Boldly Going Where I've Never Gone Before

There it is. Everything I need to knit Seascape. I still haven't cast on yet though, because my last foray into Kidsilk Haze didn't go very well (actually, I got out the scissors and it went right into the garbage). In anticipation of this project I've listened to a couple of podcasts (#59 - Lace Tips and Tricks by Knit Picks was helpful), read the whole KAL on Ravelry, and poured over the charts again and again. I realize that much of that excessive prep is fear-based (plus I want to finish up a gift* I'm working on), but I have learned a few things. Like casting on with big needles: it calls for #4 (3.5 mm), but I'll cast on with 10.5 (7 mm). That those needles should be wood or bamboo and that straights are preferable to circulars (to some). And, of course, that both my children should either be out of the house or asleep whenever I work on it.

ETA: I've also been told to knit from the outside of a ball of KSH or it will collapse into itself at some point like a fluffy black hole. And to maybe choose a different yarn.

I've been craving other new (to me) things as well, like stranded mittens. I got a kit for the Blackberry Mittens that I've been itchin' to cast on for, but, again, this stranding stuff is pretty new to me, plus it has some braided bits. I've only ever done one stranded project, and that was a hat I cast on for in 1999. It went pretty well until I got to the top and required DPNs; I didn't know what those were, so into long-term hibernation it went. I just dug it out for the Ravelypics but didn't quite get to it. I will soon though.

So I popped into the knitting section of the library yesterday to see what might be there that could help me out and, indeed, something was:

What a great book! I may be the last person on earth to realize this, but this book is a treasure. Patterns and techniques, for sure, but also the history of Fair Isle, how to translate one's inspiration (such as fall leaves) into a color scheme, and gobs of stitch patterns. Lovely. Of course this is one of the discontinued, sells-for-big-money-on-Ebay books, so I feel lucky to be able to absorb some of its info before I have to give it back. And yes, it has occurred to me that I could just "loose" the book before someone else does, but I won't. I'll just renew it forever. ; )

But before I get into any Starmore-ish sweaters (whoa nelly) I've got a bunch of mittens in my system. As part of the Books and More swap I got the book Folk Mittens (Rav link), and it is chock full of beautiful projects, like the pair on the cover. Plus I have some yarn around that will become those cute snail mittens. And did anyone pick up this fall's Vogue Knitting? Oh yes, our hands will be warm this winter.

And then there's socks.

Damn gussets! Can I ever knit you without holes?

I did NOT knit those. I got that beautiful pair of handknit socks in that swap and I am literaly swooning over them. They're almost too nice to wear, since I know the effort that has gone into them. So I'd like more. A lot more. Not to mention I have way too much sock yarn for someone who has never knit a successful pair of adult socks. A nice lady on Ravelry suggested I check out New Pathways for Sock Knitters (Rav link) for an abundance of heels that won't have holes and luckily it was at the library yesterday too. There are some really interesting patterns (with ususual constructions) in there as well that I'm ready to cast on for right now.

So enough prep, right? Just jump into the pool already. Olivia should go to bed early tonight (horrible nap), and then Seascape is getting on the needles. Wish me luck, okay? I hate to ask for advice two days in a row (thank you guys, by the way), but if you have any lace/KSH tricks, I could certainly use them. 

* It's another one of those things that I was the last person in the whole world to make. It's in Ravelry if you want to see it before it is gifted.

Comments

[Holly Jo]

Best of luck with the KSH. My attempt with it was met with disaster as well, but I am confident you will persevere! Seascape is gorgeous.

The thing about straight needles I had never heard. Interesting.

Looking forward to the mittens. Wonder if they will be the new socks. :)

[stefaneener]

I'm newly in love with stranded mittens. Of course you will successfully do them all -- you are such an overachiever.

Maybe I'll knit lace when my children move to other states.

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