[Repost of material originally appearing on 17 August 2006]

O.K. I’ve found a mistake in the FANDUGEN pattern. It appears to be in the original Danish pattern, and is carried through into the uber-accurate translation posted on Nurhanne’s Yarn Over website.

Here’s the original problem line:

Row 61: <- 1 stitch, *K3, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo*

It should read:

Row 61: <- 1 stitch, *Sl1-k2tog-psso, yo, K3, yo*

It’s a simple transposition of the k3 unit and the double decrease. It’s very evident in the photo that accompanies the pattern that the area of small roundels at the top of the tulip like unit contain three little round units, and that the outer two of each triad are finished the same way as the innermost one. If you work the pattern as written, the little circles aren’t finished off nicely with that center double decrease. It just doesn’t look right and the oddness in logic leaps out at the knitter immediately.

Here’s the result so far, schlepped around the house to find something light colored against which to take the photo:

And a detail shot:

Single Crochet

On the UK usage of “single crochet” I admit that it’s very rare today, but it’s not unknown. Especially in historical patterns. If I had the time I’d comb through my collection and find examples. I know that I’ve worked my way through this problem more than once, having made the erroneous assumption that because I saw the term “single crochet” the rest of the pattern’s nomenclature must be American usage. I learned long ago never to say “never.”

Technorati : knitting

[Repost of material originally appearing on 16 August 2006]

Miserable excuse for a camera and non-existent photo skills aside, you can see that I’m making good progress on the red doily. I have just completed row 52 of 72, and am beginning to think how I would like to end it off.

The original instructions use a very simple crocheted bind-off, using one single crochet to gather together three knitting stitches, then chaining nine before gathering the next three knits with another single crochet. Two small complications – the instructions are from Europe and with 99% probability conform to UK term standards. That means that there’s a high possibility that the stitch referred to as a SC in the instructions, here in the US (and parts of Canada) is known as a slip stitch. More on this problem here. I’d have to play with both to see which look I like better.

The second complication is a minor one – the photo of the original pattern clearly shows two rounds of the stuff, with the first worked to end off the knit stitches, and the second worked “belly to belly” of the chains formed in the first round. It would also not be a bad guess to surmise that the second round of slip stitch/chain loops uses chain segments that are one or two stitches longer than the previous row. Experimentation would be advised.

Now. Do I stick with the original simple-yet-elegant crochet bind-off solution, or do I do something nutsy like knitting around the thing with a small saw-tooth edging? Only time will tell. That and the final diameter of my piece. The lousy photo? Here:

So far no errors whatsoever, and the pattern has been very easy to follow.

Technorati : knitting

[Repost of material originally appearing 14 August 2006]

I don’t know if anyone else has “doily emergencies.” but I do. Here’s the problem scenario. Cozy library/TV room, comfy chairs, optimally placed small table just big enough for a wine bottle and two glasses (and a remote or two). But I don’t want to drip all over the new small table.

I suppose I could haul out coasters or adapt one of the dining room placemats. But why overlook a perfectly good opportunity for the application of knitting. So it’s off to the stash to get my massive amount of red lace-weight, left over from Alcazar (rayon but borderline washable and expendable), then hunt down one of Nurhanne’s translations of a traditional Danish doily. Yes, I know. It’s red, not the classic white. But hey. Red won’t show wine spills as quickly.

I end up here. Then cast on and knit a bit. Here’s the result. I’m somewhere north of a third of the way through the rows, on Round 37:

I’ve finished the center star and am at the beginning of the tulip-like shapes that surround it. My piece is about 6 inches across. I chose this particular pattern because there are several good stopping points from a design perspective. I needn’t finish it all the way to the end if my piece is sufficiently wide before then. So far Nurhanne’s translation is spot on. No problems at all.

Still, for domestic consumption, this piece is filed under the category “placemat” not “doily.” It seems less …prissy.

Technorati : knitting, lace knitting