The Lace Race is ON!!!

The Lace Race is ON!!!And the lace race is on….. We started tonight with much caution. We did not want to redo the mistakes of the past. Silky Wool was a little reluctant saying “I’ve been down this path before”, stitch markers and lifelines rushed in and made their presence felt. The first 30 rows are done, each one a little longer than the one before. Highland Triangle Shawl (HTS from now on) began to unfold it’s mysteries as the row counter clicked. HTS is beginning to take shape. What will tomorrow hold?

Amazing Lace Team

To say that there are only two members of this team would be to slight Silky Wool with which the shawl is to be made. Silky Wool and I first made our acquaintance when I was looking for yarn for another shawl. It was not my first choice nor was it my first color. That is why I cannot slight it in this race. I will be depending on it to make us (the other teammates) look good. As its black loveliness twists and loops as demanded by Highland Triangle Shawl and as executed by me, we will indeed see that it will be the most visible member of the team.
The second and most demanding member if this team, is Highland Triangle Shawl. I first became acquainted with it after I received the book Folk Shawls for Christmas. As I glanced thru the pages, it spoke to me. I looked at the pattern and thought “too hard, too much”, but it continued to call my name. Silky Wool sat in the bag from which it had traveled home from LYS, begging to be used. The insistence of both together could not be ignored. I became excited as I watched the string go between swift and winder, winding into neat little balls. I quickly bound off a half-hearted project so I could use my trusty needles and cast on. The first row – I could not find the bar to lift, it was too tight and I did not have enough light. Out it came. A looser cast on and a row of knitting, got me thru a few rows, but my increases were still not right, so once again, we became three individuals instead of one team. At this point, Highland Triangle and I had a nice long talk and I wrote out the chart. Once we had come to an understanding, we began again to run. It was a proud moment to say “I have finished 22 rows!”, but the excitement was short lived as I found I was missing a stitch. Silky Wool had its revenge on me for past mistakes. We are currently at this impasse as I gather more supporting members of this team – lifelines and stitch markers.
My pep talk as team captain reminds them that even though our team has had a rocky start, we can do this. I will draw on my many and varied experiences with knitting to get them past the rough places, but they must trust my instincts. I remind them that I am qualified to do this since I have been leading teams such as this since I was a teenager. Yes, this team and race are unique, but we shall prevail.

Lacey Summer ahead

I joined “The Amazing Lace” at http://amazinglace.licketyknit.com/ I know I have attempted to start the Highland Triangle Shawl already twice, so hopefully the third time will work. I have the chart all written out, I have a plan for where lifelines should go, and even a plan as to where to put in markers to help me keep my place. Highland Triangle Shawl is from Folk Shawls. I also have a lace KAL that I will be doing this summer. I have already ordered the yarn from KnitPicks (http://www.knitpicks.com/). Hopefully I can do both of these at the same time. I will conquer lace!!! There is nothing like a lacey summer.