows of knit stitch, it’s good for switching colors. Also, it’s got both written instructions and charts. Being on vacation without access to a printer, I bookmarked the pattern on my computer so that I could use it.

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Beach Patterns-Knitting Inspiration on Fire Island

Fair Harbor Beach

Patterns are an integral part of knitting. They are the instructions that we read and the sequence of stitches that we make to create wonderful hand made creations from various fibers. 

Spend time on any beach and you’ll see natural patterns emerging. Being in true sunlight can have a wonderful impact on the color and shadows that emerge. They can be sources of inspiration for new stitches and ways of imagining garments and other knitting projects. Norah Gaughan in her book Knitting Nature draws on naturally occurring patterns.

Here are some of the patterns that I found while on vacation in Fire Island. In particular, I was drawn to the way that wood was used and the patterns it formed. I could envision sweaters with ribs and/or colors translating these shapes.

Dune Fencing on Fair Harbor-Could be sweater ribbing

Gate Design - Two Colored Graphic for a Sweater?

 

Board Walk Pattern

 

Fence Shadow as Sweater Pattern Inspiration

What do you think? Have you used any of nature’s patterns in your knitting?

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Beach Knitting-Hemlock Ring Blankie Progresses

Sunny & Chilly on Fair Harbor Beach

Beach knitting is one of my favorite forms of knitting in public (KIP). Unlike subway knitting where I’m filling time that would otherwise be unproductive, I enjoy being on the beach where the constant sound of the ocean kissing the shore is reassuring and peaceful.  With knitting in hand, I combine two of my favorite activities enhancing my relaxation. 

Unlike swimming, the benefit of having knitting on the beach doesn’t require specific weather conditions (although I am not a fan of knitting in the rain). The cooler than average June weather actually enhanced the experience since it kept the beach relatively deserted. Due to the slight wind (which was great for my husband’s windsurfing), I had to knit with a thicker yarn which translated to lots of progress on my Hemlock Ring Blankie. 

As with any large project, I find that the beginning goes quickly since there’s the sense of adventure and I haven’t had time to get bored with the project or an uninteresting repeat.  With the Hemlock Ring Blanket, the number of stitches per row increases significantly which means that progress is REALLY slow. 

 

Center pattern of Hemlock Ring Blankie

Green & Lavender Feather & Fan Rings on Hemlock Ring Blankie

 

Despite bringing two sets of 10.5 needles, I still ran out of room to keep knitting. It became work to squeeze the stitches onto the needle. Thankfully, I have a set of interchangeable Denise needles at home so that I can extend the length.

Submitted by Knitted Yarns Editor-in-Chief

Shell Stash-A Knitter’s View

Shells clustered after high tide on Fire Island Beach

Regardless of age, it seems that people, particularly women, who walk along the water’s edge on ocean beaches stop to pick up shells. The type of shells accumulated depend on the beach and time of year. Children tend to go for the larger clam shells (at least on Fire Island) which can be decorated and turned into wonderful DIY projects. While adults are more selective in their collections; they tend to look for a specific type of shell.

I have bowls of shells decorating my apartment from various vacations including some wonderful ruffled clam shells from my honeymoon in the Cook Islands. 

As I walked along the Fair Harbor beaches in the early morning hours, it occurred to me that collecting shells was a lot like amassing stash. I tend to pick up one type of shell that catches my fancy.

This year, I was surprised to find numerous snail shells and small sand dollars that were vacated. After being in the Cook Islands where any abandoned shell would be inhabited by a hermit crab (in fact, several of the shells that I thought were empty crept away during the night!), it seemed that the New York based creatures lived more extravagantly when there were abandoned shells to be had.

Colored Clam Shells

More Fire Island Shells

Snail shells collected in Fair Harbor, NY

Like knitting, together these shells form patterns and can be sources of inspiration for future creative projects. 

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Black Malabrigo Fountain Pen Shawl Begun

Black Malabrigo Sock Yarn from The Point

 

Based on  the recommendation of Alyssa, the manager at The Point, I decided to use the two skeins of black Malabrigo merino sock yarn for the Fountain Pen Shawl in the Spring 2009 Interweave Knits magazine. The yarn is scrumptious. It’s a delight to touch and pet!

After the Shetland Scarf that I made for my mother, I promised myself that I wouldn’t make anything out of skinny black yarn. Unfortunately, by the time I purchased this yarn at The Point’s Anniversary Sale, my color choices were either black or white. At this point, my stash is overflowing with various shades of white left from my wedding-related knitting. So black it was!

The Fountain Pen Lace Shawl is a relatively easy pattern to follow. There is one nupp for the 16 row repeat. It is interesting insofar as the left and right sides aren’t knitted in a symmetric manner. 

I have left this project for our Fire Island Vacation in hopes of finishing it in the bright sunlight. Unfortunately, the weather is too windy to deal with the pattern and the thin yard on the beach. The wind fills the plastic pattern sleeve. My husband blew up the pattern charts and I am using highlighter tape to mark my place.

 

Fountain Pen Shawl from Interweave Knits on Fair Harbor Beach

Black Malabrigo Fountain Pen Lace Detail

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Mitered Tank Top on Fair Harbor Beach

 

Peaceful Knitting Venue on Fair Harbor Beach

Norah Gaughan’s Mitered Tank Top from the Summer 2009 Vogue Knitting shows off Norah’s genius for designing tops with unusual shapes that are flattering for women to wear. At the bottom, the Mitered Tank Top starts with enough stitches on one side to make the bottom of most sweaters! It uses a decorative decrease to form a flattering line which I adjusted my knitting to ensure that it flowed through the waist band ribbing.

Among my modifications were:

• Only used one color of cotton. It was a wonderful light green with slubs which are a godsend for those of us whose plain knit may be imperfect! I am not adding any glitter to the top as shown in Vogue.
• Knit the waistband without changing needles since it made the top too small for my waist.
• Made increases for the bust at the same point as the decorative decreases below the waist. I increased stitches on the outside of the stitch so that they form a decorative detail and look like darts!

Knitting on the beach in Fair Harbor, the wind and dampness hampered my speed but I had fun putting my knitting on the sand for pictures. Although for some reason, the colors are off in some of the photos.

Mitered Tank Top to Waist on Fair Harbor Beach

Mitered Tank Top Back with a view of Atlantic Ocean on Fair Harbor Beach

 

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Hemlock Ring Blankie-Vacation Projects Begin!

Hemlock Ring Blankie Yarn-Silk Spun Cotton

Lately, I’ve been bitten by a lace doily bug. There is some about knitting round and round and watching the pattern slowly evolve. Perhaps its the influence of Marion Kinzel’s Lace Knitting Volume 1. As a result, I’ve been trolling Ravelry and the internet for vintage lace doily patterns. 

In the process, I kept finding myself drawn to Jared Flood aka Brooklyn Tweed’s Hemlock Ring Blanket which is a modification of a traditional doily pattern using a thicker wool. This pattern has roughly 2,700 projects on Ravelry! In part, I attribute this to the fact that it’s a free pattern and the recommended yarn (Cascade Eco) has a lot of yardage so that a project costs about about $30.00-$35.00. (Mind you this is a lap blanket not a full size blanket.) While I’m usually not one to follow online knitting trends, the Hemlock Ring Blankie has made it into my queue.

From a yarn swap last spring, I have 5 skeins of Farmhouse Yarns’ Silk Spun Cotton or 1,000 yards. It’s a thick yarn consisting of American grown cotton, American grown wool and silk. It’s made by Carol Martin of Hopyard Spinnery and contains 200 yards per skein. the label recommends using a size 8 needle. Since I’m making lace, I plan to use my 10.5 needles by Susan Bates in pink and purple which are plastic and have wonderful points. The yarn has wonderful names like Mint Julep for the green which is a blend of greens with a smattering of blue. Since this is a beach vacation project, the sun light plays wonderfully on the color. 

Hemlock Ring Blankie on 4 Double Point Needles #10

It turned out that the Hemlock Ring Blankie made a great vacation project. First, it becomes a relatively big project very quickly so being away where you don’t need to shlep it to knitting circles and the like is great. Also, the weather at Fire Island was cooler and windy than average for June. As a result, it was good to have a knitting project with a thicker yarn that could be worked easily. The finer lace shawls were difficult to knit between keeping the pattern in my lap and being able to work the yarn.

Submitted by Knitted Yarns Editor-in-Chief