Ok, so from my knitting goals, I said I would get started on lace. I figured I can start on Mother’s Day gifts early! So I’ve started on the Lacy Lattice Stole and this is what it looks like so far:
One thing I was not prepared for, was just how tricky mohair can be!! This is my first time with mohair, and it’s like knitting with really thin (but hairy) thread! Even floss would be thicker! And I didn’t anticipate the hairyness of mohair to be so clingy to everything. I don’t mind the thin aspect of mohair, but the clingy hairy part was a bit frustrating. I’ve only gone through 4 rows of the chart and I realize as a mohair newbie, I need to work on this very carefully. If I mess up, frogging back would be a nightmare (everything is already stuck to each other). A lifeline would permanently be attached (I would have to cut through all the fuzzy hair to get that lifeline out). Anyone have any suggestions on working with mohair? So far I’m just working very carefully so nothing gets stuck and I don’t make any dumb mistakes (what is it like to frog back with mohair?)
On another note, in a previous post I mentioned I was starting to teach knitting at a local high school. I had my second session yesterday. It’s fun, but I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing (details on this forum thread). I’ve recruited a friend to help out, who recently has taken up knitting as well (yay!!). Any suggestions on this new endeavor are welcomed as well! =)
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You may think this is crazy, but my aunt recommended to me that I freeze my mohair for an hour or so. Apparently it calms the mohair down and it sheds a lot less.
If you have a little patience, unpicking mohair can be ok - it takes a bit more patience, but it is possible. I had a disaster with it a few months ago - plus all my River screw-ups - and if I managed it, I’m sure you can too!
Your teaching sounds great - well done!
By The Skirt on 10/27/05 1:20 pm | Permalink
Wow Ruth! That is beautiful already - and at just a couple of inches! I can’t even imagine attempting anything like that…. you know, I’m yarnover-challenged. I can’t wait to see more!
By Lynda on 10/27/05 2:14 pm | Permalink
Mohair is tricky. If it weren’t so beautiful knit up, I wouldn’t use it. I calls to me like a siren’s song.
By amylovie on 10/27/05 7:38 pm | Permalink
OOoh so pretty! you know…the more you work with it…the easier it gets. not AS sticky. but as the skirt said above…i read that freezing helps too. just freeze for a little while. if you freeze too long, you get a block of ice!! lol
By Purse_Ho on 10/27/05 8:47 pm | Permalink
Frogging mohair is indeed painful, even tinking it would be enough to drive me nuts. Good luck though, it looks beautiful already ;)
By yuvee on 10/28/05 11:16 pm | Permalink
That looks beautiful already. Working with mohair for the first time is trying, but stick with it because the end result will be worth it.
I found frogging an absolute no no and got into all sorts of mess. Tinking back stitches takes alot of patience, but its the only way.
Great to hear your teaching your skills!
By SweetPeaknits on 10/28/05 11:40 pm | Permalink
Hi Ruth! This is my first visit to your knitting page. Your work is spectacular! You are getting to be a professional. I love the daisy scarf? you made for a friend.
By Janelle on 10/29/05 10:05 pm | Permalink
I have heard that if you put mohair in the freezer it helps out. However, I have not tried it. I’m making a mohair stole for my mom for Xmas, so I wil be trying it out.
By Gracie on 10/30/05 11:01 am | Permalink
Good luck teaching! I’ve taught several people how to knit but I can’t imagine how much patience it takes to teach high schoolers.
Mohair sucks! I will never knit with it again. But just take your time. It’s better to go slow with mohair than cry yourself into oblivion because you frogged and created neverending knots.
By yarn_nut on 10/30/05 1:45 pm | Permalink
No advice for mohair, but your work so far is excellent =)
As for teaching in a large group, I can see the challenge.
You might try this: Begin any new steps with you and your assistant teaching one student each. Narrarating loud enough for the whole class to hear, of course, in the event there is a prodigy who can learn from just listening. As each one of those students gets it, they could go one on one with another two students, while you and your assistant move on to two more and so on until everyone has mastered it.
Then when someone has further questions they can ask you for help. — That’s what I would do in your shoes =)
By April on 11/01/05 6:40 pm | Permalink
Yes, Ruth, the fiber fest was fun, I’m glad I chose that one over the other event. Right now I’m making balls out of the mohair/wool blend. So nice…..
By Judy on 11/06/05 7:50 pm | Permalink
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