THE BEES

Discovering Anne Hanson's designs was akin to opening the windows on a bright spring morning.  Suddenly the knitting was flooded, no - AWASH in possibility and delight.  Lace, especially, had never held any appeal before tripping over Knitspot patterns.  But that is all behind me now - and it seems as though I have lace projects tucked away in every corner.  Remember, UFO's are a REAL problem around here.  


One pattern in particular has captured my heart - ' Honeybee Stole'.  

This is Wooly Wonka lace merino - the softest, buttery color.

I've been working on this piece for a very long time.  Because I was arrogant clueless, I ignored Anne's directions to do a provisional cast-on.  (collective blogger gasps!)  Yes, that's right.  I was so excited about the yarn and the pattern that I cast on in my usual fashion and started knitting lace . . . aaaahhh.

Also, I neglected to use the fiber life line.  So when the inevitable struck, I had no where to go - no safety net to drop into.  I was out on my proverbial lace limb ALONE.  As I struggled to retrace my steps, the stitches literally wiggled off of the needles and disappeared.

It was a bad day.  Because this pattern is knit in two pieces and joined at the center, the provisional cast on IS a necessity.  (Never question authority when it comes to lace knitting!)  I am left with a beautiful first half of the Honeybee Stole which ends on I-don't-know-which-row.  This is a problem.  So I bagged it.  One wants to believe in resurrection, but there is a real possibility that this stole may never be completed.  Perhaps one of these days I will be lucky enough to sit with a Lace Guru who can lead me out of the woods!  Until then, it feels like a sewing and quilting day!