I had no idea what Lyra was (I believe it is pronounced "Lie-rah"), so after we talked about knitting this pattern, I tried to find out about Lyra, and the designer, Herbert Niebling. I have been unable to find much about him, but from what I gather, he was German, and designed doilies and tablecloths and the like sometime during the 1920s and 1930s. I am not quite sure of the time period, so if anyone has more information, please let me k
now.Click on pics for larger view.
First pic is Lyra right after blocking. Top right pic is on the dining room table. Other pics are closeups of the corner and mid points.
With the advent of the knitters online group Ravelry.com, patterns, ideas, and feedback and information about yarn, along with social and political fun, have flourished worldwide, and is shared at the fastest pace ever!
So, I got the pattern, and during January and February spent about 200 hours knitting this lace. While the original patterns are mostly done with size 00, 0 and 1 US size needles (quite small in diameter) and knit with thin cotton thread, I decided to knit Lyra with Grignascu merino/silk (75/25 blend in a pewter gray color) that Kenny bought for me on his visit to Vermont last October (thanks Kenny!). I used size 5 US needles.
The knit piece has been washed and blocked--two hours of stretching it out and
pinning it with lots of pins over a blanket topped with a sheet on the living room floor. It was not the most fun I've had in old age, and my butt and calves were very sore for 3 days afterward from squatting and sitting on my heels!This Lyra is 60x60 inches.
Enjoy! Also, click HERE for pics of Niebling's design mastery!
15 comments:
Oooooh...Chris, it's beautiful! :-)
This is incredibly beautiful, Chris. Please see the lace that my friend down the road designs: http://AuroraAlpacas.etsy.com Some of her fans started a Ravelry group called Fans of Sharon Winsauer.
PS - I have a medium fawn alpaca named Lyra. May 7th will be her first shear (baby alpaca, yum, yum)Maple
That is amazing! It's gorgeous.
Chris, that is a phenomenal piece of work. Your perseverance is amazing. I'm not sure I could have worked through the whole thing. Now, has Kenny finished his??
OMG Chris that is absolutely gorgeous. What beautiful intricate work.
I'm still kicking up here in the North. Haven't had time for ravelry lately. Need to get back over there. Enjoy your blogs.
SPEECHLESS!
Aren't Niebling designs amazing?
Your Lyra is beautiful. I must knit it someday.
Stunning! I hope I can convince myself to make it someday.
Amazing! Yes, Nieblig was German but that's almost all I know about him. :) And do yo know the constellation Lyra? Lovely ...
This is unbelievable! You are super at this knitting thang. Wow.
I have an alpaca named Lyra (named for the child in the Golden Compass - book, not the movie, which wasn't nearly as good). My Lyra is light fawn and had to have a blood transfusion to survive once. She was a premie but is doing great now. One of my finest fleeces ever.
Can't wait to see more of what you're up to!
Wow! Amazing! It would take me 2 yrs! {{standing ovation}} Absolutely beautiful!
Wow, that is just beautiful, congratulations! Now what have you done with it? I hope it is displayed somewhere, it certainly deserves to be! How many hours do you guesstimate you spent on this? What a great idea to use 5mm needles! Wonderful :)
i spent about 200 hours knitting it! January and February!
Amazing, I'm speechless!
This is absolutely stunning! It makes my mouth water just to look at it. Gorgeous!
Post a Comment