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.

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.