Seascape. An experiment in lace and patience.

About two weeks ago I started knitting the Seascape pattern from Kieran Foley (as shown in Knitty Summer 2008). The plan is to make this shawl from my little sister, Murray. She's 17 and has a big year coming up. Prom, graduation, a ridiculous Beaux Arts debutante ball (affectionately known as the "Bozo Ball.") my parents insist upon. Plenty of occasions to need a lacy grown-up shawl.

I'm using bamboo #5 needles and Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Ghost (below photo courtesy of Rowan). It's a white super-soft kid mohair. Pretty much like knitting spiderwebs. They don't call it "cracksilk haze" for nothing. Just touching this stuff makes a girl feel pretty. It's beautifully spun to make a really tight strong yarn with gorgeous fluffy halo. When finished it sheds a little, but nothing too awful. I've knit it on plastic needles before, but it really is heavenly to slide around on bamboos. The only issue is that it's pretty much unfroggable. You get it knotted, you're pulling out the scissors.
















Needless to say, with a more complex lace, the project has been slow-going. I finished Chart A and I'm mid way through 2/7 repeats of Chart B. I didn't have much luck following Knitty's chart version of the pattern, so I'm following the step-by-step from Kieran's website. So far, so good. Every wrong-side row is straight purls, so that's a nice break. Here's what she looks like so far.



I can already tell it's going to be an adventure in blocking.

Links:
My project on ravelry
Kieran Foley's impeccable instructions