Before I go to bed at night, after sitting on the couch for hours knitting and watching tv with my baby, I check the computer one last time – for emails, the odd bloglines post, whatever. Monday night I was doing my thing and I saw that Anne had posted. She wrote about a local fiber festival she attended and some of her purchases, including some merino laceweight from Knitting Notions. Little did Anne know, but she was tapping into my brain! I have been thinking about lace off and on for weeks – thinking about my next big project. I’m done with blankets for the time being, done with the crochet for now (yes, I will be finishing the Larger Than Life bag), socks are zipping along at sweat shop speeds, but that’s going to break soon.
And I’m going away in like two weeks. We’re going to California again – this time San Fran and Lake Tahoe – and I’ll need something major to take with me. Socks, of course, but something else too.
In walks Anne with her “incredibly soft” and “almost a fingering weight” (I’m not a fan of true lace weight) yarn and next thing I know I’ve bought three different colors.
Catherine at Knitting Notions was INCREDIBLY nice (crediting me for shipping when I added extra skeins the next morning) and the yarn got here FAST. I ordered it Monday night late (and Tuesday morning) and it arrived yesterday. That’s what I call service!
Classic Merino Lace
Kettle Dyed 100% Merino
Aubergine, approx. 388 yd.
Classic Merino Lace
Hand Dyed 100% Merino
Maple, approx. 437 yd.
Classic Merino Lace
Kettle Dyed 100% Merino
Green Apple, approx. 388 yd.
Now the fun begins! What to make with it? I think I’ve settled on a pattern: Anne’s Wing of the Moth Shawl. It seems only fitting since she enabled me to begin with. I was searching around the internets and I just LOVE Wendy’s version of this pattern – we both agree – lace should be blocked SEVERELY and just look at her CORONAS! Hubba hubba! I’m all over THAT!
Anyway, so I’m thinking of using the green apple for this – the only thing I need is some of those new Addi Turbo Lace needles. I gotta try them – I’m just hoping I don’t put a hole ALL the way through my finger.
Okay – so some questions about the picot edge on yesterday’s sock. I’m too far along on my sock to take pictures – maybe when I do the second Seastone sock – but really it’s easier than it sounds. You do your designated number of knit rounds (I did 5 but you can choose whatever number you like – don’t make it more than say, six, or less than, say 3 – just for arguments sake.) Then you do a round where you start with a yo and k2tog. Repeat this until you end with a k2tog. This lands you at the start of the next round. You then knit the same number of rounds that you started with – start with 5? Then knit 5. Good!
The next row is the tricky row. It’s not hard at all – just tedious. What you’re going to do is knit the stitches on the needle TOGETHER WITH the corresponding CAST ON stitch. I knit both loops of the cast on together with the live stitch. So you’re in essence FOLDING UP the cast on to make a hem – as soon as you do it you will see the little picot points come to life! It’s AMAZING! Like MAGIC (hence the unicorns that suddenly appear in your life!) The most important part is to make sure to get the corresponding cast on stitch together with the same live stitch. Otherwise you might get some buckling. Here’s a tutorial from Purlwise – although I don’t do a provisional cast on – I just cast on over two needles (whatever size I’m knitting with). I do that with all my socks. Makes for a stretchier cast on and I cast on tight. And here’s a video I found on the DIY network – this is really good! Shows you exactly what I’m talking about. Here’s the main page if the video link doesn’t work. Hope that helps!
I’m off to a Princess Party tomorrow – I’ve got to remember to bring my fabulous tiara – and I hope you have a great weekend too!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the additional info on the picot edge for the socks. Makes MUCH more sense now. Can’t wait to see your shawl. That yarn is beautiful.
Ah, summer is in the air and a girl’s thoughts turn to knitting lace. Just this morning I cast on the Myrtle Leaf Shawl from Victorian Lace Today. I was all over Anne’s blog looking at her wonderful patterns. (love Wing of the Moth and Casino) I decided in the end that I should use one of the MANY that I already own.
That new yarn of yours is gorgeous. It is taking all of my willpower not to click on the link.
Must save for a wheel, must save for a wheel, must save. . .
La, la, la, la….I’m not clicking or listening…no new lace yarn! NONE! Can’t wait to see you get started.
The yarn is so lovely and the pattern is a perfect one.
Thanks for more instruction on the picot edging.
Ack! That’s some gorgeous laceweight. I have to go hide the credit card. Just for arguments sake, I do my picot cast on by knitting 7 rows before the picot round and 7 rows after. It’s one more than six but, hey, who’s counting? 🙂
When in California – on your way up to the Lake – detour to Wine Country and St. Helena.
Muse – Yarn and Arts. Shop owner Michelle Lawrence – adjacent to Napa Valley Roasting Company. Take the time. It’s well worth it!
You will LOVE Wing Of The Moth. I extremely miss knitting mine already and its only been a week. I ran out of yarn before the corona edging though (bummer!) So I’m planning another one shortly so that I can experience the joy of that final chart!
Have fun 🙂
Addi Turbo Lace? While she was at it, didn’t Anne try to enable you to Ed Jenkins lace needles as well? 😉
Ye gods, that’s beautiful wool. Must… resist…
Too bad you’re not coming a little southward! Although Monterey probably can’t offer anything SF lacks except the Aquarium, and it *has* turned cold and foggy here. 🙂
Gorgeous yarns! And that’s where I got my yarn swift. It’s wonderful!
And now you (or is it all Anne’s fault?) got me to try the laceweight merino. Lovely colors. Lovely prices too. Ordered enough to do Icarus in the Lichen (hooked by the picture on the website.)
Blessings!
thanks for the extra info on the picot edge – I’ve been wanting to try it. Lovely yarns – I’ve not done any lace yet but it’s coming I’m sure!!
If you knit Wing of the Moth (which is a fabulously wonderful pattern) in the green yarn it will look just like a Luna Moth and that will be fantastic!
Oooh… SF. You should check out the shop I used to work at, ImagiKnit. It’s in the Castro, at 18th St and Sanchez (just a couple blocks from both Market and Castro). It’s the biggest yarn shop in the city, and (imo) the best.
*sigh* I miss my old home. But it was always too cold for me there. LOL I’m sure you wouldn’t have that issue!
lace has so been on my mind too! Perhaps the summer hot weather has got me thinking “lighter knits” – who knows, and those yarns are gorgeous! enjoy the princess party!! your majesty 😉
I agree on the severe blocking; I blocked my Wing of the Moth shawl within an inch of its life and it looked fantastic! Can’t wait to see how yours goes!
Thanks for the great explanation of the picot edge! Makes perfect sense. Have fun with that yarn, the green is my fave.
That is some wicked gorgeous yarn — what a fabulous moth it will make!
It’s definately summer with all this talk of lace in the blogosphere. The maple yarn is beautiful. I am using every excuse I can think to not order some for myself…have a fantastic trip to the other coast!
Do you put a hole in your finger by pushing the tip of the right needle down? I found that I was damaging my finger that way, and switched to using the barrel of the left needle to do that. Maybe you can try that to save your poor finger! My fav knitspot pattern is Morning Glories…I just need to find yarn that I love to make it with. Have a great vacation.
Oh my, I’m so tempted by that green apple color!!
Ooooooooh. Much drooling going on here.
You should hit wine country too. Sonoma County. But I might be a little biased there. 😉
That yarn is gorgeous. I’m not big on variegated yarns for lace, too much going on, but just the gentle color variation will probably be gorgeous. I just bought a bunch of laceweight, but I look forward to watching what you do with this and seeing if I can resist it.
Thanks for the picot tutorial. That does make it sound substantially easier than I’d expected it to be!
Those yarns are stunning. I can’t wait to see the wings of the moth come together. I think the yarn and pattern will be an excellent conversation.
Drop me a line if you want some random blogger company for yarn shopping while in SF! 🙂
The green apple is so pretty! Nice & different choice for lace.
there’s something in the air. I just did a post like this a week or so ago, assessing all my lace weight yarn and talking about building up to a great lace project or two.
And I’m loving the monkey posts. I’m in a monkey phase right and can’t get enough of them. Am going to try the picot edge for sure.
Wow gorgeous shawl, and I love the edging.
I can’t help but to put my 2 cents in on the “while visiting” thing. I agree with Maria on visiting Imagiknit. But there are so many shops many in the city, I’ve only wondered into Art Fibers down by market. I think they make their own yarn, and it’s rather neat. If you drive to south Lake Tahoe, my girlfriends and I found a tiny little hole in the wall yarn shop in Placerville (beginning of the mountains) that’s cool, and across the street is a gypsy shop, Empress that shouldn’t be missed. These are both in the downtown area, nearly at the end, just passed starpukes.
well that’s all in case you reeeally wanted to know.
Cheers,
http://artfibers.com/
Wow, that’s so funny. I’ve had shawl on my brain for weeks too and Wendy just suggested I’d try the Moth Shawl – spooky!
hi Cara ! i’m a new reader (though i’ve already read almost all your archives- i’m getting ready for the next contest ! 😉 )
the wing of the moth is a beautiful design ! i’ve knit it, and the pattern is well written, easy to memorize, etc.. and it would look beautiful in the apple green, it’s a very unusual colour
thanks for your inspiring blog…
I saw Anne at that fiber festival and bought THE MOST LOVELY shawl pin from Knitting Notions. It required extreme acts of self-control not to go completely nuts buying yarn in her stall. It was all gorgeous! I actually thought of you, because she had a beautiful Arianne that she had knit on display. I took her card, and will definitely be buying yarn from her in the future!
i really like the addi lace needles—they are very pointy, but NOT sharp; i don’t like needle-sharp points. the join is to-die-for. the only thing i don’t like is that they are shiny gold and sometimes they hurt my eyes. i’ve gotten used to wood needles with lace and have fallen hard for the jenkins ones.
Hi! I am a new reader to your fine blog, but I do have a growing concern …. I think we might be the same person. Obviously, we knit. Have hangups with crochet, add the suffix -Fest ’07 to various things, drop the occasional f-bomb, and a summer ago …. I may or may not have gone to San Francisco and Lake Tahoe ….
🙂
Anyways, you have the beginnings of an incredible shawl. I’m excited to read on!
Cara – you’ve given me a prime opportunity to shamelessly promote my new pattern (available here: http://gbellaknits.blogspot.com/2007/05/catalina-shawl-pattern.html) – it’s no wing of the moth, but with all that laceweight…you’re gonna need some ideas for the other two hanks! 😉 seriously gorgeous yarn though – love that green apple color. happy lace knitting! ~gabriella
Catherine and her yarns rock!!! We are quite proud of her in Nashville.
Smiles,
Erin
Catherine and her yarns rock!!! We are quite proud of her in Nashville.
Smiles,
Erin
Catherine and her yarns rock!!! We are quite proud of her in Nashville.
Smiles,
Erin
the green color for the lace is divine!
I’m on a lace kick myself – latest challenge is the Ekebo Design (Marianne Kuokkanen)Poncho in the Print of the Wave Pattern – it finally clicked in!
per the Addi Lace needles vs the KPO needles, the points are “better”, IMHO … a little “scoopy” – the only complaint I have is that they don’t make them larger than a US 6 – and sometimes I would like a 7 or an 8 for lacework – and I’m betting you won’t get punched in the finger with these. Hopefully there will be more of them around, since they’re a bit tough to locate in the manhattan area –
I happened on the Moth shawl earlier this week and have been seriously considering it as well. It is beautiful and will be wonderful in the green!
Tha addi lace needles are fantastic. You won’t put a hole in your finger, but you might get close.
Anne’s patterns are all fabulous and what beautiful yarn you chose to knit your Moth!
Mardi Gras!! Your green, gold, & purple yarn photo has me hungry for King Cake & wishing for parades.
Laissez les bon laines rouler!
i love my addi lace needles. no problem with holes in my fingers but i like sharp needles. happy lace knitting.
Oooh, gorgeous. Can’t wait to see your lacy goodness progress… beautiful colors.
There’s something very satisfying about the neatness of a doubled over edge. I’ve never done one with picots, though. Something to try on my next socks.
I took some plain socks to Tahoe two weeks ago and had a great time. My only advice: go with rich colors. The lake is so many incredible shades of blue . . . I found myself itching for some deep blue yarn shopping!
Have fun up there 🙂
Is it possible (errr…practical/wise) to try this kind of picot edge on a toe-up sock? I’m working on a very simple pair of Fleece Artist socks, toe-up so I can use every single bit of yarn. But I really REALLY want a picot edge on these socks. Have your tried this toe-up?