KnittingNatty

More Icarus, all the time

Photos taken at night - maybe I'll get home during daylight hours tomorrow

I missed taking a picture of the tip last night:

I love Icarus's slender spine

Fiona raised an interesting point about knitting injuries this week. I have to confess that I have had tingling ring and pinkie fingers on each hand since being pregnant with Caitlyn, who is now aged now 2 and a half. I even got myself on the waiting list for surgery before discovering that it could in all probability be managed with massage and physiotherapy. But the funniest thing happened when I started working all the time. Although I still work with a computer all day long, because I dont get to knit anywhere near as much any more, (sniff!) I no longer suffer with the tingling and pains that I used to. (And I've taken myself off the surgery waiting list.)

Coincidence? I think not. The other thing is now, I am only prepared to knit things that I really really love. Like 2 ply lace weight...

Like the reversible rib shawl by Lily Chin published in the Vogue Knitting Winter 1999- 2000. Only problem is I don't have that issue (not surprisingly). It is just gorgeous, if you are in Ravelry, go and have a look. I think I could just about wing that pattern too - may take a few goes, but let's see what happens. I do think that a yarn with a halo will be important. 

Now that almost all my old WIPs are finished, yarn shopping, anyone?

Without further ado ... Icarus!!!

Sorry to be such a te@se yesterday

and leave  you hanging

without a photo AT ALL! But I was so very tired...

Caitlyn halped me block by passing me th pins - she is getting so grown up: "me do it me- self!"
("No...")

I think that blocking maybe an artform - I ran out of bed!

I'll take some more photos in the daylight tomorrow. You haven't seen the back of this one just yet!

I'm doing pretty well on my WIP list - its still only September! ;O) Only 2 longstanding WIPS to go!

But now its time for a "quick" baby blankie:

And maybe another pair of socks...

Chart 4

I had the afternoon off work and  took a little time to sit alone with my lace and the Knitpicks needle sent to me by the very generous Bron and comtemplate my lovely lavender Icarus.

I have made it into Chart 4!!!

(Now, not a very exciting photo I grant you, nonetheless I am disproportionately pleased with myslelf)

I have learned my lesson from a recent near miss when many of the stiches came off the needles whilst in transit and laddering down (one of the leaves will never be quite the same) and put in a lifeline.

Chart 4 - you've come a long way, baby! There are about 30 rows to go and I have started worrying about having enough yarn.

Worrying about not having enough yarn is a great motivator in my experience. Lets see how that translates into practice!

By way of postscript, yesterday, in my tired-beyond-tired haze, I forgot to upload the picture of the leftover yarn from my mystery project , so without further ado, here it is, the leftovers

Any guesses?

La Launterne Rouge

I joined the Tour de France knitalong in June, but this is the first post!

There are still four stages to go, so I am not completely in disgrace! I should have chosen the  maillot vert for a sprint  to the  finish! 

I have chosen to knit up a long term WIP, and so, my choice is Icarus - a first shawl and first lace weight project.

I am now up to the end of Chart 3, so there are seulement trente  rows  avant le fin!

En puis, j'ai commence un project secret! Shhh!

C'est un cadeau!

Ticking over in the background

Icarus has been quietly ticking over in the background. I am trying to do one repeat of chart 1 a week, and then plan on stepping on the accelerator when I get to the fun edging charts.

I found myself on the weekend back at row 42, which is my lifeline row, so I only have one and a half repeats of Chart 1 to go!

As of this morning, the skein weighs 62 grams and  the shawl weighs 40 grams, so I am  calling  this 40 percent completed.  Getting there, slowly, slowly...

A stitch in time

saves the crime. From being committed, that is.

Last Sunday evening, I put the shawl down for a moment mid row to go do something important, and next thing you know, DD Caitlyn has pulled Icarus off the needles a little. Even a Knitpicks needle won't save me from my own foolishness (and it was going so swimmingly!)

Looks like Caitlyn has graduated from lace socks to shawls in the pulling needles out department. Sigh. My Mum always did say to never put our work down mid row. I guess she was right.

Do you think this angel face is capable of such an act, though?

I have been working on this a little over the weekend as time has permitted, and I have now overcome my fear of making mistakes and having to tinker.

I personally credit the awesome powers of the Knitpicks needle. It makes tinkering less of a chore, with its sharp tips. It gave me confidence that it would all be alright. Or maybe there are secret magical powers in the purple cord. ;)

With approx 250 sts on the needle, I have only 2 repeats of the first Chart to go! The maroon threads are my lifelines, and mark my progress through this pattern.

I know the photo doesn't look like much, but that's the way of lace knitting progress shots until blocked, I guess.