Impromptu Shawl: Section 2

Here it is, Friday again.

Today we tackle the first lace section. I have provided both written and charted instructions for this section. If you have any questions please email me or comment on Instagram.

Written Instructions

Change to Colour C

Row 1 (RS): Kfb, k, *p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog ; work from * 6 times, p, k, cdd, k, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, *m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k ; work from * twice, k2, kfb, k. (115 sts)

Row 2 (and every other WS row): K2, purl the purl stitches and knit the knit stitches until 2 stitches from the end. Kfb, k1. (116 sts)

Row 3: Kfb, k3, *p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog ; work from * 6 times, p, cdd, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, *m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k ; work from * twice, k3, kfb, k. (116 sts)

Row 5: Kfb, k3, yo, k2tog, *p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog ; work from * 6 times, cdd, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, *m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k ; work from * twice, m1l, k, k2tog, k, kfb, k. (117 sts)

Row 7: Kfb, k2, (k, k2tog, yo, k2tog), yo, *k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k3, k2tog, yo, k, cdd ; work from * 6 times, k, yo, ssk, k2, *k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k2 ; work from * twice, k, k2tog, yo, k2, kfb, k. (118 sts)

Row 9: Kfb, k, yo, ssk, k, *k2tog, yo, k, yo, k3, (yo, ssk) x 2, k ; work from * 6 times, k2tog, yo, k, cdd, k, yo, ssk, k, *(k2tog, yo) x 2, k3, (yo, ssk) x 2, k ; work from * twice, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2, kfb, k. (119 sts)

Row 11: Kfb, k4, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, *(yo, k2tog) x 2, yo, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso ; work from * 6 times, yo, k, cdd, k, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, *(yo, k2tog) x 2, yo, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso ; work from * twice, (yo, k2tog) x 2, yo, k2, kfb, k. (120 sts)

Row 13: Kfb, k3, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, *(k2tog, yo) x 2, k3, (yo, ssk) x 2, k ; work from * 6 times, k, cdd, k2, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2, *k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2 ; work from * twice, k2, kfb, k. (121 sts)

Row 15: Kfb, k3, (k3, yo, ssk, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso), *yo, k2tog, yo, k5, (yo, ssk) x 2 ; work from * 6 times, cdd, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k3, *k2, yo, ssk, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k3 ; work from * twice, k3, kfb, k. (122 sts)

Row 17: Kfb, k, yo, k2tog, k, m1r, *k, m1l, k, ssk, yo, ssk, p, k, yo, k2tog, k, m1r ; work from * 6 times, k, m1l, k, ssk, yo, ssk, cdd, k2, k2tog, k, m1r, k, *m1l, k, ssk, yo, ssk, p, ssk, yo, k2tog, k, m1r, k ; work from * twice, m1l, k3, kfb, k. (123 sts)

Row 19: Kfb, k, p, k, yo, ssk, k, m1r, *k, m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, k, yo, ssk, k, m1r ; work from * 6 times, k, m1l, k, k2tog, k, cdd, k, ssk, k, m1r, k, *m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k ; work from * twice, m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, kfb, k. (124 sts)

Row 21: Kfb, k3, p, k, yo, ssk, k, m1r, *k, m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, k, yo, ssk, k, m1r ; work from * 6 times, k, m1l, k2, cdd, ssk, k, m1r, k, *m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k ; work from * twice, m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, kfb, k. (125 sts)

Row 23: Kfb, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, *k2, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k ; work from * 6 times, k3, cdd, k3, *k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k2 ; work from * twice, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2, kfb, k. (126 sts)

Row 25: Kfb, k2, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2, *k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2 ; work from * 6 times, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k2, cdd, k2, *(k2tog, yo) x 2, k3, (yo, ssk) x 2, k ; work from * twice, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k4, kfb, k. (127 sts)

Row 27: Kfb, k3, (k2tog, yo) x 3, k, *(yo, ssk) x 2, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, (yo, k2tog) x 2, yo, k ; work from * 6 times, (yo, ssk) x 2, yo, k, cdd, k2tog, *(yo, k2tog) x 2, yo, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso ; work from * twice, (yo, k2tog) x 2, yo, k, yo, ssk, k, kfb, k. (128 sts)

Row 29: Kfb, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2, *k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2 ; work from * 6 times, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, cdd, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k3, yo, ssk, *yo, ssk, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k3, yo, ssk ; work from * twice, k, kfb, k. (129 sts)

Row 31: Kfb, k4, yo, ssk, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, *k2, yo, ssk, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k3 ; work from * 6 times, k2, yo, ssk, cdd, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, *ssk, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k5, yo ; work from * twice, ssk, k, kfb, k. (130 sts)

Row 33: Kfb, k4, m1l, k, ssk, yo, ssk, p, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k, m1r, k, *m1l, k, ssk, yo, ssk, p, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k, m1r, k ; work from * 6 times, m1l, k, ssk, cdd, k2tog, k, m1r, k, m1l, k, ssk, *yo, ssk, p, k, yo, k2tog, k, m1r, k, m1l, k, ssk ; work from * twice, yo, ssk, p, kfb, k. (131 sts)

Row 35: Kfb, k2, ssk, k, m1r, k, m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, *m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k ; work from * 6 times, k2, cdd, k3, m1l, k, k2tog, *yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, m1l, k, k2tog ; work from * twice, yo, k2tog, p, k, kfb, k. (132 sts)

Row 37: Kfb, k, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, *m1l, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k ; work from * 6 times, k, cdd, k2, m1l, k, k2tog, *yo, k2tog, p, ssk, yo, ssk, k, m1r, k, m1l, k, k2tog ; work from * twice, yo, k2tog, p, k2, kfb, k. (133 sts)

Row 39: Kfb, k, k2tog, yo, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k3, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k, *(yo, ssk) x 2, k3, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k ; work from * 6 times, (yo, ssk) x 2, k2, cdd, k2, k2tog, yo, *k2tog, yo, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k3, k2tog, yo ; work from * twice, k2tog, yo, k, yo, ssk, k, kfb, k. (134 sts)

Row 41: Kfb, k2, k2tog, yo, k3, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2, *k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2 ; work from * 6 times, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, cdd, k2tog, yo, k2tog, *yo, k3, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog ; work from * twice, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k, kfb, k. (135 sts)

Row 43: Kfb, k3, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, yo, k, (yo, k2tog) x 2, yo, k, *(yo, ssk) x 2, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, (yo, k2tog) x 2, yo, k ; work from * 6 times, (yo, ssk) x 2, cdd, k2tog, yo, *k2tog, yo, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, yo ; work from * twice, k2tog, yo, k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, kfb, k. (136 sts)

Row 45: Kfb, k, yo, ssk, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k3, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2, *k, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k2 ; work from * 6 times, k, yo, ssk, cdd, k2tog, *yo, k3, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, k2tog, yo, k2tog ; work from * twice, yo, k3, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, kfb, k. (137 sts)

Row 47: Kfb, k4, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, yo, k, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, *k2, yo, ssk, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k3 ; work from * 6 times, k2, cdd, *k5, yo, ssk, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, yo ; work from * twice, k5, (yo, ssk) x 2, k, kfb, k. (138 sts)

Impromptu Shawl: Section 1

Here it is. The first part of the pattern for the Impromptu Shawl.

You need colours A and B, the stitch marker and your knitting needles.

 Abbreviations

k: knit // p: purl

kfab: knit front and back

cdd: centered double decrease [Slip 2 stitches together, knit 1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over together. See video for more details.]

pm: place marker // sm: stitch marker // st: stitch

Cast on

Use colour A and cast on 7 stitches using the long tail method

Knit 1 row

Section 1

Row 1 (RS): kfab, cdd, k1, place marker (pm), kfab, k1

Row 2: kfab, k to sm, k1, p1, k to 2 st before end. Kfab, k1

Row 3: kfab, knit to 3 st before sm, cdd, remove marker, k1, pm, k to 2 st before end. kfab, k1

Row 4: kfab, k to sm, k1, p1, k to 2 st before end. kfab, k1

Repeat rows 3-4 a further 21 times. Stitch count 53

Make 2 stripes in colour B.

Continue repeating rows 3-4 but change between colour B and A, with each strip being 1 repeat of rows 3-4.

In colour A repeat rows 3-4 5 more times. Stitch count: 69

Row 63: kfab, knit to 3 st before sm, cdd, remove marker (rm), k1, pm, k to 2 st before end. kfab, k1

Row 64: k to sm, k1, p1, k to 2 st before end. kfab, k1

Repeat rows 63-64 a further 13 times.

Stitch count: 83

Make 3 stripes in colour B, continuing to repeat rows 63-64

Stitch count: 88

Change to colour A and repeat rows 63-64 a further 17 times

Stitch count: 105

Make 5 stripes in colour B continuing to repeat rows 63-64

Stitch count 114

If you have any questions please email me at mayalevittdesigns@hotmail.com or comment of the post on IG.

And Swatch….

Creating a swatch is very important with knitting. Not only does it allow you to make sure you have the correct gauge for a project, but if you are designing someone it allows you to figure out those little kinks in a knit pattern.

But it is also tedious and boring at times. I will admit I’m terrible at swatching. I just want to start a project. And normally I only have enough yarn for the project, so making a swatch usually involves knitting and then frogging (I only recently learned you really should wash and block your swatches). 

But this time I did create a swatch for this shawl design. We’ll sort off. I knew even though I had figured out sections on paper that it doesn’t always work that way on the needles. Especially cables. So I knit up sections a few times, making notes until I got it right. 

  
My first go I realised I was working in the wrong side with the lace. The cable however worked perfectly.

  
Next I trailed the gradient on the cabled section, as well as the lace and short rows. I decided I preferred the blue grey for the cable. I also realised I didn’t like the plain gather section, though the lace worked exactly how I wanted it to.

  
This is the current version. I’m working further along now. And have come across a new problem. How to write the pattern in it’s simplest form so it is easy to understand, functional while providing the end result. And also without having the chart every lace section for the entire shawl. Which would be a lot of work for me, but also makes it annoying from the point of view of the pattern user. That is going to involve some serious math and some alterations in the increases. With me luck.

If you want to see more in the way of the progression of my designs, follow me on Instagram. I post many photos of my knitting. My username is mayalevitt. (There will most likely will also be random kid spam)

The dreaded math… the design continues

So as discussed in my previous post knitting actually involves a decent amount of math. It is how different shapes are created, how garment designers use one size item to design large or smaller items by gradinging and calculating using standard sizes. How you can take one size hat and use that formula to make the same hat smaller or larger.

In a shawl the math involved usually involves stitch counts, calculating yardage requirements and using different placements of increases, and decreases to create a shape.

The “tree” shawl is what I would call a combination shawl. It will use the simple increase on one size RS row to create an asymmetrical shape, but by using the short rows, that will form the “branches” the true shape will be closer to a crescent.

But to get a true product that matches my sketch, I must first calculate how each stitch pattern will interact section. In practical terms, if I was to produce and sell this pattern I need to make it simple enough to follow. And that means I personally do not want to have to chart over 300 rows of knitting. So I need to separated it into blocks and create a pattern that can be repeated X amount of times.

So I start with the cable I picked. It sits at 18 rows, but requires an additional 4 rows minimum after the last repeat.

Next the lace sections. I wanted a leaf shape. My problem as that many of the more detailed leaves require a higher row count. So I stayed with a vague leaf shape. It came in at 8 rows and has the possibility of finishing the repeat on row 4.

The third component is the leaf edging. I fell in love with an edging I found on Pinterest. It comes in at 36 rows.

So how are we going?

Start with the highest number.

36/18=2 this works. (Actually originally I thought the cable was 20 rows and it was going to cause issues, so I went to alter it and realised I had made a mistake)

Now for the lace section

36/4=9 again, I’m lucky, a whole number.

So each of these sections will work.

Now for the hard bit. To add in a “branch”. Because this uses short rows, it doesn’t actually need to work with the leaf edging row count. I just need to understand how big to make them in relation to the cable.

The question is do I make it a full cable repeat wide or half a repeat wide. I am actually leaning toward both. So there are long and short “branches”. 

And now to swatch, or because I can’t resist most of the time, the quick trial. (I swatch for hats etc because gauge is so important for size and fit. However because shawls are fairly flexible in relation to gauge, I don’t actually bother. That is unless it involves complicated lace)

Wish me luck.

It starts with a sketch…

Today is going to be first in what I hope will be a series of posts about designing a shawl. Well how I design anyway.

It normally starts with a sketch. Now I will admit straight up, I am not good at drawing. But I can make a decent enough diagram that I can put my ideas on paper.

This shawl has actually been sitting and gurgling in my mind for a while. It has changed a number of times and I will probably produce numerous shawls from the original idea. If I have the time anyway.

Now back to the sketch. It doesn’t really matter if you can’t draw, even if it is a basic shape broken into sections that you label it can help flesh out your idea.

You can see mine above.

The next step is the first part in turning a sketch into reality. Finding the right stitch pattern and working it into the design. This is not a simple shawl though my idea seemed to be at the beginning. It has a cable for the “tree trunk”, lace for the “leaves” including a leaf edging, and it will use short rows for shaping the “branches” and increases to make each row wider. 

Seems complicated? Well it really depends where your knitting skills sit. I wouldn’t class myself as higher than an intermediate knitter and been then I definitely have strengths and weaknesses. Some designs can be very simple. You take the formula to create a shape and add a stitch pattern for where your skills sit.

The Limerick shawl was one designed for simplicity.

 
 It was literally created as I said above. I picked the crescent shawl formula (increase by 4 each WS row and increase by 2 each RS row, all on the edges), used a simple drop stitch pattern, added some blocks of garter and Stockinette and added a curved drop stitch for the border. And tada, one shawl.

 This one, well it is slightly more complicated. This shawl involves math. As does a lot of knitting. But specifically this one involves numbers matching up different stitch patterns and short rows.

But that will be discussed in my next post. Until then, here is a sneak pack of the yarn I will be using for this shawl. Now imagine the colours translated into my sketch.

  

The frustration of photographing children: tales of a knit photo shoot

I think most people that have kids know this. I will admit straight out I am not a great photographer. I might take an amazing shot now and then but it will be a complete fluke. My photos are basic and of what they need to be. I would love to develop more artistry but alas I do not have the time (and maybe not the patience).

I have a new pattern due for release. It is a beanie and called Dryad. I actually designed it 2 years ago, but did nothing with it. Well I have now written it up and it is almost ready for release. Except for the photos. I had the samples. I had two children. And we were going to a beach that is magnificent. I should have known better.

First issue I didn’t take into account? The light. It was really the wrong time of day and way too bright. It was hard to see the detail of the beanie.

Second issue? Children don’t particularly like to stand still very long. Especially when there is so many interesting things to look at. And they don’t particularly like being cooperative when asked to wear beanies and “look cold” when it’s actually close to 35 degrees Celsius.

I did finally get a few that could work. And thought I can try again later.

This morning it was foggy. So a lovely diffused light. I dressed the kids up and promised chocolate.

Sigh. How hard is it to get two boys to look at you at the same time without pulling strange faces. Or doing something weird.

Look out early October for the release. It’s a quick fast knit that produces a lovely slightly slouchy, stretchy beanie with simple cable detail.

The Purple People Eating Monster Shawl

I planned and sketched the design for this shawl months ago. I believe it was actually early May. I wanted a large triangular lace shawl that has geometric inspired lace, but wasn’t too complicated. No advanced lace techniques. So I charted out the design.

But I soon learnt that the ease with which I created Luminous was a fluke. That designing lace can be immensely frustrating.

I started knitting it. And then doubts set in. And then the problems started. The lace didn’t work, so I had to frog and start again. It was causing a lot of headaches. So I put it aside. Other projects, such as the pattern testing for Luminous and the creation of Limerick were taking up my time. And this project needed time with few distractions. I finally picked it up again and knitted on. Charted out the border, started it. It didn’t work, actually the first attempt at the border was an unlighted disaster. The second attempt seemed to work, but looking at it, something felt off. So I ripped it back again, then again, then again. Finally I put it away again. I was in the process of testing Limerick and had caught a very nasty virus.

But it hadn’t been forgotten. I recharged out the border and it looked perfect this time. I pulled the shawl out and looked at it in person. Patted it, stretched it gently to see the lace detail. And realised what was wrong. There were a few yarn overs that just did not work. They had to go. So I decided to frog it right back to the beginning and knit it again with the new pattern. It hurt to frog it again, there was hours of knitting and the stitch count had already hit over 300, but I have learnt that in designing it needs to be right.

Right before the shawl was frogged

But it will be perfect this time. And I have learnt a lot during this design process.

So wish me luck, hopefully I will finish it soon. It should be large and snugly. Designed to take advantage of the generous yardage found with white gum wool, so still a single skien project. And then come the fun part of writing the pattern and organising for it to be tested.

The progress as of this morning.