If you read last week’s blog post, you know I’m in Germany this week, visiting Claudia (the Wollmeise). Last fall, Claudia and her friend Maria came to visit me, and we had a great time knitting, shopping, and hanging out. Usually, Claudia comes for the Spring Fling each year and we are so busy that we don’t get enough time to just sit and knit and chat. So it was fun to have her here during a non-Spring Fling time. (And it’s fun being with her here in Germany this week!) One thing that happened last fall when Claudia and Maria were here? I was bitten by the Nuvem bug. They both got off the plane wearing these beautiful scarf/wrap creations and I was immediately interested. Even MORE so when I tried it on. The Nuvem is knit with about 1700 yards of lace, making it really lightweight, but at the same time, really warm. I wanted to start one immediately.
So, I jumped right in using a skein of Spice Market. (It had been caked up to be a sweater, but you know my history with sweaters, up to this point.) The Nuvem pattern requires a lot (a LOT) of knitting around and around. But I really don’t mind that kind of knitting. You don’t have to think about it. One row is knit around. The second row is knit around, plus making about 12 increases along the way. That’s it! See how the ends flare out a little? That’s where you do the increases. (The true color is shown in the second photo.) And I liked working on it so much, that I started a second one while the first one was soaking in the wash, getting ready for a blocking. I thought it would be great knitting on the plane and in Germany. I did make some changes when I knit it. I made it longer (I cast on 230 stitches to begin with), I made it a little narrower (I think about 22 inches across), and I did 9 rows on the ruffle instead of 6.
So here’s the thing. I had caked up two skeins of Spice Market Lace when I thought I was making a sweater out of them (knitting it holding two strands together.) Since I changed my mind, I used one cake for my Nuvem and I have another Spice Market all caked up, ready to give to someone else. Would you like it? Leave a comment below telling me about your adventures in knitting lace (Have you knit a lace scarf or wrap before? Would you do it again? Have you made a Nuvem? Or would this be your first time on a lace project?). I’ll draw a number next week and will let you know who wins the big, beautiful cake of Spice Market Lace.
Sheri wholikesthisNuvembetterthanasweateranyway
Have always wanted to knit that pattern and spice market has always been my favorite color that I have never been able to get a skein of. For me it would be a win win situation.
I have not knitted with lace yarn but I would like to try it. WestKnits Gyllis on DK yarn was my most challenging project. Would love to knit Nuvem.
I have not used lace before and have been eyeing that pattern. Your shawl is beautiful! Have fun in Germany.
I’m in the midst of what I consider my first lace project – Stephen West’s Westloop – as a gift for a friend. Rather than use a more rough/hearty Brooklyn Tweed Loft, the friend this is a gift for requested it in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light… I’ve been told it’s not actually a lace project, even though there ARE lacy holes in it. Lace or not, it’s quite intimidating!
Oh that is gorgeous! I am entering my Celestarium shawl that I knit with lace weight yarn in the local county fair. It’s only my second time using lace weight and I really hope it does OK. Have a wonderful trip!
I love to knit lace – but it’s hard to find time when I’ve got good light and several hours to work on it undisturbed! Spice Market is gorgeous, and Claudia is awesome! Enjoy your visit!
I’ve knit a sweater in lace weight, but I’m slowly working up the nerve to knit lace weight shawls. My goal is to be able to knit Rock Island, and it would be so beautiful in Spice Island.
I haven’t knit much in lace weight other than a couple basic lace scarves. The last one was a bear to knit due to splitty, fuzzy yarn (i can’t remember what it was! Although the end product is maybe almost worth the aggravation-it is beautiful!). I like the idea of just knitting around and around and around and….
Not only is this pattern divine but that color is exactly right for me! I’m going to start lighting candles for luck right now!! I enjoy lace and a good knit! Thanks!
I finally feel comfortable knitting lace patterns. I have made a few shawls for gifts, and need to make something in laceweight for myself. The Wollmeise in Spice Market looks like it would make the perfect fall shawl!
I have knitted lots of lace items and love all of them. Would love to ‘spice it up’ with Nuvem too!
I have purchased the Nuvem pattern, and I have purchased skeins of WM lace, but I haven’t actually knit either yet. I really do intend to, really!
I generally knit my lace projects out of fingering. But the WM lace is a lovely weight and I really do look forward to knitting it.
I enjoy knitting with all weights, and I would knit a Nuvem with the skein of Spice Market. It’s just asking to be made into another one!
Lace and shawls… addictive. Never done a Nuvem but I’m ready.
I love to knit lace — done all kinds of it! Never made a Nuvem, though. 🙂
I had used Mad Tosh Praire in an “attempt” at a very sophisticated shawl. I failed miserably. It was beyond my abilities to read the complicated charts and the patience to keep at it. The Nuvem looks very doable. I sure would like to knit one in Spice Market. Thanks for the chance.
I’ve knit lace-weight and loved it and knit lace patterns and loved them. Never knit a Nuvem though! It would be so lovely for my mother for Christmas…. or I might love it enough to keep it myself 🙂
I’ve only knitted one lace project, Citron. It was fun and I would do it again. For something so big (fine yarn with lots of yards), I like something simple. It makes it easier to fix mistakes–spending an hour trying to find the missed stitch in an intricate lace pattern is not fun!!
I have not knit with lace yet. I do, however, have lace with pattern waiting in queue. I will be making the Willow Lace sweater in MadTosh Prairie in Citrus. The Spice Market is beautiful!!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/willow-lace-sweater
Tha pattern has been on my list and Spice Market has, too! Yours is beautiful!
Ooh, I’d love that spice market lace. 🙂 I enjoy knitting lace, but prefer simple, easy to remember patterns so I don’t have to study the chart row by row by row. I loved Cozy (found on Knitty) for that reason.
I have not made a lace project as of yet but there is always room for a first for anything
I’m a lace-aholic! It’s funny, because somehow it seems to go a lot faster for me than straight stockinette/garter, even though there’s all those different stitches and chart checking. I’m binding off an Aeolian shawl right now!
I haven’t knit with lace yet but I would love to start with this project! It’s so lovely and the pattern sounds like one I could accomplish!
I have wanted to knit the Nuvem for so long. I keep debating whether to spin for it or just buy yarn for it. I love knitting lace and haven’t knit any for a very long time.
I love knitting lace and I love Wollmeise and I love Spice Market! Sounds perfect to me! My husband has a pair of socks knitted out of the Spice Market colorway and he loves them. The Nuvem is lovely and looks like a great pattern to knit!
I’ve knit a Viajante but haven’t done the Nuvem yet.
Before I had a clue about knitting lace, I decided that my daughter needed the Essential Tank Top designed by Laura Zukaite. It took forever and when I took the front and back to try on my daughter, realized that I stopped 4 inches short on the back! I’ve undone the bind off and am ready to ‘finish’ my finished lace tank. Besides it being absolutely gorgeous–I am more confident about tackling larger lace weight projects. My daughter drools when she sees a Celeste (from French Girls Knit), so I’m thinking that a luscious wrap might hold her at bay for a while…. I can do lots of knitting…. Nuvem is quite yummy.
I love to knit lace. The more hallenging, the better!
I have knit lace shawls for others but this one would be for me! Beautiful!
I enjoy knitting lace projects now that I have the KnitCompanion app…it makes it so easy!
That Nuvem is stunningly gorgeous in Spice Market! I’d love to give it a try!
LOVE knitting lace…although, I’m not really much of a shawl wearer- the Nuvem looks just perfect. And I love the colors in Spice Market!
Ive never gone beyond fingering weight but I’d love to know a Nuvem. The color is gorgeous and the pattern looks so wearable!
I am currently knitting a lace weight shawl, twig and leaf. I am enjoying the knitting!
Would love to knit this! Beautiful!
I have knit several lace items, my first one being a Rivolo scarf that I gave as a Christmas gift to a friend. The most recent shawl I completed was my River Walk for camp loopy this summer. When I blocked it I discovered a hole where I’d dropped a stitch! I was able to patch it, but it isn’t as nice as it could’ve been. However, no one has found the “bad spot” so maybe it’s not too noticeable. Have a lovely visit in Germany! I want to go there sometime! Safe travels.
I love knitting lace, but am unfortunately too ambitious for my skill set most of the time. One of these days I’ll be able to make those big fancy shawls. 😀
I’ve knitted lace a few times, not huge lace projects but lace trimmings. Lace trimmings on my first cardigan. Hat with a lacy brim area. Plaiedes shawlette from one year’s Dream Club. Sometimes I do screw up but I catch it rather early and can make decent looking fixes for them. I don’t really mind lace knitting at all.
My first knit project was Print O’ the Wave done in Madelinetosh Prairie Cosmos – and I won the blue ribbon at our county fair this past summer with it! I’d love to try this pattern and work with this yarn. I’ve fallen in love with lace.
Oh, oh, oh pick me, pick me! LOL I have knit a bit of lace and I enjoy it but I am a bit slow when it comes to charts etc. I must have overlooked the post last year about the Nuvem or I know it would be in my ravelry queue already!. I’m a redhead who loves fall colors. The spice market colorway would be perfect for me 😉
Love the color! Knitting my first lace creation now – practice for a wedding shawl. Nuvem is my idea of a grownup blankie.
I once took a lace knitting class instructed by the lovely Sivia Harding. It’s so wonderful to see the knitted piece take on a whole new dynamic once it’s been blocked. Nuvem looks like a fun must-do project.
Oops, not that kind of lace knitting, sorry. Lace weight yarn, haven’t tried it yet, though I have enough yarn to do the featherweight cardigan, sometime in the relative near future.
My first lace project was a wrap out of mohair – It was a pretty challenging yarn to knit with, and even more to tink back! I have had Novem on my to do list for awhile, and I’ve been wanting a skein of Spice Market forever – I had planned on socks, but I think the colors are beautiful in your Novem!
I have knit a lot of lace projects through the years (checkout my Ravelry Projects) and love the spice market colorway. I’m sure I could find a home for this yarn if it were to come my way. Love your Nuvem!
Nuvem is on my list to knit. I would love to win Wollmeise to do it!
I have never finished a lace project before, so this would be my first, and I think I would probably also make a Nuvem. Yours is gorgeous!!
Actual lace with holes and YOs and knitting 8 together – that kind of lace and I don’t get along at all. Nuvem is exactly the kind of lace project I love. I’ve knit one Nuvem, and half of another, and do plan to knit a 3rd one day.
It would be my first time knitting with lace weight. I have knitted lace but with light fingering yarn, because I’m scared! I think Spicy Market would be the perfect kick in the back to loose the fear and just do it though! 🙂