Kiri is finished!!

I finished Kiri today!! I really enjoyed knitting this shawl and I am very happy with the results. She'll make her debut at services Monday evening for Erev Rosh Hashana.

Here are the stats:
Start: 08.20.05
End: 10.01.05
Yarn: 1.25 hanks of KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud in Sunlight
Needles: MAIN BODY: size 4US (3.5mm) Inox circular
Needles: EDGING: size 7US (4.5mm) Inox circular
Repeats: 14 pattern repeats of chart 2
Finished size: 60" x 42"

I will definately use this yarn again. It is incredibly soft. In fact, I already started the Frost Flowers & Leaves shawl (Gathering of Lace) in the Peppermint colorway.

Knit Progress

PICTURE OF THE DAY



Here's some pictures of my boys enjoying iPods, playstation and, of course, kitties...






I've been busy working on Kiri and am now on the edging. I hope to have it completed in the next couple of days. The pictures posted here are about a week and a half old, with 9 1/2 repeats completed.





I started the Frost Flowers & Leaves shawl from "Gathering of Lace." I'm using KnitPicks Alpaca Coud in Peppermint. I've only completed 28 rounds, however, because I really want to finish Kiri. I can't wait to get back to this, though. I really love lace and have become totally addicted.




I'm also working on the Splitz Top from Knit 'N Syle, but that has taken the back burner while I work on Kiri. I'm knitting this in the round rather than front and back separately. This top will probably take forever because I am in my lace phase and wish I had not started this project. I'll have to finish it though. Otherwise, I'll feel too guilty. (I already have a pair of incomplete socks that I really need to set my mind to finishing).

Kiri on Size 4US

Ok - I did it. I started Kiri on size 4 needles. I am now up to the same point as I was on my first start of Kiri using size 6 needles - 40 rows. It only took a couple hours to get to this point versus several days using size 6. Working with the smaller needles was tremendously easier than working with the larger size. I had more control of the yarn and no need for tinking this time (well, maybe a few stitches required tinking, but not nearly as many as before).

Below is a comparison of the 2 Kiris side by side. The one on the left was made on size 4 needles and the one on the right was made with size 6. Obviously, the one on the left is a lot smaller, but that's OK. I'll just do extra repeats to get the size I want. I'm only 5'1" anyway, so I was not planning on making a large shawl. The cute little girl in the picture is Cleo. Of my 3 cats, she's the most interested in knitting. Oh - what she will do for some yarn...





Here are the 2 Kiris close-up. The top one is the size 6. I am going to go ahead and frog the size 6 and work on the smaller one. It will be a much happier experience, believe me. Also, if you notice, I am not using markers with my second start on Kiri. I found that they got in the way with such thin yarn. As I get into larger repeat rows, I may have to start using the markers, but for now I'll go without.

Kiri on Size 6US

I started Kiri a couple days ago and have had nothing but problems. It's me, though, not the pattern. My stitch count is off. I have had to tink back too many rows to count. It takes getting used to working with such thin yarn. I'm using KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud in Sunlight. I really like the yarn, it's just that it is real thin. I am currently using size 6US needles, but think I will frog what I've got and go down to size 4. I think I want a tighter fabric. I also believe that I will be able to read my knitting a little easier and figure out what I've been doing wrong to keep ending up with the wrong stitch count. These are pictures of Kiri on size 6 through row 40. Take a good look, because you won't see her again. She's going to the frog pond soon.