Monday, October 6, 2008

Yarn Barf

The lacy pink scarf I was knitting for Little Mouse for xmas has morphed into a grey wrap with a pink stripe...I attempted to take pix over the weekend, but it just looks like a tangle of grey yarn, and until it is blocked, I fear it will continue to look like a pile of yarn barf...

Still, I'm getting on with it...it is nearly two feet long already, and I've used up nearly half of my grey wool, which is about right, as the final product should end up being about 52" long...before blocking...and since I've never knitted (or blocked) lace before, I shall not be at all surprised if the finished wrap ends up being seven or eight feet long!

Regardless of how long it ends up being, I think Little Mouse will be thrilled...she's quite admiring of it already, even though it just looks like a pile of yarn, and has no idea it's for her...she thinks it's a practice piece.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lace stretches a TON when blocked. To get an idea of how much you can pin out what you have so far on cardboard to get a feel (you don't need to block yet, just pin out to get a feel for how big it will be done, and how the lace will look).

Jazz said...

TAW--
That's a good idea...I'll give it a try...it would be nice to know if I'm making a wrap or a blanket!

Monica Cassani said...

sounds fun! I have a friend with a knitting blog...I haven't really checked it out because I'm not a knitter, but check it out:

http://knitkitten.net/

I hope you're well...miss your daily writing...

Tamara (TC) Staples said...

Oh, your daughter will be so thrilled!!!

What the heck is blocking?

Jazz said...

Gianna--
All is well...I'm just not feeling inspired about writing lately. Don't know what it is...it's always been like that, though--hot and cold, on-again, off-again. I can write like crazy for a couple of years and then do nothing for ages. It's the one area of my life that I'm not disciplined or organized about. My muse just doesn't work that way, I guess...

I liked your friend's blog...I will start visiting there regularly. I suppose I should put some of the knitting blogs I've been going to up on my sidebar...

Jazz said...

Tamara--
Though I've never done it before, my understanding is that blocking involves getting the piece wet (as in damp, not sopping) and then pinning it out and stretching it a bit and then letting it dry that way...apparently once dry, it stays stretched and the lace patterns really show up nicely.

That's the theory, anyway. I'm sure that in practice it will be quite painful and I will manage to screw it up in some heretofore unimagined way...stay tuned...

Tamara (TC) Staples said...

Interesting - thanks for the explanation. I have faith that you will do just fine. Can't wait to see pictures!

sbwrites said...

Jazz,
So, this weekend I went to a yarn store and bought yarn for a scarf (just a simple one). And a new neighbor moved next door...and guess what? She can cast on! So, I've only knit about an inch so far, but it's an inch more than before!

Susan

Jazz said...

Susan--
All right! We'll have you knitting lace yet! Keep me posted on your progress!