cosmicpluto knits!

ripping and reknitting

A new little shawl project!

I had a customer the other day who was interested in finding a shawl pattern that was NOT a lace pattern. Tricky to find, it would seem! But since the days and nights are cooling off a bit, I thought a non-lace shawlette seemed like just the thing.

This pretty green yarn is Wullenstudio Sock Yarn that I got at Maryland Sheep&Wool, at the Cloverhill Yarn booth. What you can’t see is that it’s super, super soft, but nicely plied. The colour is great (and I have another skein in a raspberry colour too). This is a one-skein project – it uses 450 yards (maybe a few yards less).

I experienced a few setbacks with this project – I clearly wasn’t paying enough attention and ended up having to frog the daisy stitch portion a number of times! Eventually I worked it out, and knit an edging that in my mind was supposed to be a sort of bell ruffle.

(late night photography = incorrect colours!)

As ruffles go this wasn’t a huge one, less than double the stitches by the end – but right as I was binding off I changed my mind and ended up ripping the edging back. The ruffle was pretty, but it wasn’t exactly right.

I ended up with a sort of interrupted rib pattern that I think works great! And as I was finishing up, I realized what the patterns in the shawl remind me of – bamboo, more specifically bamboo forests like the ones I saw in Japan.

This is a really easy little shawl and I hope to have the pattern up very shortly – before I leave for Rhinebeck! I’ll be hanging out in Boston for Columbus Day weekend (which is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada) and the week leading up to Boston, so I’d better get motoring…is anyone else surprised at how soon it is?!

Hibiscus Shawl

Hibiscus was inspired by a trip to the Hawaiian Islands. Featuring an easy star mesh pattern, this shawl is large enough to wrap around you but scrunchy enough for a scarf. And Hibiscus has a hidden surprise – a twist-stitch flower!

SIZE
60 inches / 152 cm across the top, 20 inches / 50 cm down the centre back

MATERIALS
525 yards / 480 m of fingering weight yarn. Shown in Koigu KPPPM, colour P306, 3 skeins.
US 6 / 4mm circular needles, 24 inches / 60 cm or longer, or size needed to obtain gauge stitch markers if desired tapestry needle

GAUGE
20 sts and 36 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm square in stockinette stitch
Exact gauge is not very important for this project, although a tighter gauge will result in a smaller shawl!

7-page PDF file includes both charted and written directions.

Available through Ravelry (no account needed), payment by Paypal.

$5.00 CAD

BUY THE HIBISCUS SHAWL PATTERN ONLY:

Also available as part of the Flora and Fauna collection – a trio of patterns for just $14.00 CAD

BUY THE FLORA AND FAUNA TRIO:

Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.

pinks

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

The shawl I started in Hawaii out of Koigu is off the needles and blocked – the pattern’s even in pretty good shape too. It’ll be ready soon. It didn’t use 2 skeins of Koigu as I’d hoped, but I’m happy with the size using 3 skeins – it’s closer to a full size shawl, 23 inches deep and 63 inches across the top. And it has a summery surprise in the stitch pattern!

It still needs a name though.

And since that shawl’s finally off the needles, I’m back on board with my Honeybee lace cardigan. It’s almost done, just the collar to go. Then I have to find some buttons, hmmm.

on the needles: hawaii inspired

This trip I actually did more knitting than I expected to – I don’t tend to knit on planes, because I don’t feel comfortable and I’m usually sleeping anyway! But I did do a fair amount on the shorter inter-island flights, while waiting in the airports, and in the car.

I hoped to get this done, blocked, and photographed while in Hawaii, but that might’ve been a bit ambitious considering that I started it while I was there and had only 2 weeks! It’s still not done, but nearing the end. And I’m hoping that I’ll get away with using just 2 balls of Koigu.

milkweed shawl

I wouldn’t normally like to post two finished patterns so close together, but I’m just so excited about this one! Also, since it’s isn’t a sweater, it’ll give the non-sweater-knitters something to get in on the action

I love this small shawl – I’ve been wearing all my triangular shawls scrunched up as scarves for years. The original idea for this project was to use 2 skeins of Koigu that I had, and I knit a prototype in up (you can see it in a previous blog post) but I haven’t managed to take any finished photos! I will, just so you can see it in a more variegated yarn. This blue version is knitted in Handmaiden Casbah and is bigger than the Koigu version.

Milkweed Shawl

This little reversible shawl is super quick to knit and perfect to drape over your shoulders or wrap around your neck for that little bit of warmth (especially against over-zealous air conditioning!).

Perfect for that special ball of sock yarn or handspun that you’ve got hidden away in your stash. And if you don’t have one of those, pick some up!

Technical Editing by Kim McBrien.

SIZE
54 inches / 137 cm across straight edge of shawl; 19 inches / 48 cm deep down centre.

MATERIALS
350 yards / 320 m of fingering weight yarn
Shown in Handmaiden Casbah (one 115g skein).

3.5 mm / US 4 circular needles, at least 24 inches long
tapestry needle

PATTERN NOTES
Shawl is knit from the centre back neck down in garter stitch (all rows are knit). Both charted and written directions are given.

7-page PDF pattern contains 6 charts in full colour.

Payment by Paypal (balance or credit card; no account needed) and downloads by Ravelry (no account needed).

$5.00 CAD

Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.

FAQ: Simple Yet Effective Shawl

Sorry for the lack of posts lately – I’ve been hit HARD by some kind of nasty flu! Today I’ve got a really sore throat, a slight fever and chills. Oh and the headache from hell. Luckily, I’ve already prewritten more of these FAQs! On to it!

Doesn’t it start from the point? How come you say it starts from the neck?
The shawl does begin from the center back neck and worked down – the increases at the beginning, middle, and end of the RS rows shapes the shawl so that the rows are getting longer and longer. The bind off edge is along the bottom of the shawl, the two long edges that meet at the point.

What will happen if I don’t divide the ball? How do you make the stripes?
If you are using Noro yarn and don’t divide your ball in two, you’ll get wider stripes of colour and more of an ombre effect. I divided my ball by putting the full ball on a kitchen scale and winding off until there was 50g left on the scale. Then I wound the other half in the same direction.

To change colours, join the second ball at the first stripe and work X rows – don’t cut the first ball! Simply leave it at the beginning of the row. When you need to change back to the first ball, leave the second yarn hanging and pull the first ball loosely up the side. Carrying the yarn up this way will not be noticeable.

I’m a retailer, can I purchase your pattern wholesale?
Not quite yet, but I’m working on making my pattern line available for wholesale – stay tuned!