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

[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!