Lace Shawl Repair

Repairing my lace knitting disaster

Nearing the big FO (Finishing Object) stage for a shawl, I instead detoured to the "disaster" stage. I washed and went to block the 2-ply shawl from the Shepherd Shawls booklet, and a big area in one of the corners was nearly disintegrated.

(Note: The reason I have documented the process by which I repaired this shawl is to help inspire and build confidence in your knitting. It was not my purpose to sell you this shawl pattern, and the shop from which I had purcahsed no longer carries it. But if you want to find Shepherd Shawls booklets, Linda, one of the HeartStrings website visitors, has kindly let me know that they are still available in New Zealand and Australia at http://www.theyarnqueen.co.nz/shepherd-pattern-books.html and http://www.needlenook.com.au/wools/shepherd_patterns/ respectively.)

And this is what it is supposed to look like (a pic of an undamaged corner).

Apparently I missed catching a loop in one of my decreases (probably a k3tog, which was the case I later confirmed). Sometimes I miss those compound stitch manipulations, but I usually catch it before it causes big damage. Also, this was superwash wool I was working with, and it is more slippery than regular wool (which grabs, and even if there is a run, it doesn't go too far). I set it aside to repair when I was mentally fresh and not still p*** off at myself! I got plenty of sympathy from my lace knitting buddies, and good advice like —

• sit down with a hot cup of tea
• eat some chocolate
• get out a good lighted magnifier
• wet the area to untangle the ladder threads
• be careful to pick up ladder threads in the correct order
• etc. etc.

Here is how I tackled fixing this mess.

Jessica L. writes ...

Thank you so much for posting the pictures of your progress in repairing the corner of your lace shawl. You inspired the bravery and confidence to patiently correct my own disaster repair in a knitted lace shawl, rather than frogging it all and beginning something all garter stitch! And chocolate does *indeed* help, too. With appreciation, Jessica

It is so nice when people like Jessica and you write to share both your successes and trials and tribulations. I am pleased to be a part in helping to inspire and build confidence in your knitting. When I requested permission of Jessica to share her comments with you, she went on to write ...

Of *course* you may post it! ... Since the time I wrote to you, I've made great progress knitting my shawl - it's up to 1000 stitches per round - yikes! I would never have made it this far if it hadn't been for the new confidence I feel as a result of fixing a section rather than frogging.

I don't feel the need to be so very careful because now I know I can fix an error, so I knit faster. Knitting at a faster speed has a better rhythm to the knitting, so I'm making very few mistakes anyhow - and those are mostly tinkable back a few stitches. I've even done away with all but the end-of round marker.

Seems you've made me a lace knitter.