Monday, February 27, 2012

Lace: is it really for me?

Just a couple of months later than planned, I've picked up the Bellatrix lace socks I started last October and had to put down when the Christmas KnitFrenzy heated up.  To recap, I retired from the field entirely crushed, having fought valiantly through a full lace repeat for each of the pair, only to discover I also had to knit another half repeat before I could start the heel.

Well...


I got through the extra rows on one of them.


Pretty, isn't it?  I don't know quite whether I can bear to continue this pattern all the way down the top of the foot, but I probably will because I know it will look so much better that way even though it is a lot of work.

Let's talk about what 'a lot' means, shall we?  Because I know a lot of people love nothing more than to knit lace, and I'm not entirely convinced I am one of them. 

'A lot' means I have not one but two charts to follow on every round, so YAY for my KnitPicks magnetic lace chart holder.  It also means forget watching a silent movie or even a super exciting one while knitting.  It means not so much chatting with a friend while working on the socks, or knitting in a car or on the bus, or knitting a few stitches between other chores.  Too risky - I might lose my place.  This in spite of having become expert at reading the last round's worth.

Criminy, what's left?


Took me a few days to figure it out.  Now I've got my little knitting bowl at the table to work around with tea, or after supper when I'm too lazy to get up.  I might not be able to read while knitting lace, but a pretty picture in my line of vision: yeah, I can enjoy that.

4 comments:

Kathleen Taylor said...

I would improvise- use only one chart for the foot, or even just knit the foot plain. It's not like it's going to show inside your shoe anyway.

mom said...

First of all, love your blog!! Thanks for sharing it with us. As I read of your dilemma I could empathize with you. Have you thought of listening to books on tape?

Mary Keenan said...

Definitely mom, love the books on tape! I've got to sort out getting more loaded into my computer in fact...

Kathi, I wear - sob - Mary Janes. So the lace would show if there was some. I think I'm just going to see how I crabby I am when I get both socks through the heel ;^)

Mary said...

I have solved this dilemma by limiting myself to knitting lace in the summer. There's nothing good on the tele, and with the days so nice and warm lace's openness is perfect!