Come, Butterfly Along with Me

diamonds not lining up

2007-08-13T01:00:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone. I'm finally picking up "butterfly" after finishing a few baby projects. I'm knitting in the rounds, and I've come up with some problems. It seems that my lace pattern is not lining up properly. The size I'm knitting is XS and some edges has a YO without decreases or I don't have enough to do the decreases or too many st left. Should I ignore the edges with the YO and decreases and just do St st? Would the sides look wonky? Thanks in advance.

Anybody there?

2007-04-02T20:49:00.000-04:00

Am I the only one still working on this? I put it down and forgot my place when I finally picked it back up, so I had to start over. I wasn't very far along to begin with so no worries. I'm doing the hem now, and I have questions. I'm making the dress version, but I know I'm going to want mine to be shorter because I am very petite. Are the measurements listed for the piece before or after blocking? Also, the size I'm doing says to do 52 cm of the hem frill, again, before or after blocking?

Beta

2006-12-10T21:07:00.000-05:00

I switched the blog to the new beta Blogger. If anyone is having problems posting please let me know & I'll re-invite you. Hopefully that will be the solution.

Thanks Ann Marie!

2006-12-05T02:22:00.000-05:00

I'm almost done with the hem. Thanks to Ann Marie, the row by row chart helped simplify the pattern. I'm whizzing along. The more I knit, I realized I'm growing out of love for "dewberry" color ( and was ready to rip it and start over with a different color). Fortunately, a friend who saw it and diggs the color, so I'm going to knit it for her bridal shower gift. Oh, I'm going to attempt to knit in the round, (don't like to seam). Hope I won't run into major problems with the decreases and increases at the sides. I'll take a tips, too. At the moment though, I have to put butterfly down and knit up a clown fish for a little baby.

Picking up Butterfly

2006-11-26T09:26:00.000-05:00

I've been feeling guilty: I signed up for the Butterfly Knitalong and have barely knit a stitch of Butterfly since doing so. I mean, it sort of defeats the purpose of a knitalong if you're not knitting, doesn't it? In an effort to put my guilt aside, I picked up Butterfly again this long weekend. It took me a while to re-learn the lace pattern (yes, it really has been that long), but once I re-mastered it things moved along reasonably quickly; I'm almost done with the decreasing.

I'm really glad I picked this up again. I haven't knit much lace recently, and hadn't realized that I'd been missing it. I'd also forgotten just how pretty this piece of knitting is. I'm using relatively small beads (not sure if this is a mistake), so their effect is subtle, but I love how they make the fabric sparkle.

Cross-posted on What Katie Did.

Hello? Is this thing on?

2006-11-05T22:24:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't find any beads that really said "Pick me!! I'll make your Butterfly soar!" so I will be forging ahead sans beads. Besides, butterflies generally are a work of art unto themselves and need no further adornment. Yeah, that's it.
Having made that decision I will make up my hour of Butterfly knitting tomorrow - today has been exhausting! I think that I might go ahead and do it in the round. Did someone here do that or start that? Any tips that I won't have to suss out for myself?

Where are y'all at? I know that you haven't given up & we just need to get our momentum back.

butterfly. finished.

2006-10-22T10:39:00.000-04:00

details on my blog.

2006-10-17T23:20:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, thanks for letting me join. This is my very first KAL. It's going to be fun for me to knit along with other knitters across the globe. I can't wait to get my KSH. I'm so excited to get started.
Mindy

i sorta feel like i'm talking to myself, but...

2006-10-12T15:30:00.000-04:00

that's ok. hehe...

i'm almost done! i decided to do straps that would tie at the shoulders, since a lot of people complained of stretching. we'll see how that works out. i've finished all but one of those straps!

when i get home tonight, i'm going to block butterfly like crazy. i'll be working on the picot edging tomorrow and...hopefully...it'll will be done. good thing, too, since i want to wear it on saturday. eek!

no pictures, unfortunately. it's really hard to take decent pictures when i'm at work when the sun is out. boo. i need to schedule picture-taking time over the weekends, i think.

updated with a picture. yay for blocking!

row #3 on body (small)

2006-10-04T19:06:00.000-04:00

hi, everyone. i noticed in one of the other comments from this blog that, for row 1, i should the knit the first two stitches (instead of k2tog and then knitting one) and knit the last two stitches (instead of doing a k and then a ktbl). i'm also planning on doing this for row 9.

however, i'm confused about how to handle row 3. i'm knitting it in the round, but can't start and end each side with a yarn forward as the pattern calls for. could i just do this...?
first two stitches: change from yarn forward, dec 2 to k, k2tog
last two stitches: change from dec 2, yarn forward to ktbl, k

as for row 5, i'm at a loss. has anyone else who made the small size made changes to that row? it also starts and ends with a yarn forward.

eta: i went ahead and did what i wrote above on row #3, but i'm still lost on row #5. any thoughts?

eta: i figured out something for row 5. good times. i'll post my notes for this sorry excuse for a chart once i'm finished.

a quick frill question

2006-09-28T14:20:00.000-04:00

hi, everyone!

as i was knitting along on the frill of my butterfly, i measured it (unstretched) and estimated that i'd need ~34 repeats of the frill pattern overall / ~17 per side. however, i've been looking at pictures / notes of butterflies on people's blogs and i'm only seeing 10-12 repeats per side. i want to do a size small. i've also read that ksh (which i'm using) stretches a whole lot when blocked.

basically, i'm wondering if i should i go for 12 repeats per side. that's The Plan at the moment. hehe...

thanks!

help

2006-09-24T16:10:00.000-04:00

i am still struggling with the first line of my butterfly main. when it says yfwd does it mean yfwd and then knit a stitch, or just yfwd. Because I have tried just yfwd and Im ending up with too many stitches left. I dont usually use charts and I am getting good and confused.

and so it begins...

2006-09-24T13:18:00.000-04:00

not the best picture, but...you get the point. i just finished the first 8 rows of the fringe. yay! about 1 minute after this picture was taken i actually (gasp!) put a lifeline in.

The larvae has become....

2006-09-19T20:41:00.000-04:00

A Butterfly:)

I am finished with my Butterfly. Yeah!! I need to find something better to wear underneath it, but I was determined to wear it today. Thank you so much Wannietta again for starting the knit-a-long or else I am sure that I wouldn't have started yet. I kept looking in the mirror at the butterfly all day because I was so excited to be done.

A couple thoughts regarding the pattern....

- I think next time I would try using a non-mohair laceweight yarn

- I shortened the straps a bit, and they still seem a little long.

- This sucker does stretch like crazy. I knit the x-small using size 6 needles, and it still fit OK, although it is slightly snug.

- I only used 1 1/2 balls of Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

- I am not sure how much the beads really add to it, so I think that I would do without the beads next time.

I will post an additional pic tomorrow. Ann Marie

The Swatch

2006-09-17T14:43:00.000-04:00

I very nearly forgot to knit on Butterfly yesterday, but I remembered in time! Here is my swatch. I'm not sure that the beads are making a significant impact. Perhaps a different colour? I can find more at the CSNF next month, or I can leave them out altogether. I had to go down to 4mm needles. I'm usually a tight knitter but with lacy projects I seem to loosen up. That and this yarn (Alchemy Haiku) is a bit thinner than KSH.

I also need to pay some extra attention to knitting the whole yarn, not just the fluff. I think this happened because I'm using needles with a fairly pointy tip. I will have to pay more attention to this when I'm knitting the real thing.

I've also decided that I'm going to knit this in the round. Not my favourite technique, but I think that it will be better than having to seam this stuff. I will probably splurge for the new Lantern Moon circulars - I've had a hankering to try them out and this would be the perfect project.
I wrote a bit longer of a post on my blog, including some pics of the beadspinner if you want to read some more.

A Proposal

2006-09-12T13:57:00.000-04:00

No, not that kind of proposal; one spouse is quite enough.

For those of us who are commencement challenged, I would like to propose a starting strategy (no, I'm not a therapist in RL, but I could play one on tv ... any offers?) that I believe we can follow through on. One a given/chosen day of the week we will knit for 1 hour on Butterfly. Everyone is certainly welcome/encouraged to knit more often for longer, but this will give us all a snail's pace fighting chance to get this baby off of the ground.

What say you? Any preference for "Butterfly Day"? I think that I like Saturday. I almost never have to get up early on Sunday, so even if it's really late I could get my hour in.

Does anyone know...........

2006-09-04T11:17:00.001-04:00

I was looking at the lengths of the frill and realised that they are larger then the measurements given for the dress. For example the small dress frill is 55cm long yet the small dress is 39.5cm. Does anyone know which is a more acurate measurement. I finish the frill tonight so want to make sure I am making the right size.

will 2 balls be enough?

2006-08-30T12:23:00.000-04:00

ok, so...i have 2 balls of ksh and i'm sort of worried that i might run out. i have a 36" bust, but am planning on making one size smaller. also, i'm going to knit it in the round, which should use less yarn also.

do i have a shot or should i just suck it up and buy three new balls?*

*i purchased these 2 balls at a store-closing sale, so i'm pretty sure i won't be able to get the same dye lot.

Making some progress - done with the one side....

2006-08-24T07:51:00.000-04:00

Whew. I am done with the first side. I feel like I have the hang of the pattern now, and I am hoping to whip up the back up this weekend. I really want to wear the Butterfly at least once before it gets cold.

Anyone have any tips on blocking lace???

Ann Marie

butterfly in the round

2006-08-22T09:58:00.000-04:00

aside from keeping in mind that i'll only be working on the right side and, therefore, need to change the wrong side row direction to account for that, does anyone have any comments / suggestions for working butterfly in the round? i haven't started yet (still waiting to get my needles), but i'm thinking that working it in the round just makes more sense for me.

a little worried!

2006-08-22T08:14:00.000-04:00

Looking at all of the butterflies.I am a bit worried that mine looks too fine. what do you think? Or am a I just being paranoid?

My Butterfly is starting to break the cocoon....

2006-08-21T20:03:00.000-04:00

I started the Butterfly inspired by Domesticat
So I bought the the Rowan Magazine and the yarn(the color is is shade 582)and fell in love.I already finish the fringe and started on the body. It's still kinda difficult but I am getting there...I am glad I can join so I can share my progress with you.

What's going on.

2006-08-20T16:40:00.000-04:00

So let me show you where I've got to.

Oh, yes, that's right. I can't. Because the digital camera has hidden itself so very well that we might as well call it lost. Except that I refuse to do that. This camera has been our faithful companion for the past eight years. It has illustrated my first year of blogging. It... it... it had better bloody turn up soon or I'm going to have a small fit.

If I had a camera, I could show you the two yarns that could be Butterfly. KSH in a sort of lilac color that I'm not that fond of or 100% silk Andrea in a wonderful greeny-grey-blue combination. The KSH is, after all, KSH and I'm worried about knitting Butterfly without the mohair haze. And purple is not a bad color for me, but this purple is a little light. Here's a picure of it that I borrowed (the picture! not the bandwith!) from some yarn site. It's called Dewberry.
Knit up, it would be pretty. Right? And I have just enough (probably) for the tank, which is what I want to knit, because (let's be real here) where am I going to wear a KSH dress? To do laundry?

I have enough Andrea to make a whole dress (which I don't really want to make) and so, though I like the color better, I would worry about what to do afterwards with half a skein of Andrea.

I have, in the interests of full confession, knit about three rows with the KSH. It would be fine. It's just the color! But I might grow to love it, right? Right? I don't have money for yarn right now and I don't want to buy more yarn. I want to knit with what I have and this is what I've got.

Thoughts? Mallets? Lost cameras?

Francesca (Stuntmother)

Spot the Mistake

2006-08-20T10:36:00.000-04:00

Hello! This is my first time posting here. I thought I'd let you know what I've done so far. I'm knitting the vest version of Butterfly, using Kidsilk Haze in "Trance". This isn't really a color that I'd normally choose for myself, but I had it in my stash, and I actually really like it. I've knitted the frill for the back (this was a painful process - I had to lock myself in a room with no distraction to get it done), and I've picked up stitches to start knitting the body for the back. But, can you see what's wrong here?

That's right, I picked up the stitches for the body from the wrong side of the frill. It took me forever to notice that I'd done this, too (in fact, it took taking a photo of it, where I couldn't work out which side should be 'up'). I couldn't really believe I'd done it.

Since making this mistake, I've slowly ripped back (I'll never make this mistake again - undoing Kidsilk Haze is a special kind of punishment), and I've picked up (on the right side this time), and have got back to where I was before. Much better.

Argh

2006-08-19T11:08:00.000-04:00

I have just been away for a week and had great plans for my butterfly. It didn't happen I managed six patterns of the frill and that was it. The non knitters and the children just dont understand about pattern counting. I would leave room and they would follow me either to talk or to eat apples in my ear! I gave up because it wasnt restful and I was in danger of poking someone really hard with a knitting needle. Oh well only a couple of weeks until school starts back maybe i can have a go then.

hi, everyone!

2006-08-16T11:29:00.000-04:00

i'm so glad that there's a knitalong for this. i've been lusting after it ever since seeing it on a few blogs, and i just couldn't resist when a yarn store by me had the ksh for 40%. i ended up buying it in majestic, which is nowhere near as washed out as it looks in this picture.

i just ordered rowan 37 today, and will be swatching for it once i get the magazine. after that, i'm planning on ordering some of those super-pointy knitting needles from knitpicks to use, since they look like they'll come in handy. if i can find some cool beads (how many / what size does the pattern call for? i'm only knitting the vest version.), i'll nab those, too.

i'm hoping to finish this up in time for a wedding (in mid-october), but we'll see about that, since i'm also working on a few other projects for myself and some xmas knitting.

eta: ok, so...before purchasing these (reasonably-priced) knitting needles, i was wondering if anyone could tell me how useful super-pointy needles usually are for knitting lace. thanks!

My So-Called Progress

2006-08-16T11:28:00.000-04:00

Well, I wound a skein into a ball which I lovingly fondle at least 50 times a day. I photocopied the pattern, enlarged the graph, placed them in sheet protectors and gaze longingly at the Butterfly picture at least 100 times a day. I read about your progress and am Butterflying Along with You vicariously as I knit on deadlined work - which is actually threatening to kill someone.

I am with you in spirit and will join you in the wool in the next couple of weeks. Knit a little stitch for me!

I can't believe it. I am done with the hem frill:)

2006-08-09T13:42:00.000-04:00

In what might be a minor miracle, I am done with the hem. I am so excited. Thank you so much Wannietta for starting this Knit-A-Long, or I am sure that this yarn would still be sitting lonely in the closet. I am going to string the beads tonight, and I will get started on the body tomorrow. From what I have read, the body is easier then the hem. Let's hope so:)

Ann Marie- You Rock.

2006-08-08T22:19:00.000-04:00

3 Repeats into the hem frill.

I am making use of your excel chart Ann Marie. Thank you. I appreciate it greatly. Without it I would probably have messed up the lace pattern a lot more than I did with the cards.

It is much easier with index cards. I dont know why I haven't always knit lace with index cards. I think I like using them even better than charts! Actually, how about the best of both worlds and maybe I could make up chart like index cards, just for one row at a time...

The possibilities- hmm.

Anyway, It may seem silly to be taking pictures so early but seriously, this is the most intimidating project I have ever knit, and I need to celebrate all the little successes.

Krista

I'll Butterfly Along with You

2006-08-07T09:58:00.000-04:00

I just joined this KAL and am excited to start this. I managed to pick up some Kid Silk Haze & Rowan #37 from a LYS that is sadly going out of business. I've knit with KSH before, so I know it's going to be a slow project, but the finished result is worth it!

I was originally going to make the vest, but I was wondering how many balls of KSH I would actually need. The pattern indicates 3, but I've been reading that it's taken less than 2 for what looks like is the same length. For those of you that have made it with KSH or planning on making it, how much yarn did you get?

I'm also looking at making the dress instead... To bead or not to bead...

Decisions, decisions...

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Lace Pattern

2006-08-06T00:54:00.000-04:00

I'm working on my swatch (yes, we have the fastest AND the slowest knitters in North America in this knit-along), and well, my "lace" looks nothing like the pretty diamonds of butterfly. How many rows should I have to work before I start to see the pattern? I'm worried that I may be doing something wrong, but I've been following the charts exactly (at least I think so). I'm also gaining stitches, so I think I must be doing something wrong... but I sure can't figure out what!

Oh, and what is the best decrease to do for the "dec 2" step? It doesn't specify.

Repeats in Hem Frill

2006-08-05T15:48:00.000-04:00

I am in a quandry over how many repeats to do in the hem frill. I have 14 right now. I have read that the Butterfly will stretch like crazy.

If I pull on the lace a bit, the hem measures out to 42 cm. (I think that I am going to make the XS.) Plus, you stretch it when blocking to enable you to see the pattern clearly, correct??

Thanks! Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Ann Marie

Crochet method of attaching beads

2006-08-03T13:20:00.000-04:00

Hello,
Has anyone ever used the above? Some knitters have mentioned that they have used crochet hooks to attach the beads for the Rowan Butterfly and have said that it was easier.....
Thanks!

Tips on Lace Knitting?

2006-08-03T11:43:00.000-04:00

Hi ladies,

This is my first lace knitting project, and while I don't think there is anything difficult about k2togs and YOs, last night when starting my swatch, I was having a very hard time keeping my place on the chart. Do yall have any tips to offer on how to keep up with the stitches you've knit? I thought about making a copy and marking each stitch off, but to do this for the whole dress will take a lot of time, paper, and ink, I think! Surely there is a better way.

Oh by the way, my Tsuki yarn? Soooo soft and beautiful. I ended up with a light lavendar color, and it is gorgeous.

Since it is August 1st, I figured that I could post:)

2006-08-01T10:49:00.000-04:00

In case anyone needs it, I put the directions for the hem frill into Excel. I copied the pattern, but it was still driving me crazy trying to follow the directions for the hem frill. I put each step in a vertical format so that I could slide an index card down as I went along.

I have used it for a couple of repeats, so I know it is correct. If anyone would like a copy, you can e-mail me at anngilchrist@yahoo.com.

Thanks!!

Hello

2006-07-26T11:42:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, glad to meet you. My yarn arrived this morning whoooo! I have chosen the Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Trance http://www.knitrowan.com/html/yarn_results_detail.asp?productcode=12582&groupno=12basically because there arent any decent wool shops near me and also we dont get the choice I think that you get in Canada. I did get it cheaper though and I have justified it as a birthday present to myself. I cant wait to start though, I am gonna be good and wait till the 1st .
Arianwen

Another possible yarn sub

2006-07-25T12:53:00.000-04:00

I just thought I'd mention the yarn I've finally decided on. I love browsing the Artfibers website, and I noticed Tsuki. I emailed them about the yarn, and was told that several of their customers have used it as a sub for KSH, and that it produced very good results. So, I ordered two skeins of it today. It is 60% mohair and 40% silk. I know it won't be quite as fuzzy, but I am hoping it will still work well! The price isn't bad, either... $16/515 yd skein.

Flickr Group

2006-07-19T07:30:00.000-04:00

There is now a Flickr Group to pool together all images Butterfly related. It's in its infancy (it was just born 5 seconds ago) but I think it has potential to grow. I think there will be many pictures of this beautiful garment listed for us to admire soon enough.

I also wanted to mention that I am not using Rowan's Kid Silk Haze to make my butterfly. I have a yarn that (apparently) will work as a substitution. At my yarn store it was half the price of Rowan's KSH. It is called The SRK Collection, Ovation. It is still kid mohair and silk, just without the brand name of Rowan attached.

More about Substitutions

2006-07-18T20:04:00.000-04:00

Any laceweight yarn will work. As long as you know that a 100% merino, alpaca or silk will give a less ethereal look and won't be disappointed by this you can try the following, as suggested by Crystal & Stuntmother.
KnitPicks Shadow, Gossamer, Alpaca Cloud or Shimmer
Schaefer Yarns Andrea
Crystal Palace Yarns Kid Merino

These yarns have some fantastic colours!!! If the 1st Butterfly knits up ~~great~~ ~~good~~ not horrible, I'll have to seriously consider doing it again. mmmmm - silk!!

Not having worked with the Kid Merino, I can't speak to it's blockability, Crystal, but it falls into the appropriate weight category. The only way to really know how the yarn will behave - yeah, you know what I'm gonna say - is to swatch it. Even acrylic can be wet blocked. I wouldn't steam it unless you've tried it on a swatch and know what's going to happen.

Button

2006-07-18T12:45:00.000-04:00

Thanks Krista - I really love it!!

Ann Marie

2006-07-17T18:11:00.000-04:00

Installing Haloscan seems to have erased the previous comments. Email me : kwp@sympatico.ca with your email address so that I can send you an invitation to join the blog.

Thanks!

2006-07-16T10:50:00.000-04:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Alpaca Cloud

2006-07-15T10:38:00.000-04:00

KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud falls into the appropriate weight class so you can certainly use it. The knitted fabric will have a different appearance though. It will not have the ethereal look that the mohair gives KSH. The price is right though, so as long as you know that the look will be a bit different, go for it!

THe 34" dress takes 3 + 1 balls of KSH. The 1 ball is for the inner hem frill which is knit in a different colour. The shorter version doesn't have this, so you can leave it out or knit it in the same colour - Knitters Choice.

Swatch & Substitutions

2006-07-14T21:58:00.000-04:00

I appreciate your blind devotion Krista. Bwa ha ha - I have them in my thrall now!!
The Swatch is measured over the body pattern stitch which is graphed out. I would/will cast on at least 30 sts, doing 3 sts on each end in garter st. You will just have to pay attention on the rows that have "yo, dec2, yo", working just a single dec at the ends to keep your stitch count constant. After working at least 4" in length, cast off very loosely and block. Wet it up, give it a squeeze and pin it. (and teenagers think they've got the market cornered on double-entendres) With a gauge of 17 sts'4" the 24 sts of pattern should measure 5.6". After it's dry unpin it, give it a wee shake and let it rest a bit. Now - do you like it? Measure it. Is it to gauge? If you like it and it is to gauge (or not far off) then you're golden!! Otherwise you may want to adjust your needle size and do another swatch. I know, but this is not going to be one of those weekend projects and you really want to like it & have it fit (presumable you) when it's done.

The Substitution Suggestions

K1C2 Douceur et Soie
Madil Kid Seta

These next 3 are a little lighter, but I'm sure (especially since I'm using one of them) that they will be just fine.
Alchemy Yarns Haiku
Jaggerspun Zephyr
Karabella Lace Mohair

Let us know if you have another suggestion!

Swatching

2006-07-10T11:02:00.000-04:00

I would like to encourage everyone to do a swatch
Lace is a very malleable thing, capable of becoming more than you could imagine possible from a singy lump, but we don't want to be too far off of the Rowan mark. I do believe that there is such thing as "too lacy". Swatching can begin now if you have time (and when I say 'time' I mean an hour of two or sleep that you didn't really need anyway) or you can wait for August 1st.

Krista had mentioned to me that as I am blog button challenged (I don't have a freakin' clue!) that she would make us a button! No rush Krista, just building some excitement here.

Talk to you soon!

Welcome

2006-07-05T23:53:00.000-04:00

On August 1st we will be starting Butterfly from Rowan #37. It calls for 2-4 balls of Kidsilk Haze depending on the size and whether you choose to do the short or longer version. We are in this for the long haul and while we will celebrate with each other as we finish it is by no means going to be any kind of speed thang. Honest, I've got a lot of "work" knitting to do.
Krista was really the inspiration for this. She was going to do Butterfly as her Olympic event, but had serious second thoughts and said that she would need someone to talk her through it. I have always loved this design so I offered. One thing led to another and now we have an -along & a blog. I know that Krista has more going on than she thinks and will probably have more answers than questions.

I am going to use Haiku from Alchemy Yarns. With Krista's help I chose the Foxglove colour. Mine is darker & richer than the colours shown on the Alchemy site (at least on my monitor).

Please leave your name in a comment if you would like to Come, Butterfly Along with Me and I will add you as a member. We are all going to help each other in this ... so play nice. Don't make me pull this blog over!!