Beaded Lace Shawl
I'm going to show you my little progress on the beaded lace shawl I started last weekend at the retreat, but first I'll share this little sisterly moment.
They snuggled up sort of spontaneously under this crocheted ackrilic afghan my maternal grandmother made for me when I was a teenager. I normally don't allow food on the couch, but they were so cute together I decided not to fight that fight.
Okay, so one of the many chunks of yarn that I'd brought along as possible shawl materials for this retreat was some handspun that I'd made from Louet Northern Lights roving back in August. It doesn't look like much in this picture, but it adds up to 300 yards and change in DK to worsted weight.
I'd been wondering just what to do with this amount of yarn, as happy as I was with it - it wasn't all that much, but too much for some small projects, and I hated the idea of either not using it mostly up or needing more than what I have.
As I listened to Candace talk about her shawls, I knew this would be just right. They're knit from the top down, increasing stitches along the way, so it would be fairly easy to use up just about all the yarn. Plus, she had this design with lots of lacy holes, which helps to stretch the relatively small yardage out bigger. I'm happy with the idea of a smallish shawl that I can wear around to dress up my plain mommy-uniform t-shirts just a bit and add some warmth without the super-coziness of a full sweater.
It doesn't look like much on the needles right now - of course.
I've used less than half of the yarn I have so far, so I'm pretty sure the thing will at least be big enough to reach around my shoulders and allow a shawl-pin closure in front.
Here's a close up of the stitch pattern, including the nicely spaced sprinkling of beads that Candace suggested. She had us try the crochet-hook method of inserting the beads onto the stitch after it is knit - which I think is perfect for this rate of adding beads only every eight rows.
Two common concerns about adding beads to knitting are the added weight stretching out the fabric, and I think this will be few enough widely enough spaced not to cause a problem; and worrying about the feel of cold beads against skin. It seems to me that by putting the beads on the way I am, and only in a spot above a double decrease, is keeping them mostly to the "right" side of the fabric, which will keep them mostly away from the skin-touching side. Perfect!
I'm hoping to have this one done in just a couple weeks. It's a fun, fast knit. Next time, some pictures of the fiber I brought home from my weekend!
They snuggled up sort of spontaneously under this crocheted ackrilic afghan my maternal grandmother made for me when I was a teenager. I normally don't allow food on the couch, but they were so cute together I decided not to fight that fight.
Okay, so one of the many chunks of yarn that I'd brought along as possible shawl materials for this retreat was some handspun that I'd made from Louet Northern Lights roving back in August. It doesn't look like much in this picture, but it adds up to 300 yards and change in DK to worsted weight.
I'd been wondering just what to do with this amount of yarn, as happy as I was with it - it wasn't all that much, but too much for some small projects, and I hated the idea of either not using it mostly up or needing more than what I have.
As I listened to Candace talk about her shawls, I knew this would be just right. They're knit from the top down, increasing stitches along the way, so it would be fairly easy to use up just about all the yarn. Plus, she had this design with lots of lacy holes, which helps to stretch the relatively small yardage out bigger. I'm happy with the idea of a smallish shawl that I can wear around to dress up my plain mommy-uniform t-shirts just a bit and add some warmth without the super-coziness of a full sweater.
It doesn't look like much on the needles right now - of course.
I've used less than half of the yarn I have so far, so I'm pretty sure the thing will at least be big enough to reach around my shoulders and allow a shawl-pin closure in front.
Here's a close up of the stitch pattern, including the nicely spaced sprinkling of beads that Candace suggested. She had us try the crochet-hook method of inserting the beads onto the stitch after it is knit - which I think is perfect for this rate of adding beads only every eight rows.
Two common concerns about adding beads to knitting are the added weight stretching out the fabric, and I think this will be few enough widely enough spaced not to cause a problem; and worrying about the feel of cold beads against skin. It seems to me that by putting the beads on the way I am, and only in a spot above a double decrease, is keeping them mostly to the "right" side of the fabric, which will keep them mostly away from the skin-touching side. Perfect!
I'm hoping to have this one done in just a couple weeks. It's a fun, fast knit. Next time, some pictures of the fiber I brought home from my weekend!
posted by Shelly Kang at 8:38 PM
7 Comments:
I took a class last year on knitting with beads, we made a scarf. I know she mentioned many different ways of knitting with beads. We strung them on the yarn and while it worked out well, I was worried about pulling up the beads and wearing on the yarn. At any rate it turned out beautiful.
Karyn
Your girls are adorable! Great progress on your shawl! Mine is still in the bag I brought it home in! You are motivating me to get going on it again! Vel
LOVE.the.shawl!!
I am on my third shawl. I'm really enjoying them and am working my way to lace... it's pulling me in...
Love that purple color...
The shawl is pretty! beautiful colour.
You have two adorable daughters:-)
That is gorgeous yarn. I love the beads. I haven't tried the crochet hook method yet. Sounds much easier.
Sweet picture of the girls. And I love the crochet hook method of bead placement. You can even do seed beads if you use a really tiny hook.
Yeah ... they are really cute! And the afghan still looks like new!
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