What a struggle I've had!
I realised over the bank holiday that the MKAL was about to start and that I hadn't given any thoughts to yarn and beads.
Monday - Clue 1 released. Stash diving. Found some Handmaiden Silk Lace in Topaz. Spent the rest of the day winding it up. Ordered some matching Topaz beads (and a few silvery clear ones as well).
Tuesday - Decided that I might like another yarn, so ordered Handmaiden Lino, a silk and linen blend.
Wednesday - Yarn and beads arrived. Not enough natural light to tell if the beads matched this new yarn colour Mint. Wound yarn.
Thursday. Clue 2 released. Beads and yarn do not match. Moreover the silver ones don't really go either. Ordered more beads. This time I've gone for contrasting beads. Silver lined Smokey Amethyst. CCast on Clue 1.. No beads required and it's just stocking stitch. The yarn is slippery and all of my current needles (that aren't interchangeables) are metal. Settled on Chiagoo. Not ideal.
Friday - Beads arrived. Are fabulous. Ordered a wooden needle in case I can't handle a slick needle. Not happy with knitting, it looks messy and is a ral PITA to knit. Decided to go stash rummaging for a 4ply and found Jaeger Pure Silk. , a LOT easier to knit with. Cast on and knitted awa happily on clue 1.
Saturday - In daylight the new beads don't match AT ALL the Jaeger Silk. Back to Lino. New needles arrived and don't make that much difference, and they're not as sharp as Chiagoo.
My garter tab is rubbish. The yarn has no memory and I can't live with the holes created when you pick up sts along the edge. So I cast on 7 sts. knit four rows of garter stitch increasing every other row up to 11 sts. Knit away on Clue 1.
Sunday - wake up, look at clue one and HATE the edges! The increases are M1L and M1R, so as to leave no gaps. You ihncrease 2 sts each end on RS ows, and 1st each end on WS rows. All of the Boo shawls I've knitted have these sort of increases, and although sometimes I see a bit of a gap (especially on one side!) these level out with blocking - but they're all wool or wool blends. Rip back, restart and try various other options. Non look good, so I've gone back to the original instructions. One option I've not tried is one which I've seen on Stitchnerd patterns, kfb and yo for the double increase.
Monday - Clue 3 released.. Seriously, I am soooo behind! And I think I will try the Stitchnerd incrrase and see if I like it better. I've tried the other Boo increase, KYOK and it looks OK but still not ideal. I don't mind holes along the top, as long as they're regular and even and don't look like scrappy M1L increases! So tonigh I start over, and try to catch up!
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