Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns

Cathie · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject: Not getting on with lace weight

I am finding it to be fiddly, time consuming and headache causing, and if the yarn I have wasn't so beautiful I would chuck it in the cuboard never to see the light of day again.

My first attempts at a proper shawl where a disaster, I have a godness knits dracula shawl waiting to be frogged after the first 19 rows as the pattern has gone all to pot on one side of the shawl only the centre panel and the first 3 panels where perfect Evil or Very Mad

So leaving that aside for a bit, may pick that up tonight as I can at least cast that on, unlike the current mystery shawl, which is so far being a totally mystery as I can't even get past the first few rows.

It is very fiddly, it looks a right mess, and my needles arn't fine enough to pick up the stitches properly, and it's frustrated me to tears and given me a headache.

Not helped by the fact I was already on a downer with the yarn as it took me 3 hours last night to wind the skien and it got all tangled up, spent 2 hours with it this morning and admited deveat and snapped the yarn and left the tangle for another day.

There must be something I am doing wrong with it, 4 times so far I have tried to cast it on and ended up in a mess each time. I am now considering making it in 4ply as that at least does what I want it to

Cathie

_________________
So much knitting so little time

My blog is now active - http://nappy-mad-knitter.blogspot.com/

knittingnanny · Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 969 Location: Glasgow

Oh Cathie - do keep going, but how about something more simple to get the hang of the laceweight? Even a Bertie scarf is outstanding in a laceweight - lovely to wear as a dressy item, and you can really get the feel of it as you go. It's also so much smaller, it doesn't seem to be such a mountain to climb.

I looked at the goddess mystery shawl, but am not casting on yet, as I already have a circular one otn. I think I'll probably wait until a couple are finished, and see if I like it - I got halfway through a previous mystery knit before deciding I didn't like it.

So don't give up yet!

Linda
_________________

YES I CAN!
28 items completed

Cathie · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks,

Have decided to try again, have started of knitting it flat, just coming to the end of the first 14 rows (2 to go) then going to get the DPN's out again. If that doesn't work I will try a different project. I have one of Yarn addicts lacy scarfs that I might try instead as well as a shawl pattern and yarn she sent for the last swap

Cathie
_________________
So much knitting so little time

My blog is now active - http://nappy-mad-knitter.blogspot.com/

Nevisknitter · Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 2184 Location: scotland

I'm doing the goddess mystery shawl too but have yet to cast on. My mums here so I knitting on 1 WIP so as not to hear ' do you not think you have enough on the go already'. Also I have never knitted a circular shawl before so not sure about the cast on, theres also a lot of choice about which chart to do.
How thin is your laceweight as some is a lot thinner than others, maybe try with a thicker one so its not too different to 4ply.

YarnAddict · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 2205

Not tried that pattern. Find a nice an easy pattern with small repeat. Use stitch markers between each pattern repeat. makes it easier to spot mistakes if you make one. Knit when it's nice and quite, not easy with kids around.

Good luck. Don't give up you will manage it.
_________________
www.annisknittingblog.blogspot.com - My Blog
www.yarnaddict.co.uk - online shop

paula · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 402 Location: UK

I struggled with the 2ply silk that I'm using for Montego Bay, much the same as you by the sound of it and to be honest I think it's just because I haven't used such fine yarn before so I guess maybe it's practice, I put it aside and decided to come back to it later rather than ditch it altogether. I've got laceweight silk as well but heavens knows how I'll get on with that if I'm struggling with the seasilk Rolling Eyes

My trouble is I keep buying up lovely pretty yarns and attempting patterns that are a bit too difficult, trying to run before I can walk if you know what I mean and end up with projects started and otn but in the cupboard Laughing

_________________
Paula x

Ravelry ~ Piratess

Miss Purls Blog

Nevisknitter · Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 2184 Location: scotland

Cathie, is it the circular shawl you are doing. I found it a nightmare to cat on, and to work the first few rows, but then as I got more stitches on the needle it got less fiddly, now its on a circ which is so much easier as its just knitting round and round.

Maybe if you keep on the straights until you have enough stitches to put on the circular needle then things should be easier for you. I always find the first 10 mins of knitting with laceweight are a nightmare then I get into the swing of it.

YarnAddict · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 2205

If you're struggling with the laceweight yarn, start with a heavier laceweight, around 600-700m per 100gr. And make sure your needles aren't too slippy or not slipy enough. Makes a big differnce. Like wiht silk if you use slippery needles it could make it more difficult.

Remember, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!.

Or make a shawl in 4ply/sock yarn first then move on to a heavier laceweight.
_________________
www.annisknittingblog.blogspot.com - My Blog
www.yarnaddict.co.uk - online shop

Cathie · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

Thanks,

Last night I cast on for the circular shawl again using hipknits cashmere lace weight, it is a bit on the thin side compared with another I have here.

I have done 4 rows of the first pattern repeat plus the set up rows and it is going okay so far. I keep finding that I am a stitch short though, so my first repeat of the pattern until it fits on a circ properly probably won't be right, I'm not unpicking it now as the yarn didn't like being frogged last time.

I don't think I will catch up with the KAL now as I still have very limited personal knitting time, I shouldn't really have cast on last night but I need a a break from the endless shop knitting the last month.

Cathie
_________________
So much knitting so little time

My blog is now active - http://nappy-mad-knitter.blogspot.com/

Nevisknitter · Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 2184 Location: scotland

Glad to hear you got it sorted Cathie, I found it really fiddly with the dpns but once it was big enough to fit on a circ things went a bit faster.