I hate you, Lace Veil.

I’m at the point I get to in almost all my projects. The “I Hate You, Project” point. The “Shut Up and Go Away Project” point. You know the point.

I’m definately there with the Isle of Unst Veil. I’m sick of knitting on it. I just want to knit socks instead. But I can’t, because it’ll look stupid to walk down the aisle with a bunch of socks attached to my head. So, the only item I am allowed to knit on when I am in my house is the veil. That’s it. I have less than 6 months to go, and I’m 3.5 balls into it. Or maybe 4.5 balls. They sent me 9 balls of evil, cobweb sheltand lace. I hate you shetland lace, with your littleness and tinyness.

I’m, at best, half way through the project. I’d count the balls of yarn I have remaining, but that might just be depressing. I am half way through the second chart of the border, but as I’ve mentioned before, the border increases 4 stitches every other row, so I’m really like 3% into the border, given that there is a total of 3 charts.

I just pulled that 3% out of my butt, by the way. Maybe it’s like 20%. I don’t know. I just know that it is lace and I want to knit fun fur scarves out of fake fun fur now.

Oh, fine, here are some pictures of the veil. It’s all currently bunched up on a 24 inch circular size 0 needle. A size 0 needle that has given me a very attractive callous on my right index finger tip. If I’m not careful, I manage to poke the needle into the hole right smack in the middle of the callous, and it hurts.

I’ll have a total of around 288 inches on that needle by the time I’m done. Good thing cobweb scrunches up to absolutely nothing.

Knitting fine gauge lace requires a pretty big leap of faith. Who can imagine that that lump of freaky cocoonness will one day be a gorgeous lace veil? Not I, I say. For all I know, once I finish and block the thing, it’ll actually spell out “I HATE YOU TOO”. I’m hoping there will be trees and diamonds and spider webs.

Here’s a close up of the border so far.

I’m also beginning to worry about the cobweb snapping into pieces when I try to block it. I know that won’t happen, but its just so tiny and skinny and fragile.

Edit:  People can now leave me audio comments!  Just go here, record a comment, and it’ll be sent off to me and I’ll probably play it on the podcast!  All you need is a computer and microphone.

Posted in Uncategorized |

22 Responses to “I hate you, Lace Veil.”

  1. Nancy Says:
    May 25th, 2006 at 2:15 pm

    I’m sorry you’re so upset, but that veil is going to be simply gorgeous. Eyes on the prize, my friend!

  2. Amy Says:
    May 25th, 2006 at 2:42 pm

    I feel your pain - I am making 4 Southwest Trading Company Mariposa shawls for my bridesmaids. Lace, no rest rows, but at least on size 6. My wedding is Labor Day weekend so I have 3 months and 2 1/3 shawls left. Geek that I am, I have a spreadsheet so I can calculate how many stitches per row, how many rows into it I am and see my exact % progress. It’s depressing at first but these shawls are bottom-up so get smaller as you work so the numbers speed up as you go.

    Oh, and I’ve got the I Do shrug from Knitty to do for myself. I’m about 25% done on that, too.

    Instead? I’m working on a pinwheel baby blanket. Lovely stockinette.

    I am dying to see your veil when it’s done!

  3. Natalie Says:
    May 25th, 2006 at 5:39 pm

    It’s going to be absolutely stunning when you’re done, though.

  4. Julianne Says:
    May 25th, 2006 at 11:03 pm

    I feel your pain. I’m knitting a shawl for my sister-in-law for her wedding in July. It has been a love-hate relationship throughout the project, which I have been working on since February. Right now, I’m in hate mode. I’m suppose to be knitting the edging, which is only 15 stitches wide, and I’m only a little bit into the second side. I’m knitting socks instead.

  5. Erica Says:
    May 25th, 2006 at 11:23 pm

    Y’know, I think lace might just might be evil.

    I haven’t knitted in months - the last project, that I just couldn’t finish? That stupid shawl I was working on last time I came to the group (which was too long ago) (Granted, I haven’t had much time for knitting, especially lately… but that flower basket shawl is sitting in my bag, practically screaming at me)

  6. alice Says:
    May 26th, 2006 at 8:06 am

    Congratulations on your progress–it will be absolutely lovely and I don’t think you’ll break the yarn with blocking unless you’re in an awful rage and trying really hard to do so. :)

  7. lynette Says:
    May 26th, 2006 at 9:12 am

    it’s so pretty! hang in there. but you’re funny. socks on your head.

  8. christine Says:
    May 26th, 2006 at 9:22 am

    Why can’t you wear socks on your head? If you invite me, that’s what I intend to wear.

    I think the Unst is looking lovely, but I do understand that you hate it right now. Believe it or not, I have one of them there things on needles somewhere in my house. It’s the lace on every row that gets you. No time to rest, recoup, watch TV………

    You can do it! Hang in there! It will SO be worth all the effort.

  9. Dee Says:
    May 26th, 2006 at 11:26 am

    G you can knit a sock and a hat all in one project at Knitty. So you see socks do go on your head, thieves have been using nylon stockings for years…

    It’s beautiful, sorry I missed seeing it again last night.

  10. lucia Says:
    May 27th, 2006 at 2:06 pm

    Oh… but you can wear socks on your head. Or at least some very, very odd things!

  11. The Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Wedding Headgear Haiku Says:
    May 27th, 2006 at 2:42 pm

    […]   Soon Gail will be wed; she needs to cover her head. Hey, wear these: they’re red!   Evidently, Gail’s getting a sick of knitting her endless wedding Unst veil; yet, she feels the need for a glorious head covering. Like many brides she’s a picky about her wedding atire, saying things like: . . . it’ll look stupid to walk down the aisle with a bunch of socks attached to my head. […]

  12. PainterWoman Says:
    May 27th, 2006 at 5:33 pm

    Whoa! I haven’t been reading here for a while… oops.
    Congratulations, etc. I am SO glad I didn’t offer to knit a veil for my own prospective daughter-in-law. Yipes. It does look beautiful though.
    I’m sure those nearest and nearest to you (if not your hubby to be) would understand if you wore pigtails with socks over them… especially if they matched the bridesmaids dresses.

    I hope you are in the Lace Along… you’d at least have company. And I’d award you a prize if I were judging.
    Best wishes.

  13. Heather Says:
    May 27th, 2006 at 6:33 pm

    Stick with Gail! You’ll be so happy with when you’re done and it’ll be such a lovely heirloom gift. We missed you on Thursday. Hope you’re feeling better.

  14. Lei Says:
    May 27th, 2006 at 8:20 pm

    That’s simply amazing. I don’t think I could ever imagine myself sitting down to make that, well not at this point in time. I can’t wait to see what its like finished an on.

    By the way, sure you could wear socks on your head… Just remember to photograph it and share with your fellow blog readers. :P

    Good Luck!

  15. Carol Says:
    May 29th, 2006 at 2:34 pm

    Oh. My. Gosh. That is unspeakably beautiful. (No wonder you are hating it at the moment!) Persevere. It’ll be worth it.

  16. Marlena Says:
    May 30th, 2006 at 12:14 pm

    I applaud you for really going all out on an heirloom project, though! Lots of people make their own dresses, but how many make their own veils? Will you post it in its finished form before the wedding, or wait until after?

  17. TRACEY in Mi Says:
    May 31st, 2006 at 7:57 am

    After I hate you comes the “make-up” period—a mini honeymoon with you’re project- where you start to love t again– knit like mad- till you’re sick of it AGAIN!

    Veil is beautiful… keep at it- you’e making an heirloom, and besides- marriage is kind of the same– I love you- i want to be with you all the time…then..” BACK OFF_ I’m am sick of loking at your face!”

    Promptly followed by “I Miss you…”

    The veil s good practice-

    btw– have you noticed— theat while on the ball- the cobweb yarn looks like toilet paper?????

    just sayin- ;)

    keep it up- ts

  18. TRACEY in Mi Says:
    May 31st, 2006 at 8:00 am

    oh my word- Tracey in MI, needs to either learn to type- or LOOK at her fingers.

  19. sharon miller Says:
    June 3rd, 2006 at 12:11 pm

    I was scared to read your post - then I looked at the pictures - from what I can see you’re doing so well!
    This is so going to be beautiful!

    I have those ‘hate you moments’ too, and loathe knitting to deadlines as it kills the fun. It’s going to dress beautifully and you wILL love it - promise (crossed fingers) & sorry for causing stress:)

  20. Liralen Li Says:
    June 14th, 2006 at 9:34 am

    I’m very impressed that anyone would knit one of these things on a deadline. That amazes me. :-)

    I definitely understand your feelings on the matter, and yes, there were hate periods in my years doing lace shawls, too. And it really is a leap of faith.

    It actually looks pretty gorgeous to me. And this looked pretty much the same as yours, all wadded up, before blocking. Mine isn’t nearly as fine as yours, though it’s half cashmere, so the yarn was pretty frail, I thought, and it survived blocking and nearly a decade since.

    Good luck!! And I’ll hope you get a love-it stage soon, too.

  21. Lorri Says:
    July 6th, 2006 at 9:39 am

    What a beautiful shawl. I am knitting my own variation of the Unst stole at the moment. I am sorry that the outcome of the wedding was not good. I hope it doesn’t taint the joy you will get from your shawl some day.

  22. passionknit » Bulky Yarn + Few Stitches = Speedy Knitting Says:
    July 21st, 2006 at 5:21 pm

    […] Tidal Wave is not for me but for Gail. The yarn is too bulky for me to wear here. (Maybe if I wait a few more months my blood will thin out so that I can knit this.) I knitted Tidal Wave in a smaller gauge than what the pattern called for because I thought the stitches looked better. The ease of this sweater is 4″ even though on the model it doesn’t look like it has that much ease. So with the smaller gauge this sweater doesn’t have as much ease. I’ll send the pieces off to Gail this week so she can finish it and put the neckline on it and hopefully she’ll show how it looks when it’s all done. And maybe she could wear it on her head for her wedding. I always try to help. […]

Leave a Comment