…/ June 1st 2009: \…

My first feather and fan knitting and I am already knitting it by heart! My second ever lace pattern (after Monkey socks by CookieA). I had tried and tried to find gauge with this yarn so that I could use it to make socks (and I may yet try harder - I have another skein in a different colour) but then I decided that I wanted something more challenging for a change. I had been meaning to try lace knitting (and feather and fan in particular) for quite some time. One thing that concerns me, though, is that I will not be likely to be able to block this properly because it is not wool - it is 75% Bamboo and 25% Nylon and so VERY soft and light! This will be an autumn/spring scarf - if I do not frog it, knit it twice as wide and make it into a stole.

…/ June 2 2009: \…

I am ripping it out already having reached 29 cm long. It is only knitting up as about 14 cm wide which is a little narrow (due to my gauge, no doubt!) and so I am going to re-knit it with three of the feather&fan blocks per row one.

I have also discovered that it is better to knit the last stitch of the purl row (row 4) otherwise one edge is lumpy (if that stitch is purled).

The stitch patterns I will use (square brackets replaced by braces for Ravelry which does not allow square brackets in Notes :( - my additions/alterations in bold - 64 stitches):

Row 1 RS: Sl first st as if to purl, K4, (K2tog) three times, (Yo, K1) six times, (sl 1, K1, psso) three times, (K2tog) three times, (Yo, K1) six times, (sl 1, K1, psso) three times, (K2tog) three times, (Yo, K1) six times, (Sl 1, K1, psso) three times, K5, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Sl first st as if to purl, K to end, turn.
Row 3 (RS): Sl first st as if to purl, K to end, turn.
Row 4 (WS): Sl first st as if to purl, P to last stitch, K1, turn.

…/ August 2 2009: \…

I delivered this to its new owner today having finished knitting it (and binding of ends) yesterday. It had reached about seven feet long and is longer than my bed when laid out on it (photos to follow). I ended up using most of two whole balls and did not need to block it - merely stretching it widthwise to pull the pattern into shape a little. My aunt in Rye Harbour, Val, who I share a birthday with on the 4th, LOVED it!