Oh Fiddlesticks!

We've Moved

2004-10-28T18:23:00.000-04:00

The Fiddlesticks Knit Along blog has moved to:
http://www.ashidome.com/fiddlesticks/.

Please update your bookmarks and come join us!

(If you are already a Knit Along member, you will receive an email tonight with information on how to log in and post. In the meantime, go check the site out and let me know if there are any missing items or breaks!)

Liz

Trouble with BlogSpot

2004-10-28T13:39:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,

As you may have noticed, Blogger has been acting up A LOT recently. I was unable to access it all day yesterday and today I have had major problems trying to publish. I am now unable to delete "test" posts that I have put up. I've spent the better part of my day trying to figure out what the problem is so that I can solve it, to no avail. I have decided to move the blog onto my web server since this will be a much more stable platform for us to use.

Rest assured that none of the previous posts or comments will be lost since I can easily copy them from this blog. I can even use the same design for the blog, so there should be very little disruption once things move over.

The most important things to take note of will be the address changes. When the blog does move, I will email each of you with the details you need for accessing the blog and posting.

Sorry for all the drama. In retrospect, this is what I should have done in the first place, but didn't. Please bear with me during this transitional period.

Your Knit Along Hostess,
Liz

test

2004-10-28T13:02:00.000-04:00

test

2004-10-28T11:58:00.000-04:00

test

Lace Knitting Tips - Russian Join

2004-10-28T11:16:00.000-04:00

Unless you have a fantastically huge skein, you will probably have to join balls of yarn to your knitting. That means that later on you will have to weave in those ends to hide them.

You can eliminate this additional work if you use the Russian Join technique. And, unlike spit splicing, the yarn does not have to be 100% wool.

Instructions for the Russian Join can be found here and here.

If your yarn does happen to be 100% wool, you can further seal the yarn by doing a modification of the "spit splice". Once the Russian Join is complete, lick both your palms, put the joined yarn in one palm, and rub it until the fibers mesh together.

Hope this tip proves helpful in getting rid of pesky yarn ends!

I got my pattern!

2004-10-27T19:45:00.000-04:00

I got my pattern for the Garden Shawl this week, but have no yarn yet. I'll give Mr. Postman a few more days. If I don't see a box this week, I might have to just go buy more yarn. No. I'll resist. I'll be patient and start whenever the yarn decides to arrive. I'll just play with the pattern with some other yarn... yes, that's it... play with other yarn...

Small Swatches

2004-10-27T16:06:00.000-04:00

I swatched for the Flirty Ruffles Shawl!!! It was such fun to actually have to concentrate on a tough project, it's been a while. You can click here for a pre-blocked picture, or here for a post-blocking picture of it. Please note the mistake I made in the middle of the swatch. Yes, that is a misplaced eyelet. Feel free to heckle me. I can take it.

I am a tight knitter so my swatch is about an inch smaller than what it was supposed to be, but I still like how it looks. I probably like how it looks more with this needle size than if I were to go up a size. I'm also fairly short so I am thinking that I might not need to match my gauge to make sure I get a wide enough shawl, any width would probably do the trick. I might swatch on a size up just to see what I can get out of it, but I am thinking it would probably be okay to go ahead and make the shawl at the smaller gauge anyway.

Does anyone have any warnings on this? This is my first shawl and I'm just wondering if gauge really matters for this type of thing. Thanks in advance!

Did I Hear My Name?

2004-10-27T10:14:00.000-04:00

Howdy y'all!

Really Snowball, just because I inundate you with copious amounts of links to sock yarn sellers - that makes me an enabler? Hee! She's right, I'm completely guilty as charged!

This time my frugal yarn shopping may have backfired on me a bit. I ordered my "kit" for the Flirty Ruffles Shawl from The Knitter. Unfortunately Judy emailed me that she doesn't expect the pattern in until this week, and the yarn is not coming in until next week. Oh well, that gives me a little chance to get caught up on my over zealous to-do list.

I look forward to seeing all the beautiful shawls emerging. Thanks Liz for hosting a great knitalong!

You can find me hanging out at I Hide Yarn

Pictures of progress

2004-10-26T13:52:00.000-04:00

Thanks for not lambasting me ladies! And per Liz's request I put pictures of my progress on my blog as I haven't figured out how to post pictures on Blogger! :)

I'm at limpidity.org/liz You'll have to add the www of course, but again Blogger is not coming easily to me. Sorry!

Starting Early

2004-10-26T13:13:00.000-04:00

Just a clarification: Although the "official" start date for the Knit Along is November 1st, there is absolutely no reason that folks can't start early if they want / need to / are itching to play with their yarn.

I chose November 1st because several people expressed the need to have some time before beginning. I, personally, wanted to finish Lara and my baby aran. But if you're able to, by all means, get started!

There are no rules to this knit along. Just relax and have fun and let us know how it's going.

Cheating...

2004-10-25T17:17:00.000-04:00

I must confess that I started my shawl last night. I swatched and finally found the perfect needle size, (8US) and couldn't resist the siren song of the Peacock. I must also say I am thrilled at fantastic charts and instructions on the pattern! I don't think I will ever be able to go back to all written instructions on a lace pattern again. :)

One note to those of you doing Peacock, I think the swatch instructions might have an error. Based on the number of rows the pattern lists for size and the fact it is to be a square, I did 4 repeats, not 6 of the 8 rows to come up with 36 rows total and was spot on.

I swatched twice, knowing that I knit very tightly I started with 6's instead of 4's to swatch. I could only manage to block the swatch out to 6" and decided 7's weren't going to give me a whole extra inch, so I opted for swatching with 8's and it was perfect.

I started early because I am laid up at home with sinusitis and laryngitis, so what better activity for someone cooped up for the next 3 days?! :)

I did 20 rows last night and felt guilty for starting. It's such fun to knit though! And so lovely!

Excited about getting started?

2004-10-24T15:56:00.000-04:00

I'm Snow, which isn't actually my name, of course, but due to a weird ex-husband, nasty divorce, and a restraining order, I do everything I can to remain anonymous.

I've been knitting on and off since I was about seven years old, but I wouldn't say I'm an expert. I've knit a handful of lacy shawls in my day, but they've all fallen into the pitifully easy category. I'm hoping I can handle the challenge of the Peacock Feathers shawl without tearing everything out too many times.

I blog at The Adventures of a Snowball in Hell, which wasn't originally begun as a knitting blog, although it's gradually developed more of a knitting focus since I took Bliss's advice and started knitting socks when I was under stress this past summer. She's also the one who inspired me to join this knitalong, so look out for her. She's great at aiding and abetting a knitting addict.

2004-10-23T15:17:00.000-04:00

Greetings from Western PA!!,

I just wanted to introduce myself as the newest member of this knit-a-long. I'm excited to join as I have knitted a sweater with lace in it; however, it wasn't as extensive as this pattern. So, I'm going to get my lifelines, post-it notes, counter, and whatever else I need to finish this project. I am knitting the lacy lattice Stole in a brown, almost walnut-colored alpaca yarn. The yarn is from a local Alpaca farm and I have enough to do the project. I get cold in the winter (I'm only 36 years old, but I've been this way all my life) and this will help keep me warm.

I am married, with two small children (ages 28 and 10 months) so they keep me busy. I love to knit, especially doing felted projects and I really, really enjoy dying my yarn using kool-aid.

Looking forward to "meeting" everybody and seeing the progress of this KAL.

Please check out my blog to see what I'm knitting.

Salutations

2004-10-22T13:52:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!

I'm Eileene (or Iko if you prefer) and I'm a web developer in Northern New Jersey. I'm going to be working on the Daisy Meadow Scarf for my grandmother in the Philippines. I have a button of the Artisan NZ Merino Lace Weight yarn that I purchased a while ago off e-bay for a good price and had the project in place, but haven't started. The knit-along is a great excuse for me to get cracking on it! I've received the pattern from Fiddlesticks Knitting (so quickly!) and the needles are already set aside. I can't wait to get started!

Lace Knitting Tips - Row Counters

2004-10-22T11:48:00.000-04:00

In the comments for Lace Knitting Tips, Martha asked "Do you ever use a row counter?"

I personally use a row counter and back it up with a pad and pen. The reason is that I mainly use one of those "kacha" row counters -- you know, the red one you press on to advance the number. There have been a few times when the row counter has advanced itself because it was sloppily tossed into my knitting bag!

The method that works best for me is to write out all the row numbers. I then use the row counter while knitting to keep track of what I'm doing. At the end of my knitting, I check off all the rows that I have done. The other benefit to writing out all the rows is that you can make notes next to each row number. For example, if you're supposed to increase every four rows seven times, you can write "INC" next to the increase row number. A quick glance at the sheet will let you know while you're working if you're on an increase row or not.

I think the reason I like writing things down so much is that you can look back at your notes and relive the process. You can also leave yourself notes on what choices you might have made regarding technique (K2Tog or SSK), measurement changes, pattern adjustments, etc. I could go on, but you get the point. You can also see how long it took you to knit the piece and how consistently you worked on it. Because of my notes, I was able to pick up a baby sweater that I had left lying dormant for seven months.

So, long story short, yes, I do use row counters. Quite frequently, in fact. And, since I use circular needles more often than not, I've switched to the kind of row counter that you slide onto the needle (see below). These don't advance on their own and because they're on the needle cable, I don't have to go fishing for them.

(BTW, I will gladly host images for anyone who doesn't have a blog.)

Finally

2004-10-21T21:24:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone.

My name is Alison and I'm so very excited about this knit along. This is my first and I am also very new to the blogging scene. So please bear with me. Thank you to Liz for her patience and help geting me set up. I'm going to try the Lattice Stole pattern and have some wool/silk blend lace weight yarn to use. I've started a gauge swatch. It seems OK, but my question is just how much should I relax my normal tension for lace knitting?

Lace Knitting Tips

2004-10-21T14:05:00.000-04:00

Here are some lace knitting tips that may be of some help during the Knit Along:

Get some stitch markers. Lots of them. More importantly, use them! Put stitch markers between each repeat. Use different colored stitch markers to show edges versus body; pattern 1 versus pattern 2; etc. Trust me, they will save your sanity. You'll be able to count back and check to see if you ended your repeat appropriately and it will be easier to spot errors.

When unsure, use a lifeline. You can use unwaxed dental floss (or any yarn that is very fine and smooth) to do this. Just thread a yarn needle and run your lifeline through all the stitches after a row of plain knitting or purling. That way, if you make a mistake you can't fix, your lifeline will let you rip back to a clean row where you can begin again. Keep track of which row you've run your lifeline on. Also, remember to move your lifeline up as you knit. I tend to rethread the lifeline after completing a pattern repeat.

Take notes. Jot everything down in a small notebook. Where you left off. What row you were working. If there were any changes you made to the pattern. Basically, write what is important to you. I usually date my entries so that I know when I did what. For example, if I started a new project on October 1st, my notes would read "10/1/04: cast on 24 with two extra for selvedge. NOTE: selvedge not in pattern. worked ten rows. pick up with right side row." I prefer using a bound notebook as opposed to stickies or loose paper because it allows me to flip back and check what I've done.

If you haven't done this already, run, do not walk, to your nearest copy machine and make a copy of your pattern. Make two copies -- one to mark up and one to refer to when you need a clean copy. Put the original in a safe place. Invest in some of those plastic sleeve protectors while you're at it. Personally, I make four copies of my pattern. I take one and put all the pages in sleeve protectors. I use post it notes to mark my rows. A second, un-sleeved copy, travels along also. The other two copies? "Just in case" copies. Just in case I spill a whole cup of Swiss Almond Copy with milk all over my desk. Just in case my dog decides to eat one of the sleeved ones. You get the picture.

Some of you are going to cringe at this one, but you should learn to read lace charts. Some patterns come with written out directions but it can be difficult to tell what row you are working on at a glance. Charts are usually written in such a way that the chart looks like what the knitting will look like. You can also mark the rows off on a chart, as you complete them, to help you keep track of your progress.

Use Post-It notes to mark your row on a chart by putting one above and below the row you're working. This creates a narrow window and you'll cover up rows that you're not working on and lessen your confusion. You can also cut a piece of paper for this and paper clip it to your pattern.

If you have any other tips to share, let me know and I will add them to this list.

Great Design

2004-10-21T13:12:00.000-04:00

The new site is great, and the buttons are fantastic I'm definitely excited about my first official knit-along. I finally put up my own blog (http://mrspilkington.typepad.com)and am looking forward to chronicling Fiddlesticks progress. I decided against using the Lavold wool/silk for my Florence scarf, so am still deciding on yarn. Looking forward to seeing everyone's projects!

Amazing!

2004-10-20T15:42:00.000-04:00

The buttons are amazing. Very nice. I like what you did with the logo.

I'm so ready to get my yarn (ordered from Webs) and pattern (ordered from Fiddlesticks) and my needle (purchased a few weeks ago at Purl) all going.
Now I just need to get a camera to take "in progress" pictures.

I also spent a little time today looking at all the blogs. You guys are great. My virtual hat off to all of you.

Katy

Buttons Galore!

2004-10-20T14:56:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,

We're now up to 16 people who have accepted the invitation to participate! I've added everyone's name to the sidebar, but didn't know everyone's projects. If your project isn't listed, please email me and let me know what you are thinking of making.

You may have noticed that I've changed the blog template. The other one was nice but a bit too busy for me. I didn't have the time to create a new one from scratch so I chose what I thought was the most elegant one. I've also created a logo for our knit along and tons of buttons! There is a button for every single Fiddlesticks knitting patterns, so go snag one for your blog?

Just two weeks before we officially begin. I'm excited; are you?

I have made a decision!

2004-10-16T19:41:00.000-04:00

I'll be doing the Creatures of the Reef shawl. I've been eyeing the pattern for awhile. What can I say: I like fish. I got 8 oz of Cherry Tree Hill lace yarn off ebay the other night in a really nice blue colorway. So I am ready! At least as soon as my stuff gets mailed to me :)

Yarn found

2004-10-13T13:40:00.000-04:00

After an unending battle with my local yarn shop ("Where's my Koigu?" "In the mail" (2 weeks pass) "Where's my Koigu?" "In the mail" (repeat for 4 months)), I've finally managed to buy some Koigu from the lovely Ellen at needlesandpins.ca. Highly recommended - not only does she have a heap of Koigu in stock, but she and her staff can quickly describe all the colors to you and get it shipped out the next day. Should be here tomorrow! Not associated with her at all except that I'm so happy to find good customer service at a yarn shop. Finally.

Flirty Ruffles!

2004-10-12T15:06:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!

My name is Crystal and I am a yarn-aholic... Oh, wrong place, right? Well why I am really here is to say that I am joining the Fiddlesticks Knit along with their Flirty Ruffles Shawl. I think I liked it the best because of it's vintage appeal. I ordered my kit last week, and anxiously await for it's arrival.

As for knitting lace in the past, I have a bit of experience with it. I took a lace knitting class when I lived in Toronto, and loved it! Ever since then I pick up little bits here and there, but have never completed a huge lace piece before. I also have a blog at www.knitfreak.com where I write about my yarn obession.

I'm looking forward to knitting along with all of you!

Introduction

2004-10-12T13:29:00.000-04:00

Hello all,

I'm a new mom and writer in New York. I'm going to do one of the Florence Scarves. This will be my first attempt at lace knitting, and I'm looking forward to working on it with you all. I'd like to try it in some blue Elsepeth Lavold silky wool that I have, but I'm not sure if that would be too heavy and ruin the look of the design. I have way too many WIPs, but this knit-along was too good to pass up!

Yarn Substitution Game

2004-10-11T16:11:00.000-04:00

http://www.yarn.com/yarns/zephyr.html

I'm trying to find my perfect yarn. Could someone please tell me if this yarn would be suitable for the Garden Shawl? I don't know what 18-20 epi means and can't seem to find a weaving dictionary. I think this might be ok, but I would like some "more expert than me" opinions. If you care, I'm thinking about either the Plum or the Sable color. This would be way more yarn than I need for this project, but I don't care about that right now.

Thanks for the help,
Katy