It made me the KSH junkie I am today…
April 16th, 2010, 5:00 pm
Halcyon is storming along and so far, is a very enjoyable knit.
I’ve made both of the peplums, picked up the stitches for the back – VERY carefully and neatly…
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| From Halcyon |
and started rampaging towards the armholes …
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| From Halcyon |
OK I say ‘rampaging’…I probably mean slowly and meticulously plodding through the rows, checking my every step.
Halcyon is fun but it’s not going to be quick!
As there is not much to tell on Halcyon, I thought I’d tell you about the garment guilty of making me the Kidsilk Haze junkie I undeniable am – the Birch Shawl.
I’ve mentioned my problem with KSH several times but most notably in this post – “Cracksilk Haze – I can stop any time I want”
I can tell you, as someone who should be in KSH rehab, one ball is enough to hook you. I started in big way – a three ball project! There was no hope after that.
It just a random thought - What would KSH rehab be like? Aversion therapy? Electric shocks delivered by electrodes attached to the ends of your metal knitting needles if you reach for the soft, fluffy stuff? Group therapy?
” My name is Susan and I own 130 balls of KSH and I am a Cracksilk junkie 
”
So where did it all start? In Rowan Mag 34…
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| From Birch |
There was and article called, “Clever Ideas”, about snuggling up warm and cosy with knitted things…I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere conjured up by the accompanying picture and decided I had to have the shawl draped indulgently over the hanger.
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| From Birch |
Strangely, all the “birch” pictures on-line use another picture of Birch from the same book, in which you can’t really see the lace pattern and the model looks cold!
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| From Birch |
As well as my first use of KSH, this was also my first real lace pattern- Talk about challenging!
I knit Birch way back in 2004, before Ravelry, before knitting groups before I knew about good quality needles (my God, I shudder at the memory of the cheap circular that twisted into a loop and caught every stitch!) and before I knew about so many online resources for knitters – I just slogged my way though.
Wanna see my Birch now?
You saw me wearing it with my pink beret…
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| From Pink Beret |
Here’s a better “shawlish” shot – apologies for it being crumpled – It’s been worn a lot!
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| From Birch |
And a close up of the stitch pattern…
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| From Birch |
If you’re wondering, the colour is Dewberry 
This is now a massively popular pattern and every one seems to have knit it so I’m not going to bore you with all the ins and outs here. Just google for Rowan Birch and there will be a gazillion hits. Wonderfully, Rowan now have this pattern for free download on their website if you want to try it but be aware – the cast on is 299 stitches! Rowan Free Birch Pattern.
I must just tell you about one incident with Birch though.
Ben and I had a fabulous holiday in the Maldives in December 2004. It was a long flight and this was before the current hysteria about knitting on planes.
I took my nearly completed Birch on the long flight.
I was finishing off the second to last pattern repeat and getting excited about finishing when Ben knocked half a glass of lager towards me and soaked my Birch.
There was very nearly a justifiable case for banning knitting needles on air planes in 2004 due to air rage and a savage stabbing and strangulation of a passenger with a nasty plastic circular needle!
I managed to restrain myself to rather a lot of sobbing, recrimination and sulking for the next couple of hours. Actually KSH holds up well to being soaked in lager and rinsed in an air plane sink!
It was so hot and humid in the Maldives (fabulous – go if you can!) that Birch didn’t really need any blocking – I just wore and wore it the whole holiday – and pretty much regularly since then!
I really should knit another…I wonder if I have any Kidsilk Haze in my stash??
| Completed Knit Report | ||
| Name: | Birch | |
| Pattern: | by Sharon Miller from Rowan 34 | |
| Yarn: | Lovely, Lovely Kidsilk Haze | |
| Pattern Problems: | None – except I used a nasty cheap circular needle – tsk! | |
| Pattern Modifications: | None – I did the stocking stitch version BTW | |
| Washing and Wearing: | Has been washed and worn to death for 6 years and still looks great. | |
| Knit It Again???: | Yep | |
| Difficulty: | Now, in 2010, I’d say 2/5 – in 2004 it was 5/5!! How I’ve improved! | |
| Rating: | 6/5 | |
| Other Postings Relating To This One: | None | |
CraftyCripple said,
April 16th, 2010, 6:15 pm
I can’t believe your first attempt with lace was using Kidsilk Haze, you were mad. But as you say it was before Ravelry and I think you probably knew no better. It does look lovely. Three balls you say it takes, hmmmmm might go visit my stash…..
Helen said,
April 16th, 2010, 8:20 pm
Ooh, you’ve just reminded me I have three balls of KSH lurking in my stash bought to make Birch a few years ago, I seem to have the lace bug at the moment, perhaps I’ll dig them out once Swallowtail is finished.
I’ll try not to soak it in lager though
LoopyLu said,
April 18th, 2010, 8:39 am
Fellow KSH junkie, I can so totally empathise with you, and our stories are very similar – my first project also being Birch – which I have subsequently, and distressingly, lost.
I recently bought a huge amount of half-price KSH in a department store Rowan shop that was closing down – I have bags of the stuff!
But I’m relatively clean now, and will not (will not, will not) buy any more until I’ve used up at least 5 balls of what I already have. Maybe another Birch?
josiekitten said,
April 18th, 2010, 7:51 pm
I just downloaded the pattern – but I only have 2 balls of KSH in my stash! Tsk tsk tsk, you are leading me astray!
karen said,
April 18th, 2010, 9:47 pm
That is such a great story about the knitting of a shawl and told beautifully. Please – tell us where you get decent circular needles from and what brand? I am traumatised with my experiences of circular needles. The plastic sticks to the wool, making it impossible to shift along. Oh, I do love the look of this shawl. I may have to make one…
susan crowe said,
April 18th, 2010, 10:57 pm
Hi Karen
Thanks for the compliments! My head is now swollen
Circular needles – Addi make particularly good ones – non sticky metal and non curly cords. They do a “normal type of circular and “Addi Lace” which are very pointy.
If you’re looking for interchangeable circular needles, Knitpro (used to be Knitpiks) do wonderful sets and individual needles too – in either wood or metal.
Don’t try this shawl on a Pony circ – it will drive you insane!!
Hope that helps
Happy knitting
Susan
Dawn said,
April 20th, 2010, 8:12 pm
Your Birch looks so fabulous that I find myself inspired. I have three balls of KSH in my stash, and I’ve just downloaded the pattern from the link that you kindly provided. This will be my first “proper” lace project, wish me luck!! Dawn
Rob said,
April 29th, 2010, 9:55 pm
I stumbled across this blog because I am thinking of getting a knitting machine for my missus. I can see that actually knitting is a lot more complex than wonky scarfs! I will refer her to this here site! He he
Damn, Knit & Blast It » I’m now officially sick of this lace pattern! said,
July 17th, 2010, 1:34 pm
[...] It made the the KSH Junkie I am today [...]