Lace season

The mathematical tightness of lace was the first draw. The sequences, the addition and subtraction of stitches, and the clever way you could manipulate the stitches. The variations are endless.

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Forgive the unblocked mush. This is Auntie H's Faux Russian Stole from A Gathering of Lace. The geometric pattern is caused by increases right beside decreases. The increase creates the hole and the decrease makes a crisp slant right beside it.

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Aunt Lee's Muir Woods from Knitty has some similar ideas. The mesh between the leaves is formed by putting the increases and decreases directly beside eachother, this time with nothing between. The leaves, however, are formed by pairs on increases at the base that coincide with pairs of decreases on the leaves beside them. We emerge from each row with the same number of stitches but the distance between adding and subtracting creates the push and pull in the motif.

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There are times when you intend, though, to add width as you progress. This piece will be square with a neckhole in the center and a split between two quarters. It's also all mine. Progress is slightly slower. I'm a sucker for gift knitting. My friend Kurt of the Yarn Store is getting a nifty pair of socks:

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The yarn is mostly merino wool with a bit of nylon for strength and a rich fluf of cashmere. It's glossy and lofty. Casbah by Handmaiden.

I've also developed a big crush on fairisle. No details until it's done.

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