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.

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.

Pattern Release: The Limerick Shawl

Today my new shawl pattern has been released. It is currently available on Ravelry and is called Limerick.
The idea behind this shawl was to create a very simple textured shawl that a beginner could knit. It uses stockinette, garter and drop stitches to create a rhythmic pattern. And this is where the name Limerick came from.
Today is also the 6th anniversary since I married my husband. So from today until September 12th you can get a 25% discount with the code 6YEARS.

I hope you have enjoyed your day and I hope you enjoy my patterns. I am off to spend the day with my husband and sons at the beach before a special dinner to celebrate.

My knit design story.

Hello again,

I am terrible at blogging. But I am going to try to get it up and running again. There are few changes floating around, I have know changed the name of this blog to Maya Levitt Designs.

This is the name under which my Ravelry Store operates. I am hoping to be organised enough to open a Love Knitting one soon. After a few starts and stops I have finally found what I think is my little niche design wise. And it all starts with a set of shawl patterns on special. I don’t know about you but I can’t resist a special. I have numerous patterns in my Ravelry Library which I will most likely never knit, or knit only once due to being unable to resist a special (I am working on this). But back to the story. The sale was for a designer raising money for her mum.

So I bought one to try. It was called Mercury in Retrograde. Then I found the perfect skein. A wonderful green called Sprouting Greens by Meraki Studio in a merino/silk blend. And my love of shawls began.

But being who I am, I can’t help but play with patterns and lace once I learnt how to create the basic triangular shape. So I placed around and knit, frogged, knit again, frogged until I had a lace pattern I liked. And then I managed to snaffle one of Gradient’s Spring Rainbow skeins. (Amazing yarn). And off we went. I finished it and was amazed at how pretty it was.

And then I found was sent a private message on Instagram. I love Instagram for the craft and knitting community it has. Gradient had liked my design so much she wanted me to write up the pattern and have it associated with her colour way Spring Rainbow. I wrote it up. after testing it was released onto Ravelry. I’m still amazed at the feedback i received for a pattern I designed on a whim.

I won’t say it was easy, as the testing process took a lot of work. But here was my first lace shawl I designed.

And more were to come. I have another about to be released, another being written up and another waiting for me to finish the sample. But that is another story for another day.

The Luminous Shawl Pattern us available on Ravelry at Luminous Pattern.

Until next time.