So I decided to play with it a bit. Here's where I got to so far. I'm not there yet. It doesn't lie completely flat naturally and there's just a bit too much tension on those rings I've added. I will be working another version of it. It think Minuet deserves a re-design so that, hopefully, it can be better appreciated!
This is tatted in the new Lizbeth Harvest Gold colour way.
Quite an unusual colour, a bit "mustardy" I would say.
Perhaps it's a little too full and busy like that. I can't make up my mind yet. But I will be working up other variations. I like the three bead points very much and will be keeping that.
The knitting is coming along very well - faster than expected in fact. I have too fronts done and am nearly finished one sleeve. I explored new knitting techniques in a bid to speed up the K1P1 stitch of my cardigan. I modified my English way of knitting to stop dropping the needle so that moving the wool back and forth for the purl and knit stitches can be done in one movement and save some time. I tried lever knitting with a long knitting needle under the arm. I also tried Portuguese knitting with a pin which I am enjoying. So at the moment I use both my new English way of knitting and the Portuguese way trying to improve on speed. It's a work in progress but even after a week, I'm much quicker at both.
How about you? What's your favourite way to knit?
Best wishes,
Frivole
Wonderful color too, great job morphing your pattern!
ReplyDeleteI really don't see why this has been "unloved" - I Love how the concentric chains form convex & concave arches ! In fact even without all the outer rings, this would make a nice little snowflake; but the outer rings make their own statement.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I follow some kind of English knitting style, too, learned from my Mom. Unlike her though, I do 'drop' the needle for split seconds, but haven't tried to change my method. I've gotten pretty comfortable with it ;-P
DeleteOk, maybe "unloved" is a bit strong, perhaps I should change the title of my post… but it's the least popular of my patterns so there must be something that's less appealing about it and I was trying to change that.
DeleteWell, I for one, LOVE that pattern, which I have tatted a number of times. One of my faves in fact. I shall enjoy the update also, I'm sure! : )
ReplyDeleteThank you Fox! :-)
DeleteYour motif is very elegant, both in color and design! It should definitely be loved.
ReplyDeletepiękny motyw . bardzo ładna gwiazdka .
ReplyDeleteLove it! I think the only thing I would change (other than maybe stitch counts where it seems to need it to lay flat) is to change the J-rings on the inner chains to just picots to make it a bit more open there. Love the beads also and the way you have surrounded the outer rings.... like onion rings but not really.... much better and very regal.
ReplyDeleteYes, a good point Marla. Actually, on the original, the space was more open there under the lock chains so the JKs didn't look so cramped. I'm going to try to find a way to keep them though as I like the link with the JKs on the outer round.
DeleteI can't see why any of your patterns would be unloved.
ReplyDeleteI like your update to the pattern, I know what you mean about the colour, I have this thread colour and it is a hard colour.
Look forward to seeing what you finish off with.
Knitting I am an english knitter.
Margaret
I loved Minuet before and after his makeover. Trendy color!
ReplyDeleteLove it! And I like the color, too. Beautiful accents.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I like it better this way.
ReplyDeleteOh good! :-)
DeleteI've never tried the lever way of knitting but it looks like it would be quite speedy. I usually knit using the Continental method because I can hold the yarn the same way that I do when I crochet, and that's comfortable for me. It's very easy and fast to do any kind of ribbing. For entire rows of purl I will use the Portuguese method and a knitting pin or just loop the yarn around my neck. Anything to save my hands and wrists, as English style knitting is too painful after so many years of repetitive motion.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting Jane. I'm finding too that I get achy hands more these days so I'm trying to find ways to spare them as much as possible - they need to be of good service for a loooong time to come yet!
ReplyDeleteSo how do you do your purl knit in continental style? That's what I find awkward.
I hold my needles fairly close to the tips, and the left index finger (the yarn tension finger) is close to the action too. The less motion I have to make with that index finger, the more control I feel like I have. I will often use the thumb of my right hand to kind of secure the yarn while I'm wrapping it too. It IS an awkward thing at first. It took me a long time before I felt comfortable doing it. I still prefer Portuguese for an entire row of purl but I can now do ribbing without pain and that is important!
DeleteHi Frivole,
ReplyDeleteI've only just started learning to tat (and consequently find your blog and YouTube videos) but I think this pattern looks lovely. I'm especially interested in learning how to make those multi color chains. Yes, it's a bit busy, but I find myself just gazing at it and enjoying all the little details.
As to the knitting, I've been doing that for much longer. I was first taught using the English method but later switched to continental knitting. I found it to be much more efficient as well as quicker and easier. Perhaps it's because I'm naturally left handed and thus more dexterous with that hand, but I've found that with the continental method I'm able to get into a very quick way rhythm with ribbing. I admit I'd never heard of Portuguese knitting and had to Google it, but I'll have to check it out and give it a try when I've got some time.
Thanks for all your work and I look forward to following you in the future as well!
Hello Eric, thank you for your comment. Lock chains are not difficult at all so you should get the hang of them in no time.
DeleteI'd love to hear how you do continental ribbing because so far, I've found the purl stitch to be very awkward in continental style.
Best wishes in your tatting discoveries!
I generally hold my index finger up a little from the needles and while knitting just "scoop" up the yarn. When I need to purl, I use the index finger to move the yarn forward and then curl that same finger down to push the yarn down so I can easily grab it with the right needle and pull it back through the loop. It does require a bit of movement on the part of the index finger but it doesn't really bother me any. Being only 30 I haven't had to deal with arthritis or anything like that yet, so I can't comment on how it would feel/work for someone dealing with that. Anyway, hope that helps!
DeleteOh, I looked up the lock stitch on YouTube - how easy!! I love how it looks and can't wait to try it out in a project!
Ooh, no, it's not too busy, it's lovely!!! I agree, the bead points are essential, but the chain in the middle (what do you call that chain in the middle) is mesmerizing!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kristen! They're called "lock chains" and when worked with two colours make this lovely "zig-zagy" chain. Nice, isn't it?
Delete