Sunday 10 July 2011

Year of Projects Update - July 10th


So, the Year of Projects has been underway for just over a week, and hopefully today will see the start of a flood of update posts as everyone involved starts sharing their progress! Head on over to the thread in our Ravelry forum to see the links as they go up for this week's updates.

Somewhat unbelievably, some people (Sue, I'm looking at you here!) have already started posting finished objects! Insanely quick. But, for the most part, these immediate finishes are all relatively small projects.

My first projects on the list are not so small. I always intended to work one knit and one crochet project side by side, but most of this first week has been taken up with my first knit, the Easy Lace Stole.


Ok, I've made more progress than that. But I don't have a more recent photo, as things have been quite hectic here this week. It's about six inches long now.

I've cast on more stitches than specified by the pattern, as it reckoned blocked width would be 10" and I wanted something a bit wider. I am aware that when I block it, it will get narrower as it gets longer, so I've gone for two extra width repeats, which will hopefully give me a couple of extra inches of width when it's blocked.

So far, I'm not having too many troubles. I've got the hang of the simple lace pattern, there are only 4 different stitches to master (knit, purl, yarn over and the most complicated, sl1-k2tog-psso); I am having no difficulties whatsover with the circular needles, in fact I have far more problems with my straights! And after crocheting with crochet thread, the laceweight yarn is causing me no problems at all.

My main worry with this project is that it's going to take for ever. And I'm really excited about starting my other knitting projects, but am meant to be doing them in the correct order, for skills progression.

My first crochet project is under time pressure. The Sweet Pea Shawl is intended to be part of my outfit for a friend's wedding on August 6th. The pattern is in the Happy Hooker book as well as directly downloadable from the pattern website here, for $6.50.

I've chosen to use King Cole Bamboo Cotton, which is a dk weight yarn. As the pattern is written for an aran weight yarn, I've had to make some adjustments, increasing the length of the starting chain to ensure my shawl is wide enough to wrap around me.

I also had some trouble finding the pattern, as I lent my Happy Hooker book to a colleague, and am not sure where it is at present. Either she gave it back to me and I've lost it at home, or she still has it. I couldn't wait any longer to start, so when we popped to Hobbycraft last weekend to pick up some spray paint for Jamie, I went to the craft book section and surrepticiously photographed the relevant sections of the pattern in the copy on the shelf. As I already own the book, I don't think that was particularly naughty of me! I just needed to get started ASAP.


The pattern itself is easy enough to memorise, it's only two rows. My main problems so far are stemming from the fact that it's black, so the stitches are hard to see once the daylight goes, and the yarn is quite splitty, which is rather irritating. It's a shame, because otherwise the yarn is beautifully soft and silky, and I just know when I finish it, the shawl is going to look awesome.

I have special plans to finish this project off; I'm not going to put tassles on it as I have something far more creative in mind. I shall tell you all about it when I've figured out how to do it and got it to work!

20 comments:

  1. Both are looking awesome.  I love love the green.  So bright!

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  2. Love both of them!  I can't bring myself to use black.

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  3. Both are looking great so far.x I have that problem with black yarn it is hard to see the stitches.

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  4. These are lookin' good!  I love, love the colorway of the lace stole.  It's gorgeous!  You have such patience for that black colorway; black is so hard to see unless you have good light.  

    How did you like that Happy Hooker book?

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  5. I really like the happy hooker book. It was my main source of reference when learning to crochet, and I have my eye on quite a few of the projects from the back. I checked out the knitting one of hers, but wasn't anywhere near as impressed!

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  6. I love the colour you're using for your lace stole, it's beautiful.  

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  7. Alittlebitsheepish10 July 2011 at 22:01

    The green yarn is gorgeous, can't wait to se more of the project

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  8. I'm doing the easy lace stole and also am worried how long it's going to take!  I made the sweet pea shawl a while ago and really enjoyed it.  I want to make it again but have lent the book out to goodness knows who.  I think I might pop down to hobbycraft too hehehe ;-)

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  9. I love the green xx

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  10. The green yarn is so pretty and that crochet shawl is simply lovely--but I agree with y0u, bamboo always seems splitty to me too.  That shawl looks like a perfect summer project!
    *smiles*

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  11. Shateen Lichter11 July 2011 at 03:18

    you WILL have it done by August!! I know it!

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  12. They both look fab - love that green colour, it's stunning :)

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  13. I'll have a look at the Ravelry thread.  Shame about your book.

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  14. Love the look of your crochet shawl and will look forward to seeing a pic when its finished.  I agree that working with black is difficult - as a matter of fact I had to get my Ott Lite out tonight to finish off a black pair of fingerless gloves for my daughter to wear to work tomorrow.

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  15. I'm planning to make that shawl too so am watching with interest! I'm knitting a black shawl now and although it's really simple (No fuss shade loving shawl) I'm not enjoying knitting something so dark. 

    Off to check out the Easy Lace Stole now :) 

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  16. Looks like good progress on #yearofprojects so far even though you don't have finished objects just yet!

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  17. I'm loving the look of your pieces and I can't wait to see more, I too don't have any finishes yet

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  18. You're making good progress! Lace is hard work but when it is done. It is beautiful!

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  19. What a nice update! I love your Black eyed pea by the way!

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  20. Looking good!  Progress is progress!  I have the same problem with black yarn projects.

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