Knitting D Day

Knitting D day came and went with nary a whimper. The plan I had should work, but I'm not understanding enough yet about lacey things to know why it isn't. I suspect it is a matter of where I am putting the increases and decreases. Its bulbing out in the center, where the increases are, and yet the decreases cannot be near them, they must be on sections with a full count of stitches.

I have 2 choices for the Anne yarn. I can use it for a well established idiot proof pattern where there is no counting, or I can put it aside in all its loveliness and wait to use it till I do understand lace better. I'm putting it aside for now. I'll think about it a bit, and play on some of the leftover yarn I have to see if I can figure out what I am doing wrong. Anyway, logic is telling me my plan will work, I just have to figure it out.

As befitting a New Year, I started something entirely different.

I came across this on Ravelry. Nancy Bush's Truly Tasha's Shawl. The simple warmth and goodness of this shawl appeals to me in my chilly study. I'm hoping I can continue to work this on my really long new straights - nice metal needles chosen because of their relatively sharp tips - my gauge is so much more stable on straights. I may yet have to find some really long cabled circulars, though, and it may be that Mr. Needles may have to manufacture some with really long straight sections (but don't tell him that). The yarn is from a cone of Jaggerspun Heather in a 3/8 weight, with plenty on one cone for a sweater for an average sized person. It is a medium grade wool, so it may not be right for something to be worn next to the skin, but for a cardigan, vest, or shawl, I think this is going to be a great yarn. A good solid knit to start the New Year.

The last two years have been an odyssey for me. 2006 brought me the previously mystifying art of tatting, and 2007 has brought me to knitting. I intended to learn both properly so long ago - I have a tatting shuttle and needles older than half the people on the planet - but just never made the time and never found the persistence to work through my problems with each skill. Its just so darn nice to know how. Small pleasures bring great rewards and 2008 surely will be a year of rewards.

Happy New Year.