In Pursuit of the Perfect Paw Print
Finally, some design stuff I can show you! On Wednesday while DH was at work and standing in line for the midnight showing of Indian Jones 4 I was swatching. I was looking for a good paw print lace pattern. Most of what I’ve seen in projects referring to paw prints look more like flowers to me.
So, I started playing off of the flower-like “paw prints” trying to come up with a good paw print on my own. I swatched somewhere close to 20 different paw prints. The first several I frogged, but then I started keeping them because I was changing little things and noting small, but significant differences. Things like using a decrease that leans in a different direction to open up the yos etc. Somewhere between 15 and 20 I hit the jackpot (though I swatched a couple more options just to be sure I had the best I could get). Once again I’m so glad that swatching has become part of the process for me and that I find pleasure in doing so. Otherwise, the design wouldn’t be as good and/or I would be cranky for having spent an entire days worth of work on swatching.
Thursday through Saturday were pretty busy with socializing or preparing for socializing so I didn’t cast on until Sunday, but I’m already about up to the cuff (the leg is a bit shorter than normal because the yarn only has 300m/100gm and I have big feet). Here is a little shot of the lace in action. The paw prints run across the instep and up the leg. I won’t give away more of of the design at the moment. In fact, I’m actually stalled until I get a response to an e-mail I sent last week. But I think it’ll be a fun design when it is complete.
I will say it includes a bit of beading. Not too much, so instead of pre-stringing beads I’m going to use the crochet hook method. I still need to go pick out the beads. In fact, I think I may do so today. What color would you put on a really luminous pearl gray?
When the pattern is ready for release (I’m hoping by mid-June at the latest, but it’ll depend a bit upon the e-mail response I’m awaiting) I’ll let you in on the inspiration for the design. And no, it isn’t Emma! Though she probably wishes it were.
