I’m very slo-o-o-o-wly puttering along on the border for my Cap Shawl from Victorian Lace Today. As I said in an earlier post, I first had to deal with a few little issues. To recap (get it, Re-Cap; okay I apologize for that already):
1. The chart was in garter, not stockinette (even though it was knitted in stockinette), so I changed it. (That, of course, took all of two seconds.) I just didn’t think the border would look right in garter; the rest of the shawl is all stockinette.
2. I didn’t like the rows of plain stockinette in the middle of the pattern repeat. On one hand, that provided an easy spot to use when grafting the beginning and end of the border. On the other hand, I didn’t like it. So, I took out those rows and then adjusted the math to make the number of stitches fit with the border repeats. So far so good.
3. My final little challenge was deciding how I wanted to knit the border to the shawl. [Quick aside for those who have never done this: When you knit a border onto a square or circular shawl where all the shawl stitches are still “live,” you work one stitch from the border together with one stitch from the shawl every other row. In other words, two rows of knitting decreases or “binds off” one shawl stitch. You then typically slip the new stitch on the next row instead of working it. It was how to work the two stitches together that I was thinking about.] The pattern directions told you to knit one border stitch and one shawl stitch together through the back loops on a wrong side row. I would need to do it differently because I wasn’t working it in garter. The instructions also told you to slip the stitch purlwise with the yarn to the right side. I think what she wanted was for the slipped stitch to be to the wrong side, and turned (not flat). I’m not quite sure how to describe what I mean.
This, except for its being stockinette, is how I think the shawl was supposed to look. It’s fine, and if I kept going I would have lived. But I was somewhat dissatisfied. (I purled two together through the back loops and slipped with the yarn to the right side.)
Here, I purled two together — leaving the slipped stitch on the right side. If you’re really observant, you’ll realize I’m knitting this experiment counter-clockwise, instead of clockwise. I decided the top edge looked nicer when I did it clockwise, so I stopped and started over again.
I’m not even going to bore you with some of my other variations. Can we say “just give it a rest already?” Therefore, after many (probably unnecessary) stops and starts, I knitted it clockwise: purling the two stitches together (with no twist) and slipping the stitch with the yarn to the wrong side. Do I love it? No. But it’s just a shawl, not the love of my life, so I’m finishing it and moving on. I haven’t made much progress, but that’s because doing a border this way is slow and I’ve had very little time to knit in the past week or so.
Here, for those of you who haven’t done this, is what it looks like as you knit:
Here’s a more “distant” shot, which reminds me that no one is going to be examining the border with a magnifying glass (I hope). I know it will also look so much prettier once it’s blocked. (It will, won’t it? Yes, lying is allowed. Possibly even encouraged.)
Finally, here is my photography assistant. (This is my daughter’s Chihuahua puppy. He’s always a big help.) Blame him for any shots that are out of focus.
Here’s me reading your blog (and never having knitted a shawl): hmm, blah blah P2tog TBL, blah slip stitch blah clockwise blah blah OHMYGOD!! that is freaking gorgeous!!! Breathtakingly gorgeous!!
I think you blew my mind.
Comment by AuntieAnn — May 29, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
The pup is adorable but the shawl is magnificent! I could never knit something as complicated as that.
Comment by Marina — May 29, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
From Susan — When I saw the pup on the shawl I thought “What the bee-boop is he doing — he’s gonna ruin that shawl!!” But he is so cute and has not yet done major damage! I love the shawl, Surly!
Comment by lv2knit — May 29, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
The shawl *is* going to be great! I think the edging does look better knit clockwise — you’re right. Great knitting and a cute puppy – perfect blog!
Comment by Pam — May 29, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
Hey Sally. Your last effort is the best. The dog does not look as good in the shawl as you will. Cute as the puppy is and all.
Comment by Gale — May 29, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
It’s beautiful, it really is. The puppy is pretty cute too. How’s it doing with your big guy, Thor? Thanks for the detailed update.
Comment by Wendy O'C — May 29, 2007 @ 7:49 pm
The doe-eyed pup, I understand. When it comes to lace knitting, I’m afraid I’m still dazed and confused. That’s why such fantastic work is best left to the experts such as yourselves 🙂
Comment by Karen B. — May 29, 2007 @ 8:57 pm
OMG! HOW Cute is that dog??? congratulations!!!
Comment by Michelle — May 29, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
The second version is much better, I would have ripped it out and done the same thing. And you’re totally right about no one noticing, cause no one will. The fabulousness of the shawl overrides any sort of weirdness about the border.
Comment by christine olea — May 29, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
You are the knitting queen! I will never have the patience or the ability to make all those changes on my own. Loved your photos .. especially the last 2 of the adorable pup and amazing shawl.
Comment by katomliz — May 29, 2007 @ 11:50 pm
Oh my. It’s just lovely! And the puppy. OMG! Absolutely adorable!
Comment by Romi — May 30, 2007 @ 12:29 am
Makes sense, mods appear to be good choices, and it’s already a thing of beauty – blocking can only make it even more fantastic. How CUTE is that little carpet-pee’r/photo assistant???
Comment by Cathi Myers — May 30, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Surly- I was wondering what you were up to. I think the edging looks amazing. The first time
I attempted one, I couldn’t get my head around it. I think DH figured it out.
What a cute little mousie of a dog!
Comment by Lorraine — May 30, 2007 @ 10:15 am
The perpetual student in me absolutely loved reading the knitty-gritty details on attaching the edging on the shawl. And the practically finished shawl is gorgeous already! You are a fantastic lace-knitter!
Comment by Laura — May 30, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
Wow! You have me totally hooked on lace, and I am learning things I never dreamed of. This after 40+ years of knitting! I had no idea borders worked like that. But I know enough to see that you made the right choices.
Comment by Astrid — May 30, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
How beautiful (the shawl and the wee little doggy)!
Comment by Octopus Knits — May 31, 2007 @ 11:35 pm