Friday, July 10, 2009

Harry's King Bat--It's Alive!

When Harry first tossed me his redesigned border for the King Bat shawl, I was skeptical. After having knit this border section, I just laughed out loud. Who else could work bats and hearts into a Shetland ring shawl? Sharon Miller should never see this. I see a hoard of peasants out there warming up their pitchforks. Not good.

I am about 30% done with the border...from here on, except for the addition of another row of hearts, the border sort of mostly follows the original design. And I promise to be faithful to the edging, except where I might change it.


Current dilemmas revolve around whether to buy another Bosworth or veer off the well-trodden spindle path and get a Golding. I know I can't go wrong with a Bossie, but those Goldings are so lovely... I am sure there are plenty of opinions out there. Convince me.

22 comments:

Carol said...

lovely lace. As always. And for the spindle dilemma....Golding. You already have a Bosworth. You need to compare. Yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it

heidi said...

it's beutiful! and I must say that I am amazed about your speed. it's really coming along in an incredible speed:)

and i must say that your promise to stick to the original edging - if you like it - sounds very promising:) with all the changes you'll probably make, it will most likely be something special:)

and I must say that I agre with Carol. of course you must go for the golding - how else will you know whether or not you will like it:)

Dave said...

Does Harry know what bats eat?

I will be the dissenting voice and say Bosworth. I am not in love with my Golding.

KPiep said...

First of all, Harry has excellent taste!

As to the Goldings - well, the spindle spinners I know in my local guild will not use or buy anything BUT a Golding. (Seriously, you should see all of the gorgeous Goldings that have put in appearances at our meetings and events!) I have one myself, and I absolutely adore it. I've played with other brands before, but I've never found anything that's balanced quite as nicely.

Janice in GA said...

I haven't spun on a Bosworth, so I can't really compare them. But I jumped on the Golding train not long ago. I got a .65 oz ring spindle, and I have to say it is very, very nice.

My one quibble is that the shaft is shorter than *I* think it should be. But that's me. I have weird taste sometimes.

Maybe I should get a Bosworth and compare, eh?

Susan (and SmokeyBlue in spirit) said...

Have you considered a Hilltop Spindle? Some say it spins longer than a Golding.

donna said...

Love, love, love the bats!

As to the spindle dilemma, when I went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival I went with all intentions of buying a Golding or a Bosworth spindle. I fondled both varieties but what I brought home was a Spanish Peacock spindle and I've never been sorry. I will be adding many more of his spindles to my collection.

Judith said...

Holey Batman!!!! gorgeous lace, but then again I expect nothing less from you and Harry. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the edging. Little bugs for the bats maybe?

FUZZARELLY said...

Holey bats, Lace Man!

=Tamar said...

I was trying to think of something witty but Fuzzarelly just trumped everything. Unless... just shift the comma...

Holy bats lace, man!

LittleBerry said...

The lace is gorgeous but I never see anything else from you.... Those bats are cute though, but would have thought Harry would be having nightmares designing them...

As for the spindles (an I', not the person to give advice) but I'd try a golding just to compare and if you don't like I'm sure you'd have np re-selling it...

Laritza said...

I am afraid you don't have a choice, one of each is mandatory.

Kelli said...

Well, as I own two Bosworth's and covet more, I would vote Bosworth. Except that, I think I covet a Golding even more than a Bosworth right now, because I already have two. So, then I'd have to vote Golding. But really, I can't decide.

Carla said...

I have 2 Goldings and no Bossie, so I do not know how they compare. I do love my Goldings deeply. The 0.8oz one spins forever and produces a lovely fine yarn that 3 plyed makes realy good socks. The 1.8oz is a great plying spindle. I also appreciate the craftsmanship being a woodworker in my past life.

sarah said...

I have a small, plain Golding that I love. It spins fast and fine despite its weight. I have a large custom Golding that... I don't love. I hadn't realised that the off-centre designs are balanced by fastening a small counterweight to the underside, and it's just insufficiently elegant even though it's very pretty. And it doesn't spin as nicely as my Kundert of similar weight.

knitalot3 said...

Get both.

Unknown said...

Your lace bats are too cool for words!

knittingdragonflies said...

I needed to smile today, and thisis beatuful!
Vicki

larascreations said...

Harry strikes again, eh? Love it :-)

As for the Golding - well I have two and love them and my Bossie hasn't arrived yet (sniff, sniff) and therefore I can't add my comparison opinion! Maybe you need a Golding AND a Kundert (because I do have a 1 oz'er of those, too, it's a joy to use) and therefore round things out...until the urge to add to the collection strikes again, of course!

Kathy Kathy Kathy said...

On the fifty-ninth hand of the spindle controversy, I think you should first get the one most different from what you already have so that you will learn more about spindle-making because soon you may start making your own spindles. I have drawn the line at making yarn. I buy mine. I do like to make my own needles once in a while. Sandpaper is my friend. I also make stitch markers and bags from time to time. Where's your line?

Lacefreak said...

Hearts and Bats! That Harry is a Heirloom Knitting heretic God bless him :-) I love how that border is coming out and I can't wait to see the inevitable changes you make to the edge LOL. I'm afraid I'm of no help on the issue of spindles since I love them all.

Kathy Kathy Kathy said...

Regia Crazy Colors 4-ply
Rise & Shine sock
I took out the short grayish-green sections. I'm not that crazy.