A tip for using a lifeline in lace

Well the lace work continues... I now have 2.5 repeats of 4. On my Cherry Blossom Baby Sweater. I tried the Dental floss lifeline trick, however It can be a little time consuming.

Dental Floss Lifeline procedure:

1. Thread a needle with floss
2. work the needle through all active stitches and yarn overs on the row
3. Continue knitting
4. Heaven forbid you have to use it, now you have to rip back to the floss row
5. Carefully work your needle back through the stitches on the floss.
6. Begin again...

I thought about this process and came up with another way using a spare circular needle. For this project I used a size 2 40" circular needle as my lifeline.

Circular Needle Lifeline:

1. work the circular through the active stitches underneath the cable of your project needle.
2. Continue knitting (this is a little awkward with the cable left in on the previous row)
3. Now if frogging is necessary rip back to the cable/ lifeline
4. Begin again using your lifeline needle to knit off of.

This method works well because it eliminates a few steps. You don't have to worry about the size difference of the needles because the stitch size is determined by the right hand needle not the left.

My circular lifeline can be seen above (the red cable) holding my place just in case...

Testing, a new frontier

Well I am always looking for fun new patterns and designs, so a while back I joined two groups on ravelry devoted to the testing of patterns. After watching for a couple of months I found two projects that tickled my fancy. The Cherry Blossom Baby Sweater and the Babbee Sox pattern.

I am enjoying knitting for a cause. :) Plus along the way I am learning new techniques and acquiring new patterns.

ô¿ô Laura ô¿ô

My Stained Glass Argyle Hat!

I am so pleased with this project thus far!! This is my first fair isle color work pattern and only my second with a chart. Part of me is still amazed that I can muster up the coordination to hold one yarn in each hand. :D

Earlier, while finishing my second motif I noticed two black stitches that should have been color stitches. Luckily I was able to drop each of offending stitches the three rows and carefully pick them back up correctly with my crochet hook.
ô¿ô Laura ô¿ô

My favorite gift of 2009!

My HDBW!

I finally got a chance to take a good photo of my favorite Christmas present! My Heavy Duty Ball Winder and Power Base Light Plus from Nancy's Knit Knacks. Seen here holding 10 oz of baby weight yarn. To give you an idea of the size of this monster, the base is just a little smaller than your average shoe box. :) I was so glad my Parents and hubby conspired together to get me both pieces! They were rewarded by being able to watch me wind any scrap of yarn I could get my hands on! (Sometimes twice.) :D

Is this a necessary gadget for every knitter?

No.

Is it a bit excessive?

Yes.

Am I ecstatic every time I buy new yarn and get to play with it?

Absofrickinlutely!

- ô¿ô Laura ô¿ô