I’ve wanted to make a rectangular lace wrap for a while now. Last winter I really needed one for a holiday party but I decided too late. This year, I want one (or a few) so I won’t get stuck in the same predicament.
I swatched all weekend and finally came up with what you see above. I love the zig zag bottom border, but I’m undecided about the hearts. I think they’re a little dense and maybe lack interest? I’m considering making some of the stitches move outward in the heart, or maybe some extra eyelets inside it to make it more airy.
The inner part (which will be most of the wrap) will be lacier. I might knit a couple repeats before I decide.
What do you think? Don’t hold back — I want real opinions. You all know how much time it takes to knit something like this — so tell me what you really think.
I’m not a fan of heart motifs, but looking at your swatches, I think the one at the top is a nice one – more airy with some interest to it because of the curls. It does look very heavy and if the centre piece is going to be more open and lacy it might look very unbalanced.
I think I need to see the central part to really decide.
I’m very interested in this because I’ve been wanting to make a rectangular lacey wrap myself. I have to say, I’m not a heart fan either – especially for adult items. And depending on the middle motif, the border may end up looking heavy. Have you looked at Victorian Lace Today? Many of those projects are wraps, and they borders/middles are often interchangeable. Lots of great ideas there.
I’m also not a fan of heart motifs (or, for that matter, nearly any non-leafy, non-fiery motifs), but I think these might be served by an extra heart embedded inside, to make them lighter. (Maybe…)
I am not a fan of hearts for adults – a little too precious for me personally. I think the hearts kind of get lost in the wake of the zigzag edging. I really like the edging. I wonder if there is a way to do eyelets above the edging that are not in the heart shape?
Now I’m going to go back to the last post b/c I must have missed what kind of yarn you are using.
I think some extra eyelets along the top of the hearts may make it pop a bit more – I didn’t really see the hearts until you mentioned them….
i agree with shannon that the swatch with the heart with curls is much more appealing than just the hearts alone. i’m interested in seeing what you come up with!
I don’t think I would have recognized them as hearts if you didn’t point them out… that may just be me though, I see lines before I see shapes, if that makes sense. I dig the zigzag bottom, and think that just one row of hearts might be enough, before going to a second pattern that would then open up to a lacey middle. does that make sense?
I would maybe add a few purl stitches in the center of the hearts.. maybe in diagonal criss-crossing lines. Or indeed some extra eyelets. I’m afraid such a ‘solid’ border might be too heavy for the rest of the stole if you’re going to make it real airy.
Cheers Eva
I find hearts somewhat inelegant on a lace shawl. The zigzag is lovely and perhaps a more open border might complement a lacier interior?
I, for one, really like it – love the hearts. Perhaps for added effect, you knit a smaller heart in purl stitches inside the lace hearts?
I didn’t really notice the hearts until you pointed them out. A heart motif tends to make things more cute than sophisticated…what are you going for?
I didn’t notice the hearts either. But now that I did, I like them.
I love the hearts but I would rather see this very dense motif on the bottom of a nice summer shell than a wrap. I think its just way too heavy for an airy summer wrap. It is quite pretty tho
It depends on the lacy part I think. The border can be too heavy. I personally prefere more lace in the border too, but that is also a question of personal taste.
I am not a fan of the hearts. I like more geometric shapes. Do like the zig zag. What yarn are you using?
Patty
I think they look like heart tulips. I love them! Is that just the edging? Just one row of hearts? If so keep it, if you were going to continue like that I’d opt for more “tulips” than just hearts. That’s my 2 cents… now to read what everyone else commented; (I didn’t want to read first and be biased!).
now that i’ve thought about it some and revisited the swatches and seen where you might be going with this, i agree with the other comment about the swirly heart swatch.
I’m not, generally speaking, a fan of hearts, so I won’t comment on that part of the design, but I LOVE the zigzag edging.