Taueret

clue 1 finished, toe up sock started

I was looking forward to posting a pic of my finished clue 1 for the MS3, but it's just not that good.  When I first finished knitting row 100,  I stretched it out with my hands, and nearly cried when it looked like the central motif was just not there.  All those YOs and it just looked like a jumble.  The edge motif was ok so I couldn't quite see how I had gotten the centre so totally out of register, yet the edging on both sides was mostly correct?  I went to bed, and literally dreamed of reknitting all 100 rows.  I knew my chart following had improved a lot as the clue progressed- the last 10 rows or so were PERFECT, as I knit each I checked it and it was perfect.  The problem was in the early rows of chart b/c.  When I got up this morning, I thought I'd pin it out on my bed and see how bad it really was- well it wasn't that bad after all.  Blocking really, REALLY matters.   There are a couple of places where a small section has a noticeable glitch, but honestly?  It passes what someone called 'the Godiva test'.  It's probably 95% right- and importantly, the final rows, where it will continue to grow it the next clue (I assume) are really truly right.  I'm treating this as a learning experience, and I'm going to insert a lifeline at row 100.  Subsequent sections, I am going to strive for perfection.  I think placing a lifeline every 10 rows sounds like a fine idea- and I like Melanie's idea of leaving the knitpicks cable behind as a lifeline- that way returning to it simply would mean screwing the tips back on.  She's clever, eh?

So- no pic of MS3, sorry. 

I started my first toe-up sock on Monday, since I knew I'd be waiting around doctor's appointments on Tuesday and the stole isn't travel knitting!  I'm using Stasia's toe up sock recipe, and the 'flickering flames' lace pattern of Nora's (only I wanted it to look like leaves and it does, knit upside down!)

I'm still not to the heel yet but I'm sure this will be a good way to get the most out of expensive sock yarn!  This is the lovely merino/cashmere http://www.theknittery.com.au/c/25291/1/4ply-sock-merino-cashmere-new.html from the Knittery.  Nice to be able to buy from an Australian vendor.  This is really, REALLY nice yarn.

spinner consumed by MS3!

Like one of those space missions that is called off on "4" (as in 4, 3, 2, 1) during the countdown to blastoff, I've had to pull the plug on my plans to travel to Victoria for the Bendigo Sheep & Wool Show later this month.  Last year I was too pregnant, and it seems that this year we're too poor.  Oh well, moving house will do that to you, and there's too much really sad news out there to let me feel too sorry for myself (although I assure  you, I do).

The MS3 has finally begun, and it is looking GORGEOUS.  There are still a few days left to get in on the fun, so hurry.  he re's mine so far:

haha, I kill me.  I'm on row 79 of 100, I'll post a better pic when I'm done with the first clue.

While waiting for MS3 to start, and in the expectation of soon replenishing my fibre stash BIG TOIME, I was busily spinning:

This is an awful picture of the bobbin of handpainted merino roving (from Mandie, natch) that I spun.  i should mention that although I have been quiet on the subject, I haven't given up on the one-handed long draw (a la Paula Simmons).  Proof that all of you who said that fibre preparation was paramount were correct: I was finally able to get it happening with this roving!  I do not know whether it is the lovely draftability of Mandie's fibre, or the strong uptake of the double drive wheel upon which I was spinning!  My prior attempts to spin like this were on my Rose, which is scotch tension.  So go figure.  Anyway, I have tasted long draw now and I likes it.  The colours of this roving are citrusy perfection- oranges, yellows, limes.  just lovely, and not at all like the photo. 

So, I then was looking around, thinking about what I would ply this with- and my eye fell on a tiny bag of astonishingly beautiful English Leicester locks that Mandie sent me ages ago, dyed in the colours I love, oranges, golds, a greenish here and there.  And lustrous...so beautiful. 

I had planned on blending it into batts, or maybe spinning locks in during plying something else...but when I picked it up, I started to spin it fine, and ohhhh what a beautiful single I ended up with.  This stuff spins from the lock so easily, and such a strong, lustrous, almost silky single.  So, I'll ply this with the citrusy merino... as soon as I finish clue 1!

three swatches side by side...

Thanks everyone who helped me by looking at yesterday's swatch (On the left in today's picture) and confirming my suspicion that it was too loose, probably.  I went down to a 2.5mm needle (the size recommended for the very fine yarn on the ball band) and the resulting swatch had a tighter texture but I think is too small, at about 4 inches wide.  I also knit a swatch with the heavier yarn I have- again I used 4mm needles and I still wonder if it isn't a bit loose?  I have ordered a 3mm needle- I think that may solve my problem- with both yarns.  So which one to use?  The second yarn feels HUGE after the first, but it is still very fine, probably 1/2 to 2/3 the weight of sock yarn.  I am tending towards using the heavier yarn on 3mm needles (so slightly smaller and tighter swatch than the largest one you see here). What do you think?

I also put a few beads into the swatch I made with the heavier yarn- they look really pretty! In this pic they look grey, but they're actually oil-on-water irridescent- you know, blue, purples, golds... dark and lovely. 

I love the look of the beads but BOY does putting them on slow my knitting down!!  I am struggling with the idea that if the outcome is worth it, it doesn't matter how slowly I go.  I wonder if I will convince myself?

This is the reason I couldn't leave my swatches pinned out to admire:

MS3 swatching + FO! Hedera!

Ok, so I have two different yarns I am considering for MS3. One is a light laceweight, and the other a slightly heavier laceweight... I'm not sure if the first one is really 'cobweb'- it's all a bit confusing.  Anyway, here is a swatch I did today of the lighter of the two yarns I have (both are plain black so at least that variable is not one I need to think about).  Here's the swatch.  It was knit on 4mm needles.  Do you think it's 'tight' enough (this is very lightly blocked)?  Should I go down a needle size?  Or up to the heavier yarn?  I will try to do a swatch with the heavier yarn tomorrow... but what do you MS3 people think, is this fabric okay?  I have never done a large lace project with such fine yarn before, and I'm not sure if the design will get lost in the openness of the stockinette at this gauge.  Please post a comment and let me know what you think.

I also finished my Hedera socks!  Yay!  I am really happy, finishing anything always makes me smile, and socks for meeee are a really nice thing to have.  They fit great and are much nicer to look at than the photo- the colours are different somehow in real life.  My cankles aren't so photogenic either!