Monday 6 August 2007

Go ahead, make my Dayflower

You might have gathered, the lace lust is strong in me right now. I cast off the Dayflower on Friday evening, shortly before reading Kuka's post containing concerns about blocking a machine -washable wool yarn! Yikes! However, after blocking on Saturday, I can report that machine washable yarn blocks just fine. See for yourself - since this is my first time blocking anything, I documented the process. KnittingDaily also very fortuitously published a Basics of Blocking article last week, so I followed that too.

Here it is unblocked, looking a little like a caterpillar. Gosh, but I was hoping blocking worked!

Then soaking in the sink. I didnt realise I had to soak for some time, and was amazed to come back after a few minutes and hear the air fizzing out of the yarn. So I left it about half an hour in the hand-warm water.



Then I laid out some towels and pinned it all out. It was a bit tricky to find the waves in the edges at first, then I got it sussed (apologies for our lurid beach towels!). Left it overnight to dry.


I am now sold on blocking. That curled up little caterpillar came out such a lovely butterfly! I can't decide which photo - from the front or back - is less flattering (winter and Germany were very unkind to me! That, and I'm a lazy git), so you get both.


And then, to ease the shock of those, here it is posed on the table in the afternoon sun (but the first image, above, is much truer to the colour).

Because I am making an effort to be more professional and organised about knitting, I've recorded all the pertinent information.

The details: Dayflower lace scarf, knitted in Cleckheaton Country 8ply, 100% wool, shade 2194. I used about 10g short of 2 balls, and did the suggested 20 reps of the pattern. Knitted on a 5 mm circ. No modifications.

Time taken: cast on July 27, cast off August 3. Very speedy given this was my first lace, first chart.

What I learnt: how to read a chart!! And that they arent scary at all. How to P2 tog tbl. That lace is very very addictive. Hurry up Kuka, Bells and Twitchy Fingers, I'm up for the Kiri!

The verdict: I really like the easy repeats of this pattern, and how quickly it knits up. I wore it at work today and got compliments all over the place (might just send in the scarf tomorrow. Dont think they'd notice I wasn't underneath it). A definite keeper.

Lace - got it sorted. Bring it on!

19 comments:

Bron said...

yay - it looks gorgeous!!!!!!!!
I'm so glad it turned out - and you're right, the bllocking is amazing!

Rose Red said...

It looks great - and so do you! I wish I looked like you - and I don't have Germany as an excuse!!

Lace is great isn't it. And blocking. Fabulous!

Bells said...

George! You finished! It's fabulous. OK, ok, I'm catching up. I just cast off my gift scarf tonight. So i'm on it!

Good work!

happyspider said...

oooh congrats, so pretty!
how about a nice lace sock to tide you over? ;)

Michelle said...

Oh, that's beautiful! (and you look just fine - stop worrying!)

I hear you on the blocking. I did my first steam blocking the other week and I am SO sold on it. Now when I'm making something and it's going a little awry, I just say "Oh, it will block out". I'm a shocker.

MadMad said...

That is just stunning!!! Love it!

Five Ferns Fibreholic said...

Hurrah for ugly beach towels....don't know what I'd do without them.....and here's to hoping that I won't be a lazy git this winter......

Denise said...

Fantastic job George! Yeah, blocking is watery magic madness, it is amazing how different the lace looks afterwards.

I like your idea about sending in the scarf to work instead of you - I'm SURE this could work, worth a try!

And stop your fussing, woman - you look wonderful as ever - I'm happy to swap tummies if you really want something to worry about, LOL! ;)

Tanya said...

Wonderful!!! You've done a beautiful job. And your bum does NOT look big in that. lol

What sort of workplace agreement could a scarf negotiate, I wonder?

Polly said...

That truely is a gorgeous scarf.

Margie said...

Gorgeous. You'll be wanting to swap all your needles for really pointy ones now to speed up your lace creating :)

I haven't been brave enough to try a chart yet myself...
Still haven't figured out if you're meant to weave back and forth or read every row right to left. Or whether it matters?

Neet said...

Wow! That's beautiful George! So impressive!! And your words about blocking are encouraging... I've never tried it either... but definitely will now!!! :)
(and you look great, I don't know what you're worried about!!)

DrK said...

oh now thats fancy!! if you can do that georgina you can do socks. i agree with ms spider. matching lace socks are now required!! and you, are of course, gorgeous :)

Shazmina Bendi said...

Scarf looks great, will be adding that pattern to my "must do" list. have you decided on a Clap(otis) colour yet??

Kate said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kate said...

Last deleted comment was mine - I missed where your wrote in the time! 19th August 7.30pm is locked in for your guess : )

Anonymous said...

Its gorgeousness and your cleverness have inspired me to give the Dayflower a try.

Em said...

What a lovely scarf! There is nothing wrong with being scared of socks. I'll tell you what, though, they look like horribly, misshapen lumps of yarn on a bunch of needles for the first few rows, it's really quite scary. But once you get about five rows deep, they start looking like socks (well, okay, tubes, but socks have parts that look like tubes, right?)

If you want lurid beach towels, you should come see the ones the natives sport at Atlantic City, the unofficial tackiest place in America. Stop up for a visit, I'll show you around some time!

MadMad said...

Me again! Guess what I just started... Yup! And in a very similar color, it turns out. Ahhhh, the power of suggestion, coupled with a weak, susceptible mind... Ah well. At least you're using your powers for good, right?