Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Now for the Ruffle

Hi Knitters,
I hope you are all doing well. It is a busy, busy week for everyone I am sure.

Today I am quickly sharing that old Citron I started well over a year ago. I pulled it out again last weekend to see if I could actually finish it up. I am knitting with Malabrigo lace weight in the Sealing Wax colorway, on US size 6 needles. I don't know what it is about this project that makes it difficult for me to stick with it. Is it the lace weight yarn (not my favorite) or is it the endless rows of stockinette stitch? Actually, it is both of these things.

I added two more sections, for seven sections total, to use up the yarn and because I want it to be bigger. As written, this is a very small shawl. The added sections have made the stitch count very high even before the ruffle. I haven't dared to count or figure out how many stitches I have at this point in case it might make me want to stop working on it. Now I am on the first ruffle row where you kfb in each stitch. It will be well over 700 stitches in each row. This is going to be a long suffering ruffle to complete but the reason I keep going is that I know without a doubt that I will absolutely love wearing my rusty red Citron when it is complete.

I can't wait to bind off and block! There is a small possibility that I might add some beads to the edge as I bind off but I am not sure yet. I'll keep you posted.

Take care, Knitters. Thank you to the lovely knitters who have sent me some very kind and heart-warming emails and notes recently (Barb, Jenni, Nancy, Mary Rose and Betty to name a few). Those really make my day.
best, susie

16 comments:

Toni said...

FYI - I haven't made one yet, but the knitter who made the sample at my LYS (and I agree, the original is small) told me she liked it better before it was blocked. That's one knitter's second hand opinion, but either way, it should be a very useful and gorgeous shawl.

Leslie said...

Love that color and the Citron is on my list for someday - yours is lovely!

Kathy said...

I knitted my first one with Mountain Colors Bearfoot--a sport weight. I thought it was too small too so gifted it. My second is like yours only with brown Malabrigo lace. And, like you, lace is not my favorite. I also want it larger so I'll be anxious to see your finished project. Maybe it will encourage me to get back to mine!

Phyllis said...

The color is gorgeous! I can not wait to see the finished product. You will be so glad to have it completed, off the needles, and no longer looming over your head!

Patricia said...

I love the week between Christmas and New Year's, I think it's a great time to get those projects finished. That was my goal this week! I have finished two things and am on to the other 3...

Rachelle said...

That's the size I made, and yes those last few rows take a very long time; but at the end it is so very worth it! Mine was from handspun that I made using the fractal technique and it turned out beautifully. Mine is on Ravelry under Sewsable.

madder said...

Beautiful. You're almost there....

Barb said...

Oh it is so lovely! Your color is beautiful - can't wait to see your finished Citron! Happy knitting to you - a fun way to spend this week & thanks for sharing this WIP with us.

kelly-ann (on ravelry) said...

Keep going - you are in the final stretch. I think it is just Malabrigo Lace...my longest project on the needles was a Malabrigo Lace scarf with size 6 needles. I did finish, but it has sat nicely preserved in my closet ever since!

Jamie said...

I love Malabrigo's sealing wax colorway. Sometimes it looks red, sometimes a red-orange. Good luck finishing. It will be gorgeous!

Unknown said...

I knit with Malabrigo Lace once, too and didn't enjoy it either. I doubt I will ever knit lace weight yarn again. lol...

sydneypaige said...

I knit beads into the bottom of my citron (rav id sydneypaige) in part to weigh down the edge, but also so I'd have motivation to knit all the way to that last row.... Those last few take an eternity! :-)

Turner aka Knitnoir said...

Oh my goodness, those last ruffle rows on my Citron took forever. And that was just the normal size (I also wanted it to be larger, but I got there by using thicker yarn.) But it's worth it. Onward!

Jill Nault said...

You can do it! Nothing like slugging thru plain knitting at the holidays! I can't wait to see you model it!

DesertHermeneutics said...

I almost gave up knitting because I couldn't seem to choose a pattern without stockinette, and it can just get sooo boring! It looks very lovely, Susan. I think I need to make one now . . .

Suzanne said...

I am here to say that knitting the last rows of a citron is like labor. Once it's done and a wee bit of time has passed, the pain is forgotten. Your post is making me want to pull mine out again to wear to church today. It's so snuggly and wonderful now that it's a FO. :-)