Should have used black beads June 2, 2009

In Designing, Knitting | 6 comments

I started working on the triangular version of Domus Aurea the other day. Until a few minutes ago when I was upstairs taking pictures I was tickled pink with it. Now I’m not. Why you ask? Because it’s clear to me now. I should have used black beads.

domustriangle-2009-06-02c.jpg

If I’d used black beads, the diamond design would show up better. Read: the diamond design would show up. At all. There are two problems with this.

1. I’ve already knit 35 rows, which amounts to about 14,000 stitches and exactly 480 beads. We won’t comment on the time involved.

domustriangle-2009-06-02a.jpg domustriangle-2009-06-02b.jpg domustriangle-2009-06-02d.jpg

2. I don’t have enough black beads to do this project. I don’t think. Maybe I do. It’s hard to tell as the black ones come in a tube, and the rainbow-clear ones I’ve been using come in a box.

Since when have I let a mere 14,000 stitches keep me from ripping back and starting over? If I’m careful, perhaps I don’t have to rip out the whole thing, just the rows with beads. Cough. That would leave me a foundation, anyway. Decisions, decisions.

Does anyone know how many no. 8 seed beads are in a tube that weighs 26 grams, including the tube? Help! Sigh.


6 comments

  1. Denise June 2

    I really liked what I saw last night, the black beads won’t have the same sparkle. Why don’t you knit a swatch with black beads & then compare the two side to side? (the picture doesn’t capture how pretty it is).

    - Denise (aka dlotter on ravelry)

  2. pat j June 2

    LAURA - I agree with DENISE—even from the picture I like the beads as they are more mysterious - they are there but don’t take over

    ———-looks just great to me ——pat

  3. Danielle from SW MO June 3

    I like both. I say leave it as well and start another swatch with the black beads. My other feeling about this is; If you want understated when ot comes to the beads (you know they are there but they arent “showy”) use the multicolred onces you are using, and if you want to make a bold statement use the black!

  4. Sandra Singh June 3

    I like your shawl with these beads. Will you knit this pattern again, if so use black next time. Its going to be a gorgeous shawl either way!

  5. Claudine June 4

    Very honestly, I like the subtlety. Black beads would probably be a bit dramatic for my own personal wearing tastes. If I wanted them to show up more, I might turn to a darker grey that had an iridescent sparkle to them. But I do like how this is working up.

  6. Cornelia Cunningham June 5

    I admire your patience to come up with such masterpieces Laura. It does take a lot of talent and a lot more patience to be able to produce these knits that you have here.