If one Niebling is good, aren’t two even better? I made my first Niebling table covering (doily??) a couple of years ago. It was knit out of laceweight alpaca — not a very practical doily. I had it in mind to knit another, and I finally did. I chose Lotus Flower, because I thought it was very beautiful. The pattern is readily available on Ravelry by Doilyhead. I used Aunt Lydia Crochet Cotton Size 10. Cheap stuff you can buy at Joann Fabrics. After reading this discussion, I probably would have chosen differently…but, it is too late now and it seemed to have worked out fine.
Lotus Flower by Herbert Niebling, Aunt Lydia Crochet Cotton ~1200 yards, US 1(2.25 mm) Needles
I did need to starch it, which was traumatic to think about but easy to do. I had to starch it: after just wet blocking, it became a limp rag that did not hold its shape properly. I immersed it in a 50-50 solution of Sta-Flo liquid starch and water and then pinned it out on a piece of styrofoam insulation. This worked out great…getting the insulation to my car was a comedy of errors, but that is a different story!! Don’t attempt this feat on the windiest day of the year!
Believe it or not, this was my “take-along” knitting project! The even rounds were straight knitting of up to 1200 sts. The pattern rounds were often simple repetitions that were easy to follow because the pattern is so pictorial. Still, it took a couple of months to complete.
Lotus Flower Overall Grade: A
Pattern: A — nice “starter” Niebling
Yarn: A — though there are probably higher quality choices out there
Finished Size: 40 inches in diameter
All in all, I am very pleased and highly recommend this pattern. I am without a knitting project! I just finished a Holden Shawlette, which I will post later…but now my needles are bare! I have a few ideas, but the project has not revealed itself to me. Hmmmm…
PS to Surly: NO, it will NOT fit into your suitcase!
PS2: I did need to join a second ball and also join within the first ball because it had a knot tying more length onto the ball. I spit spliced it.
PS3: Bonnie asked about spit splicing and how it works on non-wool fibers. I “spit splice” all kinds of yarn, but that doesn’t mean that I felt them together: I thin out each end, overlap and suck on the yarn — very appealing in public!! I do this with almost every yarn I use. If the ends are difficult to blend, I let them hang to the inside and then I sometimes weave them in or just cut them. I had absolutely no trouble with the crochet cotton at all and the ends were completely smooth and the transition invisible. I make sure I overlap the ends over several sts and never when a YO is involved. In this pattern there were long stockinette areas where I could easily splice my thread.
HEh-heh-heh: Wanna help me do lace shawls for Middle Daughter’s bridal party? I’m about to finish her shawl (1106 stitches and increasing), and then there are full-size shawls for her 2 sisters, and 3 Susanna IC shawlettes for the other bridesmaids….. Just Kidding!!! You SHOULD be very pleased with the Niebling(s). I’m a Chart Girl, so I’ve not yet braved one – and after Franklin Habit’s seance with Herbert, I’m more than a little skittish.
Comment by Suzan — April 18, 2011 @ 8:01 am
It is simply beautiful. Congratulations!
Comment by technikat — April 18, 2011 @ 11:30 am
It’s beautiful! But the laceweight alpaca idea sounds even better to me – I’d use the resulting doily as a coverlet.
Comment by stashdragon — April 18, 2011 @ 12:28 pm
So beautiful. Did it take a single ball? I wonder how you would join crochet cotton.
Comment by LOWL — April 18, 2011 @ 12:35 pm
Gorgeous! I wonder if it will fit in my suitcase.
Comment by surly — April 18, 2011 @ 12:52 pm
Wow! That is fabulous.
Comment by Lori on Little Traverse Bay — April 18, 2011 @ 1:27 pm
Oh My Word! This, too, is stunning!
Comment by Barb — April 18, 2011 @ 3:01 pm
Breath-taking! Another Niebling for my to-do list.
Comment by Denise — April 18, 2011 @ 6:01 pm
Stunning! I’m tempted to make doilies again.
Comment by Beverly — April 18, 2011 @ 6:03 pm
Beautiful Susan. I see some of my buddies have added it to their favourites list, very tempting indeed.
Comment by Annie C — April 18, 2011 @ 7:04 pm
So beautiful. I intend to do a Niebling someday, but why bother when you do such a fine job?
Comment by twinsetellen — April 18, 2011 @ 9:57 pm
Amazing and beautiful! Someday, someday . . .
Comment by Pam — April 19, 2011 @ 2:21 am
Absolutely gorgeous! I am impressed with your “fine” knitting.
Comment by Shirley — April 19, 2011 @ 6:22 am
Oh, Susan! Stunning! (Although I would like to see a secret “candid camera” view of you with with styrofoam piece!)
Comment by Kym — April 19, 2011 @ 8:26 am
Oh, it’s beautiful! What a great job!
Comment by Lisle — April 19, 2011 @ 1:01 pm
Stunning doily. Hope you scotchguarded it. Thanks for the link for the thread reviews.
Comment by Robin F. — April 19, 2011 @ 3:24 pm
Just beautiful.
Comment by Cathy in Eau Claire — April 19, 2011 @ 3:37 pm
absolutely beautiful!
Comment by Evie — April 19, 2011 @ 11:55 pm
Good heavens! It’s incredible. The photos are stunning. Congrats!
Comment by Kathy — April 20, 2011 @ 12:02 am
AMAZING! It looks fabulous. Congratulations on a wonderfully beautiful addition to your tabletop.
Comment by Linda — April 22, 2011 @ 4:42 pm
I come by way of “stringplay.” This is an impressive work of art. Congratulations on your perseverance!
Comment by Biene — April 22, 2011 @ 11:09 pm
Susan, it’s truly BEAUTIFUL!!! Did I read that you spit spliced it? Shows how much I know, I thought the yarn had to be wool for that to work. Could you explain? Thankyou.
Comment by Bonnie — April 22, 2011 @ 11:15 pm
OMG, that doily is fantastic! So beautiful. I’m in awe of your knitting skills.
Also thanks for the link to the Holden Shawlette (it’s now in my Ravelry library)
Comment by RuthieJ — April 27, 2011 @ 8:11 am
Breathtakingly beautiful. Tried to find the pattern online but was unsuccessful. Do you still have it? Would love a copy. Thanks!
Comment by Inga Journey — January 2, 2018 @ 11:30 am