#I wanted to do a complex lace project between this shawl and the next one with this yarn but I might do a simple hat or something

[journeyman-tier-fibercraft]

Took exactly 1 month and 1 week (including the week I took off) to finish this bad boy. I don't have the energy/ability to block this man despite how desperately he needs it (and i'm putting off weaving in the ends) but I think he's beautiful regardless.

Pattern/Yarn info and other thoughts below

Shawl Smorgasbord by Stephen West, knit in Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in Shaela Heather (107), Taupe Heather (02), and Stone Heather (03). Cloudborne Fibers Alpaca & Highland Natural in Graphite Heather (109) and Espresso Heather (110).

Very happy with how the border turned out despite my winging it. I'm still not a super big on the chevrons and how they distort the shape BUT if they start behaving once they're blocked out I'll probably love them too.

He's very large and warm, unblocked his wingspan is about 70 inches and his depth is about 30 inches. Which is smaller than I would expect based on the blocked measurements but the yarn I used is a very light fingering (494 yards to 100 grams compared to the recommended yarn's 400 yards per 100 grams).

I've never knit such a large project in fingering, this yarn was incredible for it (despite being loose 2 ply I barely had any issues with splitting and found this yarn incredibly easy to knit with even without looking at it which is unusual for fingering for me). Very annoyed that it's discontinued but now I know what to look for in animal fibers. Handwashing my wools might be annoying but I like this 2-ply significantly better than typical sock yarns.

For the pattern specifically I'll certainly knit it again. Six dollars felt extreme for a pattern after however long (100 hours maybe?) it seems perfectly fine. I've already picked out another Stephen West pattern to use more of this yarn with that I'll probably start soonish. His pattern writing style isn't my preference (lace patterns have ruined me and now I'm a chart truther), but the pattern itself was clear and well explained. Aesthetically the only main problem is still the border. I'm also not a large fan of the criss-cross stitch but I haven't thought of a good solution. Other than those two I really enjoy the texture of this pattern. I'd be interested in seeing it knit in all one solid colour but I'm not sure I'd be willing to do that lmao. The last couple sections + border also severely dragged to knit. However I'm not sure if I'm just having adhd "i can't physically finish anything" or if it's because I'm currently ill or if it's just so fucking hot in this room that knitting with wool was killing me. Or maybe the rows were just over 650 stitches. The next shawl with this yarn is allegedly slightly smaller. But still smaller.

Overall this shawl was a very enjoyable knit. I wish the yarn wasn't discontinued but I also got it extremely cheap because it is discontinued so now I know my preferences better. The pattern itself was worth the price. However this shawl absolutely needs blocking (and probably pretty aggressive blocking at that) so it probably wouldn't be nearly as successful in a non animal fiber. Acrylic Might work with steam blocking but I'd expect it to have a difficult time laying flat/not distorting.

[rikrakyarnncrafts]

Lavish Lace

I don’t know about you, but the Knit Picks show-stopping advanced lace collections are the ones I personally always look forward to the most*, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in this year’s Lavish Lace. As much as I’ve been working to broaden my knitting skills (Socks! Fair Isle! Dyeing!), I still consider myself a lace knitter at heart, and it’s precisely these kinds of patterns that got me hooked in the first place.

I’m particularly excited about this collection because we’ve tried something slightly different than before. In years past, we would usually look for designs based on the most interesting and impressive lace designs with an emphasis on accessories, particularly shawls. While you’ll find plenty of those in Lavish Lace, we made a special effort to include lace garments! So, in addition to a few smaller dazzling bursts of stitchwork with maximum wow per inch (wpi?) and a number of classic wrappables as colossaly cozy as they are sensationally stunning, there are even more ways to drape yourself in lovely and lissome Lavish Lace.

Small Projects

Although the Coronet Stole is probably the simplest project in the collection, that is in no way a bad thing. The modern geometric lace design features interesting stitchwork with significant repeats using nothing more complicated than double decreases. Without shaping, this is a great bridging project for anyone looking for the next level of lace, but not quite ready to dive into more complicated stitches and techniques.

For the much more complicated Diamas and Gathering Feathers pattern, the one word you need is: nupps. Lots of nupps. 5- and 7-stitch nupps. Stacked nupps. So many nupps. Whether you’re a novice nupp-ster, a nupp-master looking to polish your nupp-tual know-how, or just like saying “nupp” a lot, either of these projects will please you. The nupps play a central role in Diamas, combined with delicate openwork and dramatically-shaped edging in slippery silk, while Gathering Feathers uses the nupps more subtly and in combination with a lot more. With probably the most complex stitchwork in the whole collection across its 9 charts, this small and mighty project does tend to smaller repeats, good for those that prefers to concentrate on their stitches, with everything from Star Stitches to Make 7’s, without getting lost in enormous charts with large repeats.

BIG Shawls and Wraps

If you DO enjoy enormous charts with large repeats (like me**), you won’t want to miss the Salem Shawl and Cymopoleia (pronounced: Key-muh-poh-lee-ah)! While neither include stitches more complicated than isolated double decreases, the artistic large-scale motifs of these dramatic designs demand assiduous attention to detail. With Salem’s large repeats of 58 stitches and 115 rows or Cymmie’s small motifs repeated dozens of times, the results are theatrical wraps with appeal well beyond “knitter cool” that will impress every time you wear them. Remember your Chart Keeper!

Between Opal Dawn and the Lyrata Stole, if you’re interested in a rectangular wrap as large as you could possibly want, you have two fairly different options. Lyrata features fairly straightforward lace with nicely open stitches to compliment the fluffy mohair halo of Aloft, but introduces some really interesting edge techniques that produce gentle scalloping at both edges in addition to the ends. Meanwhile Opal Dawn brings us back to nupps in a big way, combining with several textural laces stitches and even some light cabling to really bring out the gorgeous hand of baby alpaca held double (combine your favorite hues for even richer depth of color).

Garments

With all of the lace to concentrate on, it’s not surprising that the Ripple Tee and the Lotus Lace Cardigan feature simple shapes and lines. Added with cast on stitches and simple increases respectively, the sleeves of both are knit along with the body, worked over with lace motifs intricate but small, which makes Wrong Side pattern stitches in both easier to handle.

At opposite ends of the spectrum, the Ornamental Parasols includes the most complicated shaping of the collection, while Diamond & Roses features the most complex lace of the garments, and possibly the book as a whole. The airy and light D & R is the only pattern of the book to feature Orenburg-style lace, with a garter-stitch base rather than stockinette and pattern stitches on every row, with no rest rows. Along with the traditional Orenburg diamond medallion motifs, this pattern both begins and ends with lace edging, with the body picked up from the cast on border at the hem and the sleeves finished with an applied edge.

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Altogether, I think this collection has turned out to be our broadest and most versatile lace collection yet. As much as I love lace, I do find myself wondering what I’ll do with yet another beautifully intricate. . .and largely impractical piece. With shawls small enough for accessorizing and large enough for acclimatizing, as well as garments wearable from the bistro to the boudoir, Lavish Lace manages to balance considerations both practical and aesthetic.

If you’re partial to printed copies, remember that you can get those at 40% through July 23rd during the Book Sale.

*Well, I guess not *always* always, since there is ONE other soon-to-be-released collection that I, as a male knitter, am looking forward to more. But that’s all I’ll say for now. . .

**Full Disclosure: I’ll probably be making either the Salem Shawl or the Cymopoleia for myself at some point.

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