From Single to Scarf
Last night, for the first night in what seems like decades, I got a chance to go to the KIP at Letizia's on Division. My rainbow handpun and my copy of Barbara Walker's first edition came with me. While I discovered one thing that I already know -- that I cannot talk and knit lace at the same time -- I also settled on a pattern and got enough started to that I could see whether my striping idea was going to work out.
The pattern I chose with help from the folks at KIP (which will be completely unidentifyable from the picture below) was the HorseShoe Lace pattern (click here for the best example I could find quickly). I wanted something not too complicated, but something that undulated a little bit and would show off any striping that occurred.
This is roughly one interval of color progression in my handspun and 4 intervals of the lace pattern. I've got 3 intervals of the lace unit across. For the sake of jogging my memory later on, I cast on 31 stitches (the pattern interval is 10 stitches + 1) on us size 7 (4.5 mm) needles. Why that size? Because I don't have bamboo circs size 6 or size 8 that I can find right now and I wanted to have a surface that wasn't too slippery.
I'm still trying to decide whether I think it's going to be garish or wonderful. The colors in the photo are pretty true (thanks to my trusty old Nikon CoolPix). I have a feeling that no matter what pattern I pick, it's going to be a little lost in the color since the colors are fairly saturated.
I know to make a real judgement, I should block it, but I'd love to hear opinions, suggestions, etc. Should I keep going? Should I turn back? Should I use a smaller needle? There's still plenty of time to revise this plan.
I'd keep going. It looks really lovely to me. Quite wonderful. I think blocking will only enhance it.
As the kids said in my oldest's first year montessori class, I like it!
I did a horseshoe lace pattern in a variagated yarn recently - blocking REALLY enhanced it - I think you will find that with blocking the lace pattern will pop and the colour changes will be less distracting - yet still attractive.
I like it! I think it is really pretty. And with your fair complexion I think it will look lovely. Go for it. Think how cute it will look with jeans (or a denim skirt) on a cool Spring evening.
I picture everything I knit with a denim skirt. Something may be wrong with me...
Me likey! Keep going!
I'm loving it, personally! It really "pops". I think it will make a terrific scarf- a nice splash of color over something solid.
Those colors are amazing! I'm going to agree with the majority and say keep it up, looks great!
Don't stop! I think it looks beautiful. Love the stripeys.
Keep on going....I love those colors!
I think it looks really nice. I love the colours and I would keep going.
Joining the chorus, I say keep going. The colors look beautiful!
Wow. The spinning looked nice before, but it was hard to imagine what it would look like done up. If you want a really floaty scarf, then I would keep going on as you have. If you want a less floaty scarf, then I would go down a size or two in the needles.
Oh, Yes, Theresa, keep on knitting ~ I think it will be lovely!
I'd say keep going--show off those singles!!
How beautiful! I'm still jealous of the spinning abilities.
Keep going - it looks wonderful! You are so talented. :-)
Well, I'm going to go against the tide - hope you still talk to me! - but I think the pattern is getting lost as the colour seems to be the dominant part. The colours are brilliant, so I would suggest looking for something that shows it up, especially as the colours won't match up exactly with the horseshoe pattern (although that's not essential anyway). Maybe something like the undulating dropped stitch rows with the garter stitch rows alternating (I can't think of the name of the pattern off hand, but I could look it up if you like).
Definitely keep going. I think that it will be very pretty once it's done and blocked.
You've got real talent for the spinning! I like the scarf quite a bit as well. If you don't like the horizontal stripes, try a scarf with a diagonal set up - takes stripes nicely as well.
Well I think your handspun looks beautiful! I'm very impressed! I think you should keep going with the scarf.
Myself, I haven't yet dared to try spinning because I really don't need another hobby! :-)
I love the colours, and I think it will sow off the lace nicely once it is blocked. lace always looks like a bunch of yarn loop (which it is, I guess...) till it's been blocked. I am curious to know whether the scarf will skew after it has been blocked because of the energy on the singles. I have not tried knitting the singles I have spun yet.