The Flower Basket Shawl has not been going well. Five attempts are now residing in our local landfill. One by one they failed, were removed from the needles and chucked into the trash. My problems, over and over again, occurred on row 25. I searched for errata and such and discovered that the problem was not with the pattern…. it was with the knitter.
I started to give up but instead posted a question on both Ravelry and on the Lace Kniters group with yahoo. I got a lot of help from each. Then an email came in from the Lace Knitter’s group that was written by Evelyn Clark… the pattern designer. I had gotten into trouble with my stitch count in between my stitch markers. The markers that I was using to keep track of my repeats. Apparently this system doesn’t work well with FBS because you’ll keep having to move your markers.
I tried again using minimal markers (which makes me nervous) and a lifeline. And now we have success. Here’s a photo. It doesn’t look like much but I swear its right this time. And how exactly do y’all take those pretty photos of your lace in progress? You know… the ones where it looks like its all blocked but it is really still on the needles? I tried…. gave up.
Evelyn Clark herself, huh? Cool
You don’t dare mess up now, lol!
Frankly after 3 disasters I would have found another project!
Umm…I don’t see the flower baskets. Are you sure it’s right? I think Leaf Lace and the Shetland Triangle (from Wrap Style) are easier than the FBS.
I admire your stick-to-itness. Lace is beautiful and I’d love to knit it but in all reality, another c-section with no anthesia(sp?) would be more fun.
How come I cannot find you on ravelry? I’ve tried and tried. I’m JACTTD.
I see the flower baskets. You are doing fine. I would have counseled you similarly — trash the markers and just trust your knitting.
As for photos in progress? One thing I do is lightly steam the WIP. That relaxes it enough to be pinned out for a photograph or just to admire
Evelyn Clark, huh? Must be intimidating to talk to God!
Thanks for reading the blog. Is Sonny and Shear your baby? Maybe we can do business some day.
You have some lovely fibers for sale there. The Oceanwinds laceweight is particularly tempting.I love their colors. Have some of their sock yarn, but not the lace.
Oh yes! In answer to your blocking question? I can’t speak for others but I swatch and block to get an idea of how the pattern components fit together,then pin small areas out on my blocking board or my white-ish footrest (for contrast.) Beyond that?
It’s a smoosh…
Blessings!
Wow, you can knit something like this and gave up on Baby Surprise? I feel better for knowing that too
Cool, very cool.
As for the blocking for photos, just pin out what you have and spray or steam lightly if you want with water and let dry. I don’t usually bother with the water part, as then I have to wait for it to dry to knit more. You have to be really really careful once it gets big enough to hop off the ends of the needles. Ask me how I know this.