When I finished Daphne, what did I do next?
- Repair the tattered fingers on my gloves?
- Re-sole DH’s house slippers?
- Fix the hole in my toe socks?
Nope, nope, and nope. Despite the need for the gloves/slippers/socks (it’s still damp and drizzle season, after all), and despite the satisfaction of well-performed repairs saving handknits from the trash, I succumbed to the irresistible urge to start something new:
It’s Vice Yarns Carnal in Waterlily, a 70/20/10 blend of merino, cashmere, and silk yumminess. Over the weekend I just had to use it to try out a new design idea: Fountain Lace (from Barbara Walker’s A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns) knit into a square from the center out, with narrow strips of faggoting between the sections.
I like the effect of the combined stitch patterns, but I’m not sure where I want to go from here. Options include:
- One large square, finished off with a sideways knit-on edging. Eh. I’m not too keen on square shawls: you usually see them worn folded in half to create a triangle, and I think that’d obscure the patterning here.
- Three or five squares of moderate size, joined with the same bit of faggoting to create a stole, again finished with a sideways knit-on edging. Mm. Could be okay.
- Three or five squares joined to create an “L.” Hmm. Interesting. Might be more wearable than a stole. Might not.
- One square of moderate size, with two of its sides extended to create a stole or an “L.” Hmm. I kind of like this idea, if only because it would leave more room to show off the Fountain Lace.
What do you think?
I love this! Beautiful!!!
» debbi
I vote for at least charting out all but option 1. Why? Well, wouldn't it be great to offer a beautiful design in so many shapes? And charting is simple (I think there's a book title there). Muahahahaha.
But seriously, all but option 1 are highly inviting to contemplate.
» Cat Bordhi
Thanks, Debbi! :-)
Actually, Cat, all the options would use the same stitch pattern charts. (And – you guessed it – I’ve already drawn them.) All that would differ between the shawls would be their general directions. So offering one pattern with multiple options would be doable. Though... now that I think about it... the inner corner on the “L”-shaped shawls would require a little finagling to get the edging to lay flat... hmm.
» JC
I'd love to see the finished shawl made from the final plan in your post. The focal point of the concentric square would be nicely displayed on your back, the "wings" would show the flow of the lace pattern, and I find those V-shapes easy to wear.
» Sandi Rosner
I agree, Sandi: the concentric square would make a nice center-back focal point. I just have to decide between a stole a a V. And for whatever reason, I’m leaning towards the stole... though I can knit a whole wing before I have to decide. ;-)
» JC
Personally, I think a V is more wearable than a stole (and also not as common), but to each her own. Whatever you end up with will be beautiful!
» Karen Frisa
I really like either of the center squares with extended wings. The straight stole would emphasize the flow of the Fountain Lace while the V-shape would offer a bit of a challenge with that edging in the inner corner and be easier to wear. If you think you may offer a pattern ( and I hope you do) I'm with Cat on giving shaping options. I love 'knitting recipes'. In reference to your last post, I was happy to discover Evelyn Clark's book is now available as an e-book and has been expanded.
» AnnP
Ann, I didn’t know that an expanded Knitting Lace Triangles was available as an ebook. Who’s selling it? I’m not seeing it on Amazon.
» JC
JC, It is on Evelyn's own website which looks to have been recently updated very appealingly.
» AnnP
Excellent! Thanks, Ann.
FYI: Evelyn’s new website is here.
» JC