Peace of Mind Organizing

Olympic training

29 July 2008

In anticipation of finishing the lace squares from the Learn to Knit Afghan for the Ravelympics, I picked up a lace project that I’d abandoned a couple of years ago. It’s the Branching Out scarf, a lovely bit of lace that I knit out of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool. I decided that Branching Out would help me train for the Knitting Olympics (which start August 8), so that my fingers and mind would get accustomed to knitting lace.

With the support of the entire first season of Mad Men, I finished the scarf in just eight days. Here’s a picture. Isn’t it pretty? It was really fun to knit.

My first successful attempt at lace!

Incidentally, I used Knit Picks Options Harmony wood circular needle tips with this project, for the first time. I’d resisted them because I think they’re ugly, but they were really fantastic for this project, because they had a little bit of grippiness (is that a word?). Also, I’m now a huge believer in lifelines put in one every ten rows and it saved me from having to unravel more than ten rows at a time. The Knit Picks Options interchangeable needles make it very easy to insert lifelines.

I still have ten days to train in lace before getting started on my Olympic event, so I’m going to pick up another abandoned lace project, the Estonian Garden Wrap. I purchased the pattern and the yarn about six months ago at my local yarn shop Knitorious and managed to get about 20 rows done before giving up, once again, in frustration. Last night, I picked it up again and I’m happy to report it’s not as daunting as it was last year. I’m using Alpaca with a Twist Fino yarn, a lace-weight baby alpaca/silk blend, in Dutchess Blue. It’s heavenly.

Here’s the picture of the the Estonian Garden Wrap that came with the pattern.

I’m hopeful that when I finish, it will at least resemble that beautiful photograph!

I’m so thrilled to be revisiting lace. It’s such an interesting challenge and I think my knitting will become much more interesting once I’m completely comfortable with it.

Tagged with: knitpicks, knitting needles, knitting olympics, learn to knit afghan, yarn

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