Knitalong?

[laughingrat]

Wendy Johnson released her Argus shawlette pattern today (Ravelry link) and I'm really liking the look of it. It would knit up pretty quick as lace projects go, I think, and probably be both a decent first lace project for people and a relaxing project for more experienced laceknitters. Anyone here want to do some kind of informal knitalong? Maybe not have a separate community just for it, but just something here?

Also, until the end of the month, she's donating 50% of the profits from the pattern sales to relief efforts for Haiti, so that's cool.

Comments

[kareila]

I'd love to join in! I might have to wait a few weeks to get started, though, since I managed to promise something like four pairs of fingerless gloves to people this month. :)

[laughingrat]

OMG! That's a lot of knitting. I'm just now finally getting the urge to spin and knit again (I get into a depressed slump in the winter, moreso than usual I mean, so I tend to be unable to do much of my fiber stuff then) and now my hands are kinda jacked up. Stupid hands. Point IS, I admire the folks who are able to speed-knit at the moment. :)

EDIT: When d'you think it'd be enough to have an informal KAL? Two people? Three? I'm trying to get a pal to join in and I mentioned it at the DW comm on Ravelry, too. Although we're probably all over there, so it's likely overlap.

Assuming the mods are groovy with it, it might be handy to have a knitalong tag--maybe just a generic one, since this isn't a hugely active comm yet and it's not like we have seven KALs going at the moment or anything. Maybe I should ask a mod (or they'll just see this tomorrow and state their preference).

[kareila]

I am flexible. But this would be my first lace project, so having at least one person available to help me through it would be a good thing. :)

[laughingrat]

Well, even if it's just us two, we could still show off progress pics and talk about the pattern! :)

[zats_clear]

and the rest of us would love to see. another KAL, I will likely join. I am still on my own exploration of how to knit and increasing my skill sets!

[uninvitedcat]

I'm cautiously interested! (Cautious because I'm not a very experienced knitter, and Other Stuff has a habit of hijacking my knitting time)

[laughingrat]

Hey, I hear you. My hands randomly jack themselves up, and I go through Sloughs of Despond where I can't stand to do anything creative, so there's long stretches where no knitting occurs.

The pattern is charted, which many people find easier to understand because it allows them to "read" their knitting more easily, but if there's anyone who has trouble with charts, we might be able to work up a written-out version too. I think as long as one purchased the pattern that would be considered fair use.

[uninvitedcat]

I've bought the pattern! And after a day or so of peering at it, and googling some terminology, I think I understand the instructions.

The pattern does look to be a good one to start on (although I reserve the right to change my mind when I'm half way through it and it's all going wrong!).

Now I just need to find out what "fingering weight' wool is (4-ply? Babyweight? All the same thing?) and to locate somewhere with a long enough circular needle I can buy. And then I'd be all set for my very first lace-work and my very first knit-along!

[kareila]

I think fingering weight and baby weight are usually the same thing? There's also a "lace weight" which I understand is lighter than fingering.

My main concern going in will be figuring out how to block such a large project... but of course I won't be ready to do that until the very end, so I'm trying not to worry about it too far in advance.

[laughingrat]

I think you're right about fingering being babyweight. I've seen Regia sock yarn referred to as 4-ply, too, so that should be equivalent. A rough way to compare, without yarns in front of you, is length per weight; like, if a yarn is 450 yards/4 oz., I'm pretty sure it'll be fingering weight. That can vary depending on the density of the yarn, but it's still a useful guide.

I mostly block on my bed! Just peel the top sheet back and you've got a nice open surface. It usually only takes a few hours for a blocked shawl to dry, since you squeeze out most of the water before blocking it. It's just one of those things you have to schedule, because doing it at the last minute can be a disaster. I blocked my last shawl while I was hungry, and my blood-sugar crashed partway through--not a good experience. 0_o

[kareila]

I hadn't thought of that. Yeah, I'd definitely want to do that first thing in the morning. *laughs*

I have a scarf blocking on a towel in the floor right now. I've been using a mister to get it wet after pinning.

[sedge]

Fingering is generally 4-ply. Babyweight is sometimes called "light fingering" in the US.

[uninvitedcat]

Thank you!

[antisoppist]

Cautiously interested too. I'm comfortable with fair-isle and aran and very thick socks, but lace is this complicated scary thing other people do and it might be nice to have some moral support in getting over that.

[laughingrat]

Oo, maybe we can do a Fair Isle KAL at some point. It would be nice to work through a project alongside knitters who've actually done stranded knitting!

[antisoppist]

Sounds like a good plan.

[willidan]

I am interested, but I also have a lot of projects on my plate right now. (must finish quilt for my niece before March!) But I love the pattern and definitely want to dip my toes into the lace/shawl pool.

[laughingrat]

Oh dear, is it a full-size quilt? Quilting is so work-intensive, but it's such an awesome craft.

[willidan]

It's a twin size, but yes, it is labor intensive. I'm half done, so hopefully I'll have it done by March. *whimper* I hope.

[aunty_marion]

I've looked, and it is lovely! (Though ... do I really need another shawl?) However, I'm currently working my way through Hex (from Fall Knitty 2009), and am doing Ysolda Teague's Ishbel shawl for the Ravelympics next month, so my slate's pretty full at the moment.

(Have queued the pattern and put it on my gifting wish-list, though!)

[laughingrat]

Oh, I wanna do Ishbel. It looks very pretty. It seems like folks would want to start at least February, if not a little later. Maybe, since this an informal kinda thing anyway, we could just do a semi-official "Yes, this is a KAL now" post with basic info and specs on the pattern, info about tagging your post, and then run from there? I like the idea of a loosely-organized KAL anyway, the tightly scheduled ones put my teeth on edge. :-D

[aunty_marion]

A friend has bought me the Argus pattern for my birthday! I'm not ready to do it yet, though - I want to finish Hex first, I don't think I should have two lace patterns on the needles at the same time...

[kareila]

Hey Rat, are you ready to go with this? I've bought my yarn and would like to get started after Ravelympics is over. :)

[laughingrat]

Yeah! I was wondering if people would be favorable to starting then, but hadn't wanted to make another post about it yet. ;) When's the Ravelympics over, in a week or two?

[kareila]

End of Feb, yes. How about we say first week of March?

[laughingrat]

Sounds awesome to me. What do you think: a brief announcement firming up the date, then on the day, an official, "OK we're started"? I don't want to flood the comm with Argus Shawlette KAL posts, but figure that people won't all be coming back to this post's comments to find out more.

[kareila]

Yeah, an announcement now will give people time to gather their materials if they haven't already, to be ready to start when we do.

Then once we get going, maybe every few days we can do a "how's it going" type post and show our progress in comments?

[laughingrat]

I like that idea! It keeps the KAL posts neatly sequestered and will avoid bothering folks who aren't interested. *ponders* Would it be too much pressure for the folks who knit slowly, though? And when would we stop posting them? (Which is kind of tied to question 1.)

[kareila]

I don't know if it will feel pressuring. I know that I find pictures of other people's progress inspires me to knit faster, not to give up. :)

I'd say stop making regular posts whenever comments taper off, with the understanding that anyone who is still working on the project at that point is welcome to make their own post if they finish later or need help. What do you think?

[laughingrat]

I think it seems like a reasonable solution--it's the group's first KAL, and we might as well try it!