sometimes I'm REALLY indecisive

[firecat]

I traded some of my almost-free Newton's Yarn Country yarn to sistercoyote for some skeins of Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud. So I've decided I want to try lace knitting, and a scarf seems like a good place to start. I've been googling for hours and I've downloaded about 30 free patterns, and I can't decide which one to try.

I'm sure you all can help me by suggesting even more patterns!

Comments

[sistercoyote.livejournal.com]

There's always Knitty's Branching Out, which seems, um, popular. :)

[firecat]

That's on my list and it might well be the one I end up doing.

[ona-tangent.livejournal.com]

Branching Out? Meh. I have started it 5 times with 3 different yarns and end up ripping it out because of the blah factor. I am really enjoying knitting Ella (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTella.html). The pattern is really easy to pick up. I feel comfortable enough with it that I only used one lifeline in the very beginning*. I used the written instructions, so I imagine using the charts would be even easier. You would probably have to double it or make other adjustments for laceweight.

I like the Needle Beetle Seaweed Shawl (http://secure.elann.com/productdisp.asp?NAME=Needle+Beetle+Seaweed+Stole&Cat=&ProductType=4&Count=15#), too.


*In contrast, I used a lifeline for nearly every row of Branching Out and was constantly tinking back. The pattern wasn't hard, it is just that my short term memory really is that, uhm, short.

[firecat]

Thanks for the suggestions!

What's a lifeline?

[ona-tangent.livejournal.com]

A lifeline is a placeholder in your knitting. If you know the pattern is correct up until a certain point, like at the end of a pattern repeat, you can thread a long piece of string or thin yarn through all of your stitches. That way if you make a mistake further up, you can frog back to the lifeline. The string you run through prevents you from frogging back any further. I learned that trick from the BO knitters. Here's a link (http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/lifeline.shtm) for more information.

[firecat]

Ohh! What a great trick, thanks for explaining!