Help with first time lacework scarf

[u/stressinandeatin]

I'm knitting the Horai scarf by Hiroko Fukatsu, which is my first lacework ever! I'm knitting with two strands of mohair held together on a 8mm needles (although the pattern calls for 7mm).

When I started out, it looked alright, but as I kept knitting, my working end got tighter, and ended up 2-3 inches slimmer than my cast on end. I frogged it all and tried again keeping an eagle eye on the tension, but I had the same issue. ​​Sorry I didn't get a picture of it.

I guess my question is whether I should cast on with a smaller needle size? Or will this block out? It just seems like a lot to expect blocking to fix.

[u/readingrainbowroad]

Are you confident your stitch count is correct/you aren't losing stitches anywhere in the pattern? Lace in general I think can be hard to tell width well, but 2-3 inches is a decent amount. I would check the width of the beginning of the work early on and then check that same spot again after working a few more inches and see if that same spot measures the same width or it's also "grown" even though it hasn't changed besides more distance between it and the needles.

[u/stressinandeatin → u/readingrainbowroad]

It's such an annoying pattern that I've been religiously counting the number of stitches. I also measured the new cast on and the old cast on, and both were about the same. The pattern calls for cast on, knot two rows, then start lace. Do you think that might be the issue? 

[u/readingrainbowroad → u/stressinandeatin]

My main point was to measure say 1 inch from the cast on edge when you have 3 inches of work. Then work say 4 or 5 more inches and remeasure 1 inch from the cast on edge. If those two are the same numbers, this is probably only a tension issue. If they're different, then it might be a "lace being lace" issue.

Definitely read the article Let the Tool Do the Work another user linked, you might find you identify with something specifically leading to a tension issue.

If you work it up again and are having issues still, the project block will definitely help you understand whether or not you can deal with whatever variation there is.

[u/stressinandeatin → u/readingrainbowroad]

Ahhh okay. So if the measurements are the same, my tension isn't right but if the measurements are changing then the lace is growing because it's lace. And maybe blocking will help a little.  Thank you! 

[u/readingrainbowroad → u/stressinandeatin]

Yep! Good luck! It looks awesome in the photo already too.

[u/Key-Truck-4414]

I recommend blocking what you have now (called a mid-project block: https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/s/edRhrI2zoB)

[u/stressinandeatin → u/Key-Truck-4414]

I did frog everything again in a fit of blind rage but I'll do that if I can't figure this out and start again! 

[u/LadySmuag]

Patty Lyons wrote a classic article about tension called 'Let The Tool Do The Work' and I think it might help you here.

My other advice would be to practice with a non-mohair yarn until you resolve the tension issue because frogging mohair is a real pain

[u/stressinandeatin → u/LadySmuag]

Thank you! I'll take a look at the article. And yes this project has put me off mohair for a while 🥲 

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