Another Textured Shawl

I've finally finished this Textured Shawl!! It's seemed like forever since I cast on. I really love the stockinette and textured pattern combo. You can see the modifications I did to this particular shawl here. I used Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca & Silk in Plum, it's a light DK weight yarn that it worth trying, very soft and silky ... beautiful drape!!

This is a great shawl to get your feet wet in shawl making, give it a try!! You can't go wrong because the recipe is free ... check it out here. Also, don't forget to try my Shawl Cast-On Tutorial to get you started.

Semi-Beret

Semi-Beret

Yarn: Cascade Di.Ve' Teseo, Clr #32011-self-striping (50g-98yds; 45% microfiber/55%wool).

Needles: US 8 - 16" circular needle (for cast on and ribbing only); US 9 - 16" circular needle; US 9 - double pointed needles

Notions: 6 stitch markers (1-marker color #1 & 5-markers color #2); tapestry needle.

Gauge: 4 sts=1" on larger needle in-the-round (please use appropriate needles to achieve correct gauge)

Abbreviations: sts- stitches; k - knit; p - purl; m - marker; sm - slip marker; pm - place marker; m1 - lift bar between sts and knit through the back loop; k2tog - insert right needle into sts on left needle through front loops, knit together; ssk - slip 2 sts knitwise one at a time off left needle, insert left needle through slipped sts from left to right, knit together; CO - cast on; Stst - Stockinette Stitch - knit all stitches on right side; rnd(s) - round(s).

Note: Made for head circumference of about 22", measured around the crown. Ribbing circumference about 16" unstretched.

1) CO 64 sts with smaller needle. Place stitch marker for beginning of round, join in round being careful not to twist the stitches.

2) K1, p1 [1x1 rib] for 6 rnds (approx. 1"-1.5").

3) Increase rnd: *K1, m1, k2, m1. Repeat from * to 4 sts before m; K1, m1, k1, m1, k1, m1, k1, m1. (108 sts) Increase so that number of stitches are in multiples of 6.

4) Stockinette rounds: Knit in Stst for 4" to 4.5" (or to your preference…the longer the stockinette area the slouchier the hat.)

5) Decrease Set-up rnd: sm-color #1, *k18, pm-color #2. Repeat from * to end [6 markers total]. (108 sts - 18 sts between each marker)

6) Decrease rnds: *K to 2 sts before m, ssk, sm, k2tog. Repeat from * to end. Decrease 12 sts every other rnd 8 times. [12 sts remain]

7) Final decrease rnd: k2tog to end. [6 sts remain]

8) Cut yarn leaving about 6-10" tail, thread tail onto tapestry needle, draw through remaining sts, pull tightly and fasten off by weaving into wrong side of hat.

9) Weave in all ends. Block over a large pasta bowl or plate.

I accept full responsibility for any mistakes in this pattern, so please let me know of any mistakes. You can email me here.

Pattern by Claire Getman, © 2009.

http://clairebearknits.blogspot.com/

All content on this site is the sole property of Claire Getman, unless indicated otherwise, and cannot be reproduced without express written consent. Patterns are restricted to a single copy for personal use only. Any other use must be approved in writing by the author.

Shawl Cast-On Tutorial

Notice the straight edge of the shawl blocking above and the detail photo of the shawl Cast-on (CO) area below, no bumps or wonky transition from CO to knitting. The following CO is the reason why. It's the only CO I will use for shawls and once you try it you'll love it!!

This Cast-On as written gives you 9 stitches on the needles including a 2 stitch border of Garter Stitch on both sides/edges:

1 - Use a provisional cast on with a smooth waste yarn.

2 - Pick up 2 sts of working yarn through back loops of waste yarn.

3 - Knit 7 rows garter stitch.

4 - Pick up 5 stitches along the edge of the rows.

5 - Undo the provisional CO.

6 - Pick up & knit these 2 stitches.

With these 9 sts CO you're ready to start your shawl. For more or fewer border sts adjust step #2 accordingly. Or if you need more or fewer chart sts adjust step #3 accordingly. See two alternates below. (Note: The sts picked up with the waste yarn represent your border sts, the rows knit in garter stitch represent the sts needed for the chart.)

An example of needing 13 sts total CO:

1 - Use a provisional CO with a smooth waste yarn.

2 - Pick up 3 stitches with working yarn through back loops of waste yarn.

3 - Knit 9 rows garter stitch.

4 - Pick up 7 stitches along the edge of the rows.

5 - Undo the provisional CO.

6 - Pick up & knit these 3 stitches.

An example of needing 5 sts total CO (as when making Gail [aka Nightsong]):

1 - Use a provisional CO with a smooth waste yarn.

2 - Pick up 2 stitches with working yarn through back loops of waste yarn.

3 - Knit 3 rows garter stitch.

4 - Pick up 1 stitch along the edge of the rows.

5 - Undo the provisional CO.

6 - Pick up & knit these 2 stitches.

I hope this is helpful because once I understood this shawl CO it made my shawls look so much better. The finished result is seamless! Whom ever it was that invented this was a genius (a total perfectionist too)!!

If there are any discrepancies or issues with the above, please leave a comment for me so that I can correct or fine tune these notes. - Thank you

First Snow and a Textured Shawl

So we finally had our first snow of the year, it was beautiful. The next day we went up to NY State and it was even heavier there. Forgot my camera, but there was a 5" blanket of pristine white coating everything we drove by, it was glorious!!

On a knitting note ... here's my textured shawl, pictured here with a make-shift blocking board. You can see my Textured Shawl recipe here and it will connect you to the original 'recipe' as the designer calls it. I used 4 hanks of Blue Sky Alpaca's 100% alpaca sport weight yarn. I wasn't sure if it would be itchy to wear, but I wore it for the first time today and it's wonderfully soft and warm. The alpaca does shed a little, but it's still worth anyone out there giving it a try. Especially for those who are wool-sensitive, you'll love it!!

I was also thrilled because the pattern allowed me the freedom to use almost every last bit of yarn I have, all that was left was the tiniest remnant leftover. So exciting ... it's the little things, right?!

See an upcoming post for the shawl cast on that makes the smoothest edge.

Gail! My New FO

Although it's been months since I've blogged, I actually have been knitting! Lots of hats and quick knits for other people, and a baby blanket that I should have finished at least 5 months ago (because the little guy was born in June, oooops!!!!) Recently I've been on a search for a shawlette/scarf for myself for the winter transition. Something luxurious and green. What I found was one absolutely gorgeous skein of Halcyon Gemstone Soft Twist Silk yarn (sport weight/100% silk) ... a perfect match for my miniature version of Gail (aka Nightsong). You can find the original here, there are also some pages that will help you to knit this pattern here.

This was an incredible treat for me, a sumptuous yarn to knit with, which made knitting a dream. I was almost tempted to frog the whole thing and start all over again just so that I could knit with this yarn. If you try you'll never regret it, you'll love it and anything you make with it!!! Guaranteed!!!!

Time flies!!

I can't believe it's been an entire month since my last post. I must say there hasn't been too much on the knitting front as of late, unfortunately. Time seems to just keep flying by and I have very little time for relaxing and knitting. My latest project is a lace weight cardigan, inspired by Hannah Fettig's recent designs, it's a raglan cardi with some cable work. It's my own personal take on Wendy Bernard's 'The Favorite Sweater', which is so cute, but I'm tweaking a few things so that it will fit me a little differently, it's been fun to tweak/design a sweater again...it's been a long time since I've done it.

Above are a couple of my latest knits...

Knitting v. Workout

Time has really been flying by, I can't believe my last post was March 13th!!! We've been busy with life in general, all good things, but busy none-the-less. I have been pushing through the newsboy hat for weeks now, it was like torture when I tried to knit according to the modifications for a man's head and after trying it on my husband it looked like a floppy sweater with a brim on his head. So I had to re-evaluate the sizing and rip out most of the hat and eliminate most of the increases. Then had to undo the ribbing cast-off which was way too tight and use a much larger needle to cast-off. This has really been a learning process and I will be happy when the gift is finished and delivered to my friend ... Just in time for spring!!!

In the meantime ... after sitting at home knitting every single night for hours this entire winter, I realized that I can't fit into the majority of my clothing and none of my spring/summer clothes ... OUCH!!!! Time to hit the gym BIG TIME!!!! With a 1 hour+ playlist on my mP3 player for high energy workouts I should be ship-shape in time for Cape Cod in July!!! (That is if I ever get to it!)

The irony is (pretty amusing) that I've become much larger due to one of my favorite daily activities, Knitting ... much better than gaining weight while unhappy, right!?!?!