knitting lace

**Early Bird** · 07-30-2009, 12:27 PM

I have been reading on the 'challenges' thread about knitters who are a tad scared of knitting lace. I started knitting lace this year, and I have some tips that might help:

Use a lifeline. That's a piece of thread strung through all the loops on a needle and left hanging. You can rip back to that lifeline and have ONE PLACE where the stitches are still correct.
Find a way that works for you to count rows. Some people use row counters. Some just 'read' their knitting. I am finding that writing each row on an index card ... and flipping cards at the end of a row ... works beautifully for me.
Blocking is magic. I thought my Branching Out scarf was pretty, but not striking -- until I set it out to block. Now I'm wondering if I should enter it in the County Fair!

Having said that, I am surprised at how much I am enjoying lace knitting. I have finished a Branching Out scarf (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/...nchingout.html)
and started a Liesel scarf (http://yummyyarn.indus3ous.com/archi...09/liesel.html)

Unfortunately, all I want to do now is sit quietly and knit lace.

**Early Bird** · 07-30-2009, 12:28 PM

BTW, for those interested in the linked patterns, the Liesel scarf is easier than the Branching Out scarf.

**madhen** · 07-30-2009, 12:37 PM

Very nice patterns! Thank you!!

**miss_thrifty** · 07-30-2009, 03:35 PM

their beautiful, cant wait to see your pics of the finsihed projects. i love looking at others projects.

**littleplum** · 08-05-2009, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by Early Bird

I have been reading on the 'challenges' thread about knitters who are a tad scared of knitting lace. I started knitting lace this year, and I have some tips that might help:

Use a lifeline. That's a piece of thread strung through all the loops on a needle and left hanging. You can rip back to that lifeline and have ONE PLACE where the stitches are still correct.
Find a way that works for you to count rows. Some people use row counters. Some just 'read' their knitting. I am finding that writing each row on an index card ... and flipping cards at the end of a row ... works beautifully for me.
Blocking is magic. I thought my Branching Out scarf was pretty, but not striking -- until I set it out to block. Now I'm wondering if I should enter it in the County Fair!

Having said that, I am surprised at how much I am enjoying lace knitting. I have finished a Branching Out scarf (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/...nchingout.html)
and started a Liesel scarf (http://yummyyarn.indus3ous.com/archi...09/liesel.html)

Unfortunately, all I want to do now is sit quietly and knit lace.

Great tips. I kind of knit with the idea that there is no such thing as a life-or-death yarn emergency.

I made that same scarf and it was so "blah" until I actually blocked it. But I made it in a completely inappropriate yarn, so I'm probably going to make another this fall.

**Early Bird** · 08-05-2009, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by littleplum

Great tips. I kind of knit with the idea that there is no such thing as a life-or-death yarn emergency.

I made that same scarf and it was so "blah" until I actually blocked it. But I made it in a completely inappropriate yarn, so I'm probably going to make another this fall.

Was it Branching Out? Or Liesel?

I have now made both, and I agree -- blocking is magic.