Saturday, February 18, 2006

The Under-Rated Art of the Block

AKA "Dressing - Really, Really Important"

It's the Knitting Olympics. We're halfway through our knitting time. I've fallen behind, and was beginning to panic. So, I did what any self-flagellating lace knitter will do for reassurance - I blocked.

The photo shows the two fronts of my lace cardigan: one blocked, one unblocked. I was hating this piece, and feeling all "woe is me" until I dressed/blocked one of the fronts. Boy, do I feel better now. All my math? All my measurements and calculations? Paid off, baby!

When I was designing the thing, I swatched my potential lace patterns, then washed and blocked each swatch to the same gauge (6 stitches and 8 rows per inch). This just made the planning easier. Now that the chosen designs have been knit together, I see that the Arrowhead Lace blocks a bit more openly than the Rose Leaf Insertion, but that's okay - I can still block it to my exact desired end dimensions. And it's purty!

Lace knitting is continuing, although this may be an end-of-February-beginning-of-March project. I calculated I'll be knitting just over 89,000 stitches, so I'm not terribly concerned about deadlines. Plus, I'm making a pair of comfy socks as well. Happy place socks, for when the lace is kicking my arse.

But now that I've blocked that one front, I'm all about the lace again.

4 comments:

knitcatt said...

You're so smart Logan! I love your work. Do you teach yourself or take classes or both? Keep up the blog I really like you, you make me laugh and smile and say awwww!

tocspaw said...

The front is beautiful - I can't wait to see the finished cardigan!! Great job!

Annie said...

Found you via the lace for all seasons group. What a smashing cardigan! Absolutely lovely. Knit on...

Diana said...

That looks fabulous. I really hope there will be a picture of you wearing it after it is finished.