I have a new design I just got on my needles. This design will be approximately a square. When I cast-on for a square or full circle, I begin with a four stitch I-cord in smooth waste yarn. I make a few inches of I-cord so I have something to hold onto.
I then begin my design in the yarn I choose, starting with four stitches, directly from my I-cord. Once I have an inch or two of my design knit, I unravel the cotton waste yarn.
You can leave it just as you find it, but if the center hole is too large you can tighten it up.
And here you see the scale with my Chibi case and US 1 needles. All the supplies for this new design are here and I'll post some pictures of my move to a circular needle when I get there. Once I block this out, you will see a perfect center without any aggravation.
So we have four skeins of Misty Alpaca lace weight, a tube of #8 Japanese seed beads (gold lined opal,) my new chart, a tiny crochet hook and US #1 needles in 16" and 32". More later...
I have a new design I just got on my needles. This design will be approximately a square. When I cast-on for a square or full circle, I begin with a four stitch I-cord in smooth waste yarn. I make a few inches of I-cord so I have something to hold onto.
I then begin my design in the yarn I choose, starting with four stitches, directly from my I-cord. Once I have an inch or two of my design knit, I unravel the cotton waste yarn.
You can leave it just as you find it, but if the center hole is too large you can tighten it up.
And here you see the scale with my Chibi case and US 1 needles. All the supplies for this new design are here and I'll post some pictures of my move to a circular needle when I get there. Once I block this out, you will see a perfect center without any aggravation.
So we have four skeins of Misty Alpaca lace weight, a tube of #8 Japanese seed beads (gold lined opal,) my new chart, a tiny crochet hook and US #1 needles in 16" and 32". More later... 
I love the i-cord idea! It looks like a little pig's tail. I might be tempted to leave it there until the shawl is finished, in order to add to the big finishing transformation.
ReplyDeleteI'll miss you at S&E today, especially because it's been so long and I'm actually working on a lace shawl,albeit a very simple one. Next time, I hope!
Thanks so much for documenting your ideas and great techniques on a blog. As usual, I'm amazed and awed that you have enough time and energy to do it all, and I'm grateful for your generosity in sharing your hard won wisdom.
- gretchen
The i-cord start is just perfect! I love using it ... when I learnt it the person called it a "belly button start" ... which I thought was really cute :)
ReplyDeleteI love seeing a new design start!!! It'll be really neat to watch your progress :) Maybe even tempt me to try my hand at designing :)
Looking forward to watching it progress :)
What a great way to start a center! I am definitely filing this away in my tips file.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new blog and looking forward to many more ideas from your creative brain!
When I saw the first picture, I thought "She's making a shawl with a tail...?" But that is excessively clever! I use a Turkish cast-on myself--loop two stitches around the cords of two circs, knit one round, and start increasing. No hole.
ReplyDeleteYes, thanks for posting your clever ideas! And it looks like it will be stunning, whatever it is!
Thanks for all your comments. I missed seeing you too, Gretchen! I trust you guys had fun without me:) Fleegle, I need to see your cast-on. That sounds very interesting and I want to try it. Next time you do it take a picture, eh? I have used a Turkish cast-on for toe-up socks, but never a circular start.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to get those center stitches going! I have been using a tatted cast-on but I will give this a try. I think fleegle came up with yet another way that she is going to post soon.
ReplyDeleteGreat start you've got there. I'm the "belly button start for circular projects" inventor. It's nice to see others coming up with easy starts for circular projects, because it gives newer (and older!) lace knitters a chance to take on some of those hard-to-start circular projects!
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Rosemarie Buchanan