kidsilk-along

2007-06-29T21:58:00.000+01:00

Here's my black Mondnacht which became... well, quite large. Used almost 7 balls of black KSH and a Japanese knitting pattern called 'Mondnacht' (which is actually based on traditional Shetland lace pattern, but hey, the book is in Japanese). Here the monster is being blocked, and in fact, I just haven't been able to take a photo of it in its full glory, it's just so large: about 280 cm x 90 cm (about 9 feet 2" by 3 feet) and I can totally wrap myself in it ;-) Mummy's cat wasn't too impressed, though.

And now that my SecretPal has finally received her last parcel, I can reveal what I made her. It's a circular shawl in dark brown Kidsilk (the shade is called 'Villain'). The total consumption was somewhere between five and six balls - I didn't weigh it before sending. And again, it's rather large. I took it to my office where the walls are magnetic. Attached it to the wall, reversed and tried to take a photo, but I just couldn't get far enough to fit it all in the picture. The same thing happens if I spread it on the floor and try to climb somewhere to take a photo. The room just isn't high enough.

Now, what next?

2007-05-25T04:04:00.000+01:00

Hooray! My Kiri is done!

Boy, did this take a long time to complete! I was able to finish it because I was motivated to wear it to a friend's wedding. If it weren't for that, who knows when it would have been finished. I must say, I really disliked working with this yarn. It was just too sticky and hard to handle. That's sad, because I really love the shawl very much, and it came out beautifully. Perhaps it's just because I never found the right needles to work with. I would love to have a simple Kidsilk cardigan, but it's going to be a while before I try this yarn again.

2007-05-24T16:30:00.001+01:00

Sandra lace cardigan finished.

Details on my blog:

http://sbutnarasu.blogspot.com/2007/05/sandra-lace-cardigan-finally-finished.html

how is everybody else doing ?

2007-03-24T14:09:00.000Z

I need some advice...

My shawl is stalled because the Lantern Moon needles I'm using are too blunt. I really wanted to try the new lace Addis, but they don't go up to 4.5mm. So I'm trying to decide between Inox Greys (is the join and cord any good?) or Knitpicks options (too slippery?). Is there any other needle that would be good? I appreciate all your advice!

Michelle

2007-03-22T20:21:00.000Z

Hey, where IS everybody? Is this a knit-along or Anne-knits-alone? Oh well, maybe if I add a couple of photos, somebody else will follow. Here's the progress so far:

March 12: The shawl is made in two identical parts. The first 91 rows are much more interesting than the part that follows (about 217 rows, if I remember correctly). Therefore I couldn't resist starting the second part even though the first wasn't finished yet. I reasoned that I could always make the easier part while commuting to work, but the more tricky part needed concentration so that's what I did when I got home.

March 16 - both parts were progressing nicely.

March 22. Just started the edging, and as always, the first rows feel surprisingly tricky. According to the Excel sheet I made, 65 % of the whole thing is finished, and the edging counts for 35 %. I'll have to knit like crazy in order to reach the target, but it is not impossible. Never accept defeat!

2007-03-07T21:18:00.000Z

3-2-1-0 ... and we have liftoff!

Yesterday I grabbed the needles and one ball of black KSH, painfully aware of the task ahead of me. In just 24 days this

should miraculously turn into this:

It's a shawl called "Mondnacht" from a Japanese knitting book "New Style of Heirloom Knitting", ISBN 4-529-03992-7. I've set myself a target of finishing one challenging knitting project each month, which means that right now there are 24 days left to make this shawl's 616 ordinary rows plus 1634 edging rows. On top of that I'll be travelling for at least four days, maybe six, and don't expect much progress then. Phew! Doesn't look good, does it? So, ladies and gentlemen, place your bets now - will it be ready by the end of March?

2007-03-05T18:59:00.000Z

Wanted to say hello! to all the Kidsilk Haze knitters and introduce myself.

I'm currently working on the Rowan Butterfly and have just about finished the first frill. This is my first lace type project though I've been hand knitting for about 4 years now and have a knitwear degree from FIT (though I don't work in the knitwear field). I tend to knit for shape rather than fabric, so this is quite a challenge for me. I don't think I knew how to do a proper YO until this project (though as I've been going through this, I'm still not sure if I do!).

KSH in this intricate pattern seems to be very difficult to knit but also, forgiving of mistakes :P . At the end of the row, I just make sure to count stitches and also make sure that if I need to add and subtract any stitches that I keep the middle one (which has a bead) where it should be. I'm knitting the frill all in one strip and will knit the body in the round - I'm using beads just in the front because I've owned dresses with beading in the back, and I just can't stand how the beads end up poking little indents in the butt area when you sit down. I'm still kind of wondering whether I should have attached beads just to the frill in the back area - but my beads are not that noticeable.

I read through the Crafster.org's rowan butterfly knit-a-long, and opted to use larger beads than the pattern specified. I'm using round 6/0 beads which I'm attaching at the point (rather than stringinging from the beginning) with a crochet hook. That's like a 4mm bead rather than the 3mm that they asked for. I have some 3mm ones for the body which are a completely differnt color.

I also am considering the possibility of Kool-Aid dyeing my Butterfly after I'm done with it. Although the Majestic color is very pretty in the romantic antique way, after I already knitted about 8 repeats of the frill - oh I don't know, 4 days of my knitting pastime - I think, it looks alot like a dust bunny. I'll probably use a dilute rasberry or black cherry color just to get it less dusty looking!

2007-02-22T16:59:00.000Z

Hi Everyone,
I made 2 simple buttons if anyone is interested:

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o101/Miknits/kidsilk2.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o101/Miknits/kidsilk.jpg

Please save the pictures to your your computer. Thanks!

2007-02-20T21:45:00.000Z

Hello everyone,
and thank you Atia for sending the invitation.

I discovered Kidsilk haze last year, when I started my first shawl, Lace Dream, from 'Shawls and Scarves : The Best of Knitter's Magazine'.
The colour is Pearl and I must say I wasn'n very happy with the colour (I've ordered online) but I love the yarn. A dream indeed.

and here is the finished object, after months of struggle with billions of repeats.

Recently my daughter asked me to knit her this wrap cardigan from Sandra magazine September 2006, which calls for Lang Yarn Mohair Deluxe.

I never saw this yarn before, I had no idea how to substitute, so that's what I've order.
Well, it feels and looks identical with kidsilk haze and I love their colours.
My daughter decided for petrol blue and it is indeed a lovely shade.
Here is my progress up to now, I am still fighting the main lace band.

news soon :).

2007-02-14T22:11:00.000Z

I have finally made a start on Butterfly..I should say that this is actually my THIRD time starting this pattern..the first with KSH in dewberry, the second with handpaintedyarn.com laceweight and now with KSH in Smoke! The first two times I wasn't happy with the yarn colours and also I was fairly new to lace knitting and it is certainly NOT the best pattern for a newbie to start with! But it is so beautiful I was tempted anyway, and the results weren't fantastic. I got through one frill in the dewberry but it was full of glaring mistakes, and I decided to leave it.

Anyway, I cast on again today, and although it hasn't been completely plain sailing the six repeats I got through are (I'm fairly confident) mistake-free! It requires absolute concentration though, I tried to do a couple of quick rows just now and dropped a stitch somewhere and had to tink 2 or 3 rows to find it which was a nightmare.

I was planning to knit the dress but I think I will knit the vest and then knit the dress in a non-mohair yarn, probably Jaggerspun Zephyr.

2007-02-13T17:23:00.000Z

Just wanted to introduce myself to the fellow addicts! My name is Kathleen, and I love Kidsilk Haze. (All together, now. "Hi, Kathleen.")

A few weeks back I finished a shawl for my grandmother in Marmalade. Three skeins of stockinette inspired by the Tube Shawl in Alterknits. But I wasn't sure it would be big enough in tube form, so I did it as a rectangle. Good mindless knitting for this full-time art director mom of toddler, puppy, and kitten. Maybe next year I can make her a Kiri. Or when the little one goes off to college. Of course the camera was uncooperative, so there are no snaps in this post.

I just bought a skein in Candy Girl a couple of weeks ago and think I'm going to make a cowl/smoke ring/neckwarmer for myself. The color was too scrumptious to pass up.

And then there is the bag of Alchemy Haiku in my stash. Yes, bag. In San Francisco Sky. I lost my head during Woolcott's Anniversary sale last summer and had them order it for me. I plan to make a very simple duster cardigan for myself. Oh. My. I'm almost through the first skein, working top-down, raglan-style.

There are also three skeins of KSH in Swish from someone's destashing that will probably become a Wing O' the Moth shawl some day. And about half a skein of Trance that is left from a Last-Minute Knitted Gifts lacy scarf.

That's it for the moment. The silky, kid mohair-y goodness is in the on-deck circle for a while as I work on an Hourglass Sweater. You can follow the progress on my blog Purly.

2007-02-13T16:33:00.000Z

Hey everyone,

I finally CO for the Twilight Lace Wrap from Interweave Knits. I am using KSH in a sage green. It uses 2 balls and size 9 needles. I had to rip it out 3xs to get it right, but I think everything is OK now!! It is very soft and I love the color. This is my first time knitting lace so I am very excited to see how it comes out and move on to another lace pattern. I would really like to make a couple of lace wraps for the Moms for Mothers Day!! We will see how fast I can do this one!! For more pictures I blog here.
Sherry

2007-02-11T22:08:00.000Z

Hi! I just joined, having finished something which should have been finished in January, and already thinking of the next-next big thing which should be a black "Mondnacht" shawl from the Japanese book "The New Style of Heirloom Knitting". My new year's resolution was to choose one challenging project for each month, and in addition to starting it, it should also be finished. Well, didn't quite manage to do that in January but still I'm confident that come March 31st, I'll have a lovely black KSH shawl on my shoulders.

You'll find my knitting and other adventures can be found here:
The Unbearable Lightness of Knitting, although it's been a bit neglected lately due to an accident. Yet again I trust that the pace will catch on now that I'm back at home, close to all my knitting books, yarns and my laptop.

Now I only need to get February's project on and off the needles and then it'll be KSH's turn.

2007-02-07T14:15:00.000Z

Hi Everyone!

I cast on my Kiri shawl the other day! This is my first time knitting lace, and I am loving it! Things are going slowly because I'm terrified of making a mistake. I tried knitting while my kids were in the room...big mistake!!! This takes so much concentration! The Lantern Moon needles are wonderful, but a little blunt. That's okay though, because it just makes me knit more carefully. My husband asked me yesterday, "What the heck is that green thing you're making?". I didn't think he would appreciate the beauty of a shawl, so I just told him it was a scarf. This is such a great pattern for a beginner like me. I can't wait 'til the kids go to bed so I can knit some more!

2007-02-03T00:54:00.000Z

I blocked my Angel Pearls scarf night before last, and today we had a little photo session. The Kidsilk Night Crack is truly addicting.

I was able to get nine repeats of the second chart, so it's a little shorter than called for in the pattern. I could have gone down a needle size and probably gotten ten repeats but that's all right. The original pattern actually called for 11 repeats but the yarn I used didn't have as much yardage.

Details

Pattern: Sivia Harding's Angel Pearls scarf

Yarn: Kidsilk Night, color Ballerina

Needles: bamboo (no-name brand) in US 2/3.0mm

Beads: Miyuki 8/0 Transparent Pale Pink AB

Started: Jan 17, 2007

Finished: Jan 31, 2007

This was a fun knit--just enough going on to keep my attention, but not so overwhelming that I couldn't knit with other things going on.

When I was shopping for beads I couldn't find any in 6/0s, the size called for in the pattern, so I got 8s. Next time I'll wait and find 6s--the 8s got lost in the yarn. An LBS (local bead shop, The Beadles) has just moved into a much larger space and she got lots more seed beads in 6s and 8s, so I'm going to be very happy.

I have 5 balls of Kidsilk Haze in the same color so I'm eyeballing some of the projects in Victorian Lace Today. There are some very yummy things in there!

2007-02-02T15:18:00.000Z

Hi Everyone!
Yesterday I finally had a chance to get downtown, to a store that I knew carried KSH. Unfortunately, they only had a few unattractive colours left, so I settled with Alchemy Haiku. It's very similar to KSH; just with 10% more silk. Hopefully I will have time this week to cast on my Kiri shawl. Yeah!

2007-02-01T22:49:00.000Z

Hello all!

Just thought I'd introduce myself. I'm Teresa, and I blog over here. I love KALs, and this is the third one I've signed up for this month! I need the motivation :)
It seems I've gotten myself in a little deep with stash-issues, because pretty patterns and wonderful yarns make themselves irresistable to me.

Currently, I have 2 balls of the kidsilk haze crack in a sagey-green colour that will, I truly hope, become the Butterfly (or it's shorter cousin, the Butterfly top). I have a tendency to mod patterns, but mod with this precious stuff?

I can't wait to see what everyone else is up to, and the beautiful knitting that you will all complete with this great yarn!

2007-01-29T22:40:00.000Z

Thank you Atia for sending the invite!

I am working on the Kiri Shawl using kidsilk yarn. I have made at least four shawls, however, I am having a problem working on this one. I think I am not use to using yarn so fine and fuzzy. LOL.

I am on row 29 and I have to tink back because I made a mistake somewhere. I am so not looking forward to tinking this yarn!

Carol

2007-01-29T20:05:00.000Z

Yay, Blogger has finally let me join! Thanks, Atia, for starting this KAL.

I'm on the home stretch of my Angel Pearls scarf, using KidSilk Haze Night.

I'm obviously much farther than that, but I haven't photographed it lately. The pattern is Sivia Harding's Angel Pearls scarf, and I'm using beads that are smaller than called for and are kind of getting lost. Of course today I found the perfect beads in a new bead shop, but since I'm almost finished with the project I'm not going to rip back and start again. I started this on January 17th, so I'm making very good progress. I can't wait to block this scarf!

2007-01-26T14:25:00.000Z

Thank you so much for letting me join this KAL! This will be my first time knitting with Kidsilk AND my first time knitting lace, so it's going to be lots of fun! I plan on trying the Kiri shawl. Can't wait to see what everyone else is making!

2007-01-21T16:08:00.000Z

Thanks to everyone who has signed up so far, hopefully more people will join over the next few weeks. I'm going to be knitting Butterfly by Rowan and I also plan to knit Birch and/or the Fibertrends Leaf Lace shawl! I'm using KSH in smoke for butterfly, but haven't been able to match beads for the body yet - there's a bead shop in Covent Garden so I'll have to check that out when I next have some time. I should be casting on very soon - I'm just finishing Forecast at the moment and I'm very easily distracted so I'd better finish that before I start something else! What's everyone else making?

2007-01-12T15:40:00.000Z

To join this KAL just email me for an invite!
The only rule is that you should be knitting a project using kidsilk haze or any equivalent yarn (Douceur et Soie, Kid Seta etc) and that you share the joys and tribulations of working with this gorgeous yarn.