Monday, July 12, 2010

More Hemlock Ring - Lots of Photos

I have finished Hemlock Ring!
Hemlock Ring isn't a difficult knit. Watching the Flower and then Feather and Fan pattern appear was exciting; it took me about a week to complete. It is ready to block but I have to order something to block it on; so it will go on hold for now! It is approximately 36" across, when blocked from feather and fan tip to tip! Hemlock is going to make a gorgeous small tablecloth for my table. These pictures are more representative of the true color of the Senso I am using. I took a lot of pictures -
This is the center stretched out to block.
Closer -
Showing some of the feather and fan section
feather and fan detailing and stretched out a bit
I found it took me 30 minutes to bind off one section. Having 8 feather and fan sections; that would make it 4 hrs to bind off the whole tablecloth.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Hemlock Ring

Hemlock Ring is a very old pattern dating back to 1942 from the book Crocheted and Knitted Doilies Book 184. Amazing! This is an incredibly beautiful knitting pattern. I truly love knitting in the round and lace. This has been a very enjoyable knit for me reminding me of hours spent with both my Grandmothers while they crocheted the most beautiful doilies, tablecloths and bedspreads I had ever laid eyes on! I have my Grandmother and Meme to thank for a love of all things crocheted and knitted. (When my Meme passed, many knitting needles were found with her crafting supplies even though she crocheted most of the time. We were quite surprised) Deciding what thread to use for Hemlock wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. Cotton, of course, like a doily; but I wanted it bigger than a doily so I would need a heavier weight cotton! Rummaging in the yarn room closet (expecting that to take all morning); I found a tub of Senso by DMC - 100% cotton! (color N 1006 - red) I see Hemlock as a great little tablecloth for a wicker chest used as a coffee table in a room who's decor is best described as "texmex cottage". (The texmex part is a talavera collection that keeps growing.) I had some difficulty deciding what size needle to use and swatching didn't help at all. Senso calls for 2.5 or 3.0mm (#1 or #2). Those were just too small as you can tell by the flower in the center. I moved up to a #4 and finally settled on a #5 on the feather and fan part. I thought this would be a challenging knit project, but it isn't. The beginning of 8 sts on dps is the only challenge. It is actually a very enjoyable lace knitting pattern making a beautiful keepsake that will last forever if knit in a quality thread/yarn. I started this on Sunday afternoon delighting in watching the knitted design grow; becoming prettier as I progressed. I could hardly put it down at night to go to bed! The picture below is a bit rumpled; but you can see some of the detail. I surely will have to block the the hell out of this to get it to lie flat; but it will be worth it.
Today is cloudy and gray due to the tropical rain showers passing through so the color of the Senso isn't true. It is more of a cherry red.
I am almost finished. I have about 8 more rows around but that "around" is a long way now. I hear the bind off takes days.....

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Can't Believe It's Already July!

Where has the year gone? It seems it was just Christmas and Bella, my Christmas present, was a tiny puppy! It would be nearly impossible to try and catch up so I will just start anew. Joe keeps us very busy - always on the go doing something. Never a dull moment; some days I think that wouldn't be so bad. This is "grandchildren" month and several will be here one or two at a time to spend a few days with us. I will be depending on caffeine to help me keep up. Even though I have been knitting constantly; I have been in a knitting funk. I haven't been really excited about anything knitting. A couple of days ago, I found Hemlock Ring (on Ravelry) and fell in love. I have not only started it; I have it nearly completed. Pictures will follow soon.