Third Time's the Charm!

I hate hate hate ripping out. That's the one thing about designing your own patterns. You know what you want it to look like, but as you're working, it's really trial and error. If you don't like how it's turning out, well, it's rip and re-knit. I am on my third version of my Gilded Age Placemats. This table set was inspired by the glittering gold and silver services of the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.

The first version was done in double-knitting, in gold and silver, with a reversible design. Double-knitting is really time consuming as the both yarns need to move between the needles with every stitch. I was about 4000 stitches in when I thought: "No one in their right mind will make 6 of these." Rip and re-knit.

Version 2 was knit in intarsia. I was 20 rows in when I re-checked my gauge and decided that it wasn't wide enough. Bye, bye almost 1800 stitches.

Well, my mother always said "Third time's the charm" but generally she was referring to my somewhat checkered marital history. But with that adage in mind, I cast on for a third time with more stitches, having re-worked the intarsia design chart to accomodate an extra 15 stitches. I am happy to announce that I am 59 rows in (more than half way) and it is turning out just like I imagined. This project is knit in Berroco Metallic FX in silver and gold. I love mixed metals and I think the modern design (I'm only showing you a little bit here -- you have to wait for the book!) really suits it. Classic and modern all at once. I think I'm going to knit a second version as well in metallic black and silver. Maybe as a table runner.

The yarn is a gorgeous metallic ribbon, very soft and supple. The effect is molten metal. Lovely.

Now that all the craziness of getting the house ready for the holidays is over, all the gifts are finished and wrapped and shipped, it feels really good to get back to Deep South Knitting. Of course, it would feel better if there was less ripping and more knitting. Maybe next project?