2.05.2007

Branching Out

My Captain Obvious moment came this weekend: don’t waste time knitting something when you aren’t feelin’ it. I will do the gift armwarmers later. I will do socks later. It’s been cold and I want cold-weather accessories. I stumbled across a forgotten Michael’s gift card in my desk drawer, and it happened to have a bit of a balance on it. End result: two skeins of SWS in Natural Plum, destined for Branching Out. I started it last night and after some false starts, I’m happily knitting away.

I had to frog it several times before I realized a) when you haven’t worked lace in more than six months, the lifeline is your friend, and b) pens can write on paper, therefore I can mark on my pattern which stitch is number 5, number 10, etc, and thus keep track. Since I started running the lifeline on every repeat, I haven’t had to frog it. Ah, fate … you bitch.

Edited to add: got home from the office, knit three rows, and managed to make some crazy-ass mistake that I couldn't trace back. I had to rip back to the last lifeline. I am simultaneously happy to have had it there and annoyed that I had to use it.

5 comments:

Shadkitty said...

I've never used a lifeline...and I will pay for it at some point. Oh yes, I will pay. Especially since I love lace work, and am fascinated by it.

How are you liking the SWS? I haven't used it yet but I've heard good things.

Unknown said...

I have never used a lifeline. I had to look it up online to see what the heck it was. I had an "OH" moment. What a fabulous idea. I must remember this one when I knit lace, the next time.

I love SWS yarn, myself. I am currently knitting the Irish Hiking Scarf in SWS Natural Earth.

Mouse said...

Since I seem to be the minority on the comments.. I'll speak up. Lifelines are your friend. I used one with 'Branching out" on every repeat so that I didn't have to tear out a huge scarf. I don't actually like knitting lace though.. Branching out was enough of a challenge to follow the directions.

Scarlett said...

Kitty: This is my third project with SWS and I’m very fond of it. It’s very soft, very warm, and has a nice fuzzy halo to it. This colorway (Natural Plum) seems to have more consistent striping and fewer gauge issues than the Natural Denim I used before.

I will try to post a WIP pic tonight if I can get one with the colors right. Definitely check out Lana’s IHS in progress on her blog – it’s very cool and shows the yarn off well.

Lana: I am loving your IHS – the pattern never particularly moved me until I saw yours in the SWS. I can’t wait to see it complete.

Mouse: I’m officially a devotee of the lifeline now. I’ve done a few different laces before, but this one seems particularly tricky. Normally I’m able to see the flow of the pattern, but this one just makes no sense to me. Maybe I’m just woefully out of practice.

Lick My Sticks said...

I never knit lace without a lifeline...and Branching Out was the reason I started.