I like to knit lace. I will happily knit lace scarves, cowl, socks, but my favourites are shawls, especially large and challenging ones. I’ve designed a fair few now, using stitch patterns from various stitch dictionaries, books and online resources, and I decided I wanted to try designing my own for truly original shawls.
I read a few tutorials and blog posts online which suggested different methods of designing lace and then off I went. Some don't get beyond a scribble on graph paper. The ones that look good on paper get swatched. If the swatch doesn't work, no big deal, it gets frogged. But I was building up a collection of swatches that I liked.
For the Christmas before last I was given a knitting journal but had no idea how to use it since I record all my projects on Ravelry. Then I realised the book was the perfect place to store my swatches. It is laid out with four pages for each project, with space to write about your design inspiration, graph paper for drawing up charts, and even holes punched to attach a small amount of yarn. Perfect for tying my swatches in.
Now I can build up my own personal stitch dictionary!
My current design-in-progress is a circular shawl using four of my original lace patterns, all designed on a theme. I already have ideas for at least two of the others. Now I just need to find the time to use them all!
I read a few tutorials and blog posts online which suggested different methods of designing lace and then off I went. Some don't get beyond a scribble on graph paper. The ones that look good on paper get swatched. If the swatch doesn't work, no big deal, it gets frogged. But I was building up a collection of swatches that I liked.
For the Christmas before last I was given a knitting journal but had no idea how to use it since I record all my projects on Ravelry. Then I realised the book was the perfect place to store my swatches. It is laid out with four pages for each project, with space to write about your design inspiration, graph paper for drawing up charts, and even holes punched to attach a small amount of yarn. Perfect for tying my swatches in.
Now I can build up my own personal stitch dictionary!
My current design-in-progress is a circular shawl using four of my original lace patterns, all designed on a theme. I already have ideas for at least two of the others. Now I just need to find the time to use them all!
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