Trying Lace

So I thought I'd venture into knitting lace. The Shetland Shawl, specifically.

I had to frog the cast on and first four rows FOUR times. When I finally got it right I put in a lifeline!

I am making progress but it takes lots of concentration.

Fortunately this pattern's wrong side is basically just purling back across, so I follow the right side row as I purl making sure my stitches match in number and type. I have already found and fixed a missed yarn over that way.

If you've never done it, it's easy to create a yarn over if you miss one, if you notice on the next row. Just lift the strand between the needles. Same for fixing an accidental yarn over created by forgetting to move the yarn front to back between purls and knits (or vice versa): just drop the extra yarn over and it becomes the strand between the needles.

Update: 30 Jan 2011, ten days after starting this project

It's been a busy week at work and I finally have a little time to add to this project.

Hillary's Twin Love Hat

Another simple baby hat.

This one starts with a very stretchy cast on -- use the long tail cast on but hold two needles together when performing it so that your initial row is loose, making the edge nice and stretchy.

This hat was done using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (3 skeins needed for the color work - pink, white, and red).

I used US size 6 needles. You'll need one marker for the end of the row.

Cast on 72 (or any multiple of 8 to adjust for size) using the long tail cast on demonstrated at KnittingHelp.com.

1x1 ribbing:
Knit one, purl one around for 6 rows in pink.
Knit one, purl one around for 3 rows in white.
Knit the knits in red and purl the purls in white for one row.
Knit one, purl one around for 3 rows in white.
Knit one, purl one around for 3 rows in pink.

(should yield about 2" of 1x1 ribbing)

Stockinette:
Knit all stitches for 2 rows in pink.
Knit one red, knit one pink for one row.
Knit all stitches for 2 rows in pink.

Knit all stitches in white 6 rows.
Knit 3 in white, one in red, for one row.
Knit all stitches in white for 6 rows.

Knit all stitches in pink for 3 rows

(Should yield a total of about 5.25" from cast on edge)

Decrease to close:
*Knit 6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
Knit all stitches
*Knit 5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
Knit all stitches
*Knit 4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
Knit all stitches
*Knit 3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
Knit all stitches
*Knit 2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
Knit all stitches
*Knit 1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
Knit all stitches
*K2tog, repeat from * to end of round
Knit all stitches
You can leave a long tail and thread it (on a tapestry needle) through the loops and draw tight to close. Alternatively, repeat the row of k2tog and then close. Pass yarn to inside of hat. Weave in all loose ends.