Help me find a beginner lace pattern for this yarn

[IamtheWalter]

Hey guys (gals),

I've decided to start my first lace project soon and I've already bought the yarn: I have about 820 yards of it.

Thing is, this is the yarn: http://www.habutextiles.com/webfile/a-148.html

Yes, I have a habit of making things hard for myself.

Even though there is wire in it, it's very thin so the yarn's still rather flexible, though it has "memory". It won't be flowing, but it can be made into something wearable and isn't destined to only be an "art piece"

I know there are alot of great knitters here, so what would you recommend for a beginner using 820 yards or less of shapeable laceweight yarn?

[MMario]

I really, really ,really wouldn't reccomend this yarn for a beginner in lace. But if you must, any simple triangular shawl would be my suggestion - the lesser flexibility might help keep it on the shoulders!

[Mirl56]

I can't really help you with a pattern, I'm not much of a lace knitter. I might suggest just using really large needles to create lacy-ness.

But mostly I wanted to comment on the yarn - how interesting! I've never seen anything like it before. I wonder hoaw it feels - do you really think it's sutable for clothing items?

[Lady Violet]

wow. i really like that yarn (a lot), but i don't know if it would be right for a beginner lace project. maybe something more like a necklace. the thing is, you could use it for your first project and actually fall in love with lace. but what if it gives you a hard time and completely turns you off from attempting lace in the future with a "normal" yarn? i would reccomend trying something like knitpicks' shadow for your first go at lace. too many firsts all at once might not be such a good idea. i just got some shadow and have decided to knit the tam/scarf set from IK's holiday gifts. i've never done lace before, so i'm really excited to get started. i'll probably do the scarf first because the lacey bits are only at the end. in fact, i know i'll do the scarf first to prepare me for the tam.

let us know what you decide. we're all in this big knitting world together!

[IamtheWalter]

I'm definitely going to knit my first lace project (or at least first lace project attempt) with this yarn. If I just can't get the hang of it then I'll frog it (if the yarn lets me, I've accepted the possibility that it won't) and try something with a normal lace weight yarn. I'm doing something harder than I should so if I fail it's only because I aimed too high, not because I don't like or can't knit lace.

I'm looking for a relatively simple design since anything complex would probably be lost because of the nature of the yarn. I'm also aware that the yarn will be as stretchable as well, steel, so I'm going to make something open on big needles. i've entertained the idea of making doilies from it but will most likely make some sort of shawl.

I've yet to see how easy it is('nt?) to work with but it's actually not as "wirey" as you probably think it is. I've worked with craft wire and beading wire, not much but I've worked with it, and this is so much thinner and so much more flexible. I actually have more issues with working with yarn so thin.

I got the color 2997 which is an almost black brown and what sold me on it was the steel shining through the wool: something that can't really be seen in the pics.

As for the wearability, it has a bit of a rough hand but not badly, it just feels like a medium coarse wool. It's definitely a novelty item, couldn't see any practical use for it, but I don't think that if I made a shawl from it that it would be unpractical, though it may have to be treated a little more carefully. I won't really know for sure until I knit it up though.

MMario, I'm actually thinking of trying your faux spanish lace pattern.

[MrsDavis3]

what happens if you take this yarn or wear a garment made of it through a metal detector?

[MrsDavis3]

Have you made any kind of swatch?
When I get any new yarn, I "sketch" with it. I try it on several sizes of needles, maybe double it to knit, try different stitches, etc. Once you find a needle/yarn combination you like, then go for a pattern. Try a repeat from any simple lace pattern you can find on line, just on a swatch. See how you do.

[IamtheWalter]

I'm still working on other projects so I haven't even swatched yet, something I will do so I can see if it works right for the pattern I choose. It'll also tell me if it's tolerant to frogging, if not then I probably won't make as many swatches. I do hate swatching though, but then again most people do.

I guess I'll start on the process, swatching, pattern selection, knitting, in about a week or two.

As for metal detectors, well the wire's thin but I guess that a large item would probably trip it. I just guess that whoever receives the item (if it's good enough to gift) can't take it to court or on airplanes.

[Debkcs]

You picked a very interesting yarn. The info. on it says that it retains it's shape; I can see some uses for it, but more as something in the jewlery line. Of course, you have a lot of it, so a shawl would sound reasonable.

As you can tell, I don't have any advice, but it will be interesting to see what you come up with.