I'd like to save I've been knitting lots. But truth be told, it's been more like swatching lots. So let the semi-long story begin. I never really paid attention to the Hanami Stole when people started talking talking about it until the one day I clicked through to look at the pattern. I was entranced! But I couldn't commit til I found the perfect yarn. I wanted something pink, but not cotton candy. I definitely wanted something with depth that would stay in the pink cherry blossom-esque color tone, but also nothing to mature or jewely. Enter Yahaira. She saved the day with her yarn.
Pureknits bamboo lace in the mulberry colorway, as perfect as could be. So away I went. For someone who's such an avid swatcher when it comes to garments, I almost never swatch for lace or socks. It's coming back to bite me in the butt right now. For socks, I'll start the cuff or toe, and if I don't like the gauge, I'll rip and start over. For me, that's the equivalent of swatching. For this lace project, I just cast on and kept stretching it to see if it came close to the finished size. First I started out with 3.25mm, too big. Then I tried 3.0mm, still too big. Then 2.5mm, nope. Then bumped way down to 1.5mm. Too small now! Keep in mind here, I've each time I've knit at least 6 rows of the initial garter stitch border and then maybe 1/3 of the pattern repeat. I finally grab my 2.0mm thinking it's the perfect size and knit a full pattern repeat. Measuring tapes usually don't lie and now this wasn't even coming close. I decided to block what I had just to see. Still no bueno.
And what do I have, yes, another big swatch. Time to grab the 2.5mm again.
Comments (11)
Wow, that yarn looks beautiful! Hope the 2,5 are gonna work this time!
Posted by Steph | December 17, 2007 11:06 AM
That yarn is BEAUTIFUL! I hope the 2.5mm works for you!!!!
Posted by Adrienne | December 17, 2007 11:29 AM
I'm stuck in the swatching limbo too the last few days. It helps to have great yarn to work with.
Posted by winnie | December 17, 2007 11:53 AM
You would really consider knitting a whole stole on needles that small?! Damn. But that lace bamboo is so worth it!
Posted by Veronique | December 17, 2007 1:35 PM
That Pureknits bamboo looks like heaven! And I "swatch" the same way for small projects---just start in on it and see what you get!
Posted by jenna | December 18, 2007 6:09 AM
oh, that yarn! that yarn! totally to die for.
Posted by carrie m | December 19, 2007 8:37 PM
Hanami is on my list too. But seriously, that yarn is so gorgeous. Anything you knit with it would be so awesome.
Posted by nova | December 20, 2007 8:59 AM
Beautiful start to that shawl... I just bought a copy of the Hanami pattern as well! BTW, I'm loving your new blog, YaiAnn.
Posted by Felicia from sweetgeorgia | December 21, 2007 4:16 PM
Hi there, I just finished the Hanami scarf a few weeks ago and I luuurve it. I made mine a bit narrower so it's a scarf rather than a stole. I'll have to wait six months until I can wear it though as it's hot hot hot here in Aus at the moment.
http://flickr.com/photos/amyholden/2090687990/
Posted by amy | January 3, 2008 3:00 AM
... and I meant to say that yarn you've chosen is gorgeous!
Posted by amy | January 3, 2008 3:03 AM
That yarn takes my breath away.
Posted by angel | March 5, 2008 3:25 PM