Start and Restart
I did, indeed, start my Flower Basket Shawl last night. 
Here it is after 31 rows. Unfortunately, I think I may want to frog it and try again with smaller needles. To me, the baskets don’t show very well done this loosely. But this pair of needles is so nice to use and have good points for lace. Better than any of my smaller ones. First, I’ll have to find my only pair of size 6 needles and remove them from whatever project they are most likely already in. Then comes the hard part. Trying to frog this fuzzy yarn. I usually end up having to cut it off becuase it just knots up. I’ve already cut quite a bit off of one skein so I really need to conserve the rest if I can. Actually, they look quite a bit clearer in this photograph than they do in real life. But I shouldn’t fool myself. I really don’t think they are going to show well in real life. They won’t be stretched out tight on a black background, after all. *sigh*
I also started seaming Elspeth last night but I tried it on after getting one sleeve in and decided I want bigger sleeves. So I’ll be reknitting the sleeves. Won’t be too bad, though. They are small enough to do 2 at a time and they are just plain stockinette so they go faster than the lace fronts and back. I haven’t found the right thing to wear under it yet, anyway.
April 7th, 2005 at 12:43 pm
I think it looks nice from the picture, but it’s more important that you like it. If not, you won’t enjoy knitting it, and where’s the fun in that?
April 8th, 2005 at 8:37 am
It looks beautiful, why wanna frog it?
April 8th, 2005 at 8:38 am
It looks beautiful, why wanna frog it?
April 8th, 2005 at 2:28 pm
I think it looks really good, airy and spring-y. :o) Maybe because it is just about how mine looks… I do think that it will pull itself a bit together during wear, anyway, AND I do not plan to wear this shawl stretched out over my back to show off the pattern; I will know the patterne is there, I will know it is beautiful, I will know I loved making this shawl…and if people notice the beautiful pattern I will consider it a bonus. The same with for example my homemade socks; I wear them but most people do not see them because they are tugged away in shoes or boots - but IF they see them and notice them (I often wear socks knit out of Opal selfpatterning yarn) I see it as a bonus. :o)
April 9th, 2005 at 10:19 pm
I think it looks very nice. If you are not happy with it, though, keep this one so you’ll have the two swatches to compare. From the pic, it looks like it’s pinned a little tightly… you may want to re-pin w/less tension on the swatch to see if that helps the definition; you may be pulling the stitches too open. blocking will really change how the lace looks, too.
April 10th, 2005 at 12:38 pm
I had the same thought on my first FBS. I started knitting with larger needles and decided that the pattern doesn’t show up so nice. I changed to smaller needles. But I think, if I had to redo it I would knit it with the larger needles as the result would have been more lacy. I think, you should continue with the needles you chose. Like Stephanie said before me, it will even out once you blogged it and the shawl will be beautifully lacy and light.
Helga
April 14th, 2005 at 3:55 pm
Just wanted to stop by and see your site! Beautiful knits!
April 15th, 2005 at 9:40 am
I think your FBS looks beautiful. I’ve frogged mine a couple of times. That crochet thing that starts it gets me boggled. As for the gauge, aren’t we supposed to wet it and block it when it’s done? Maybe that will shrink it back a little smaller. I hope I can get some done this weekend.
April 15th, 2005 at 9:53 am
I think you should frog it. If you’re wondering at this point, you will wonder all the way through. Also, the picture of the shawl in the mag shows more fullness in the stocking stitch, so when I was knitting it, I also had to frog and change needles. I kept looking at it and thinking it didn’t look right. I am much happier now. Good luck.
June 2nd, 2005 at 12:41 pm
I recently was sent the pattern for the flower basket shawl but not the glossary and can not figture out excatly what ssk means and from which side do you read the pattern from. left to right or right to left. would appreciate a little help. thanks
June 9th, 2005 at 7:45 pm
hi me again.(Rae-Ann)
I started my shawl using the require needle size, and have done 5 repeats, my wool is heavier than the yarn the pattern called for. The lacy pattern isn’t quite so noticable, as I would like and I’m using alot more yarn than I like. I spun my own yarn from alpaca and its is more a meduim weight so I using one strand. I thinking of taking it out and using larger needles to make the pattern nicer what do you think? The pattern calls for 4.5 mm I was thinking of using 6mm
June 14th, 2005 at 5:00 pm
Just wanted to say thanks for the help I did frog my shawl and used bigger needles and I am quite happy with the results and by redoing it , the pattern was way easier to do the second time. Your site has helped me a whole lot I really don’t think I could of done much without it. So once again THANK YOU THANK YOU
Rae-Ann