…is definitely a “Y” and wear it with less shame than I probably ought. Temptation, thy name is “Lilura.”
Delicious!
As if my plate weren’t full enough, I cast on for something else last night. Sometimes when designing something, I am trying to evoke a certain aesthetic, other times I am letting the yarn tell its story, and still others I am attempting to solve a problem. The latter is the most infuriating kind of design but can also be the most rewarding when you finally have a “Eureka!” moment, as I finally did yesterday.
After knitting the Aestlight shawl, I was enthralled with the construction because it was this way and that and new-to-me all over, but sad that it came out so small (it was my own fault; I didn’t think through the given measurements). Part of the reason it was so small is—well, I made the small version, duh! AND—that it used one skein of fingering weight yarn and was primarily worked in garter stitch, which is known to eat yarn like Joey Chestnut eats hot dogs. I find it’s a lot easier to design a lot of things in garter stitch, and that the same design can be exponentially more complicated in stockinette (or some other stitch pattern). The other issue with garter stitch is it’s almost twice as much knitting since it’s so compressed! There has to be a better way.
My design criteria is as follows:
- triangle-shaped scarf
- uses roughly 400-440 yards (366-402 meters)
- stockinette stitch basis and a beautiful [original?] lace stitch pattern at the edge
- reversible
- end up with something generously sized
Want a sneak peek of the item thus far? Of course you do!
The best part is that thus far the way I’m doing it makes for really quick knitting as well. I hope people like it. The yarn I’m using was purchased at Urban Fiber Arts in Portland, OR; it’s a new yarn from Mountain Meadow Wool, which is probably my favorite line of yarns right now. It’s called “Lilura” and is a fawn-colored alpaca/merino blend yarn. It’s scrumptiously soft and the natural color is gorgeous. Another view of a different part of the scarf:
Now to get everything else off the needles (Qinghai Jacket, an as yet unnamed necklace pattern, and adding some sleeves to a top for the spring/summer collection) so I can begin this in earnest—well, this and another thing that is also for spring/summer anyway…