I’m thrilled to say that I did complete my test knit lace cowl. In fact… I adore this pattern so much that I’ve decided to create a hat using the same four row repeat. You can see the WIP (work in progress) at the top of the above picture.
But back to my test knit…
There were a few errors along the way, which meant I had to rip out some of my work. I’ll be quick to say that they were all my errors. This pattern was written clearly and there was no confusion on the instructions on my part. I did learn a lesson, when my mind tells me to stop… I should listen. Seriously! Of course I didn’t, and that’s when the mistakes happen. My tired mind could not keep up with anything besides the basic ‘knit and purl’ stitch and that became apparent with some of the silly mistakes that I made, which I had to rip out and do over. This four pattern repeat was not complicated, tossing in a few extras stitches proved too much for my tired brain to handle. Hee hee
Guess what? I’m knitting another test knit and this time it will be a cape! I love capes and have two or three woolen ones, but I’ve always wanted to knit one. My daughter does not like them at all, but me? Give me a drapey cape and I’m wearing it. Yes, I’ll choose that over a coat. Add a comfortable liner and I’ll wear it during the coldest weather.
The cape is from the same designer and… drum rolls, I get to use the cable stitch. It’s my favorite. Originally, I was going to spin the yarn using my much beloved merino, but there’s this inner voice that is saying, “Opal, use some of your alpaca fiber!” That fiber has been patiently waiting on the sidelines for about two months or so, and so I do believe I’ll listen to that internal voice. After all, cool weather and alpaca fiber go together quite nicely… and I can’t forget that alpaca fiber is three times warmer than wool, which is perfect for someone like me who gets cold quickly. This is my second test knit within the past few months. Why am I doing another? The reason is quite simple, in doing so I will complete the project in a timely manner and since this is another project, for me, this works out perfectly. While I tend to make time to craft, several times weekly, I rarely include myself within the crafting equation.