Voyager Lace Stole or Why Do I do This to Myself?

also known as What Stole My Sanity...




I am trying to knit this lace stole, it is called Voyager. The pattern is a free one from Elann Yarns. The plan is for me to do this as a KAL (knit along) for the re-read of Voyager by Diana Gabaldon with the Outlander Fans over at Ravelry.

I am trying to knit it with the yarn pictured above. It's lace weight yarn from Spirit Trail called Clotho in the Autumn Harvest Colourway. I love the colourway as it's has got two of my favorite colours in it.

So to the point of this post... I have cast on 99 stitches to start five times already. Today, I got the farthest along, six whole rows of garter stitch and 6 whole rows of pattern (out of 10, sigh). I found a mistake in the number of stitches on the sixth row of pattern (two to many, sigh), realized that I didn't have a lifeline in, yet another sigh. So, now I have to rip it, rip it, rip it (frogging). You just can't tink (knit backwards) a lace pattern without having a lifeline in. If you try to un-knit, you tend to lose the yarn overs that are inherent in lace knitting. Bleh, poopers, caca occurs, meh, and an even bigger sigh! Yes, I am starting YET again. Yes, I will get this. Yes, I can do this. Yes, I have knit lace before. Yes, I am that determined. Yes, more shall be revealed.

However, my Knitpicks Harmony Wood Interchangeables have been a real boon to my lace knitting. At least I stitch better with them. I just can't count better. They have really lovely points for finding the stitches. The wood has enough tooth to hold onto the yarn, yet the needles are pretty slick and let's the stitches slide off when you need them to. I am so glad that Erin gifted me them to my birthday.

The Magic Loop - I Learned Something New Today

In an effort to keep my brain pan oiled, I try to learn something new everyday. My Grannie Virginia, had a piece of hand lettered paper with the words "Learn Something New Every Day" stuck in her dresser mirror. I have her mirror (and her piece of paper, somewhere) with a piece of my own paper with those words written on it stuck into the frame. These are words I can live with on a daily basis. It may help to stave off Old Timer's and it certainly can't hurt to learn something new.

To that end, I taught myself to do the Magic Loop. This is a method of knitting in the round with a set of needles attached by a cable as opposed to knitting in the round with a set of 4 or 5 double pointed needles. I have been wanting to try this method since I heard about. So, with the arrival of Erin's copy of How to Knit Socks, Three Methods made Easy, I thought I would give it a whirl. Here is a picture of my first effort at Magic Loop.



Erin has also learned something new and has taught herself how to knit in the round on DPNs. She is trying out the Harris Tweed Socks also in the book mentioned earlier. Below is a picture of her first attempt at knitting with more than two needles at a time. Woot for her! She IS the "River" of Knitting.

Happy Birthday to Me - Today is My Birthday

Today is my ???? birthday. I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of well wishes for this day.

Thank you to all that have sent them and please know that I appreciate each and everyone of you. I am incredibly grateful and blessed that you all are a part of my life.

Again, I as I said in an earlier post, I often feel I don't express my appreciation for the value, art, laughter and thoughtful prods, new authors and other too numerous to list goodies that you bring to my life.

Thanks again, now off to Sushi for the Birthday Supper with the Dear Daughter, Erin.

Edited: 8:17 pm. Well, the best laid plans and all like that there. We went to three, count them, THREE Sushi Bars and none of them were open when we were ready to eat or even when they were suppose to be. We then decided to go to Whole Foods instead and cruise the hot foods and the rest of the departments in search of something that struck mine/our fancy. We settled on Steamed Clams with Steamed Asparagus and a Sourdough Boule (Crusty Rustic Bread) and we then shared a Whipped Cream Filled Eclair for dessert. Yum, not sushi, mind you, but a great meal none-the-less and I DID NOT HAVE TO COOK or clean up. Whoo-hoo! We are still going to go out for Sushi before the end of the month, tho.

I GOT KNIT PICKS Interchangeables, Size 4 for a start, YEAH!!! and Season 2 of the Tudors and still more on the way apparently...