Linda's Shawl

Here she is, Linda's Shawl, all ready for you to knit.  This sweetheart of a shawlette is knitted from the bottom up, not my usual top down.  You start at the lace border, work it without any shaping, and then go on to the stockinette part, which has all the decreases.  That makes it such fun to work.  You have all the fun of the lace while you are anxious to start, and then you just motor along on the stockinette part with each row having less and less stitches.  You'll be amazed at how quickly it knits up.  Once your rows start decreasing, you just go faster and faster.  Such fun!

Here's the story behind the shawl.  Lots of times I unvent or find a lace pattern where the edging has a nice curve or point, and I want that edge to be the outside edge of a shawl.  So, I decided to do this one, bottom up and take advantage of the edge of the design.  But this can be tricky because what do you do if you run out of yarn on the stockinette portion?  I have a bit of a priori knowledge here since I've made lots of these little shawls top down and I know my yardage and how many stitches I end up with.  So, I was somewhat sure that it would all work out.  Not totally sure but almost, kind of, maybe.  And indeed, I ended up with a nice little ball of left over yarn.  

Here's the thing:  When you get to the stockinette portion, the rows have less and less stitches, and therefore use less and less yarn!  So while you're sweating it out that you are just going to run out of yarn, you suddenly realize that you do have enough.

In the event that you do run out of yarn, there's no reason why you can't just loosely bind off.  Your shawl will work more like a curvy stole than a shawl, but that's a lovely shape, too and just as cuddly and capable of draping around your neck.  So it's all a win/win situation.

I used Bambi yarn here and a size 5 (3.75mm) circular needle.  The trick to these shawls is drape; you don't want tight knitting as you need for socks, you want a fluid garment.  So go up to a 4, 5, or even 6 needle to get your gauge, and you'll be so pleased to see how nicely it works up.

You can easily use a variegated yarn here; just make sure that the lace will be visible and not lost in the colors.  A solid or almost solid will be fine, of course.

Linda's Scarf

As a bonus, I've also included a scarf with the same lace pattern.  I loved working the lace, and wanted to do a bit more.  Hence the scarf.

You can also use the lace in a sweater, either as a border or an overall pattern, as a ruffle for mitts, even for socks.  It is so pleasant to work, one of my favorite lace patterns.

Needless to say, I have 2 new shawlette patterns to write up and have test knitted, and the other day, I started yet another one.  What a crazy obsession this is!  I have more shawls that I know what to do with, but I just love wearing them.  They've become knitted embellishment for me. 

pendie - You'll really like knitting this one.  I'm so in love now with bottom up that I have a gazillion ideas in my head.

Scrabblequeen - Not a problem; the shawl isn't going anywhere.  ;-)

LivvyLove - Thanks.  I do enjoy the entire process.  OK, not the writing up, but the designing and playing and knitting! 

Malka's Shawl

Here's the first shawl I've designed with Heather Yarn (see previous post for yarn info). This yarn is clearly an obsession of mine. All I want to do is play with it and see what it does. I call this "the thinking knitter/crocheter yarn." You have to knit up a 4" swatch to really see what it does. And it's amazing. I thought it wouldn't work on lace. well, I was wrong; depending on the colorways, Heather does lace beautifully. I know it will do cables and twist stitches just fine too, and of course good old stockinette. I should play with knit/purl patterns, except that I can never get away from lace.

Malka

Now I have to write up the pattern and get it test knitted.

Scrabblequeen - I'm just learning my way around dyeing this yarn.  Very different from anything else I've done.  I'm quite infatuated with it.
merrilymarylee - Thanks.  Unfortunately, it's gone missing.  I wore it all day yesterday and didn't leave the house, and now I can't find it.  Kind of hard to miss it, so where did it go?

The Yarnarian Dyes Pinks.

Yep, and tomorrow you'll get to see them. Blueish pinks, roseish pinks, brownish pinks, hot torrid pinks. I also dyed up half my sock club yarns, but no pics here. It's supposed to be a surprise. I like the color, even better than the one I used for the project.

We had a lovely weekend, doing not much of anything. I had a gift certificate from J Jill and coupons from Coldwater Creek, and they were burning holes in my pocket. So, off we went in search of a bit of clothing therapy. And I did very well, indeed. A black corduroy jacket at J Jill, with $29 left for the next purchase, and the most wonderful jacket and cotton ribbed turtle neck at CC. And it all cost Miss Mingy here very little indeed.

Yesterday we hung out. We were supposed to have a little party for the Mommie, but my poor niece got the flu and bronchitis, so we decided to postpone. The last thing that anyone needs is the flu, especially a 95 year old lady. We'll do it later on; she won't remember anyway, so it's all OK. BTW, I'm not picking on the Mommie when I talk about her in-and-out memory. It's just the way it is, and while I don't like it, and who would, she's quite safe and content and well-cared for. So, I just deal with it and trundle on. What would be a tragedy would be if she were still living alone. I suspect she would be gone by now.

Knitting news: 2 new projects, and nothing exciting to see on one of them, but I'll post anyhow. Here's the newest little shawlette, the Multnomah again, only I'm going to do a different lace on the bottom just for a change. I'm using my new Karen cashmere yarn and it is wonderful to knit on.



And here's the new sweater I started late last Thursday. It is really lovely yarn to work on, I suspect that holding its shape is not going to be a strong point here. It's rather drapey, but I think I can work that into the sweater design. The yarn is Solo Silk from Brooks Farm, and it is beyond delicious.




Did you notice that the wrong side is pretty in its own right? Not that I'm planning on using it but it is nice. A wonderful mindless pattern.

Yesterday was delightful in the upper 60's. We went off to Macculloch Hall in Morristown, but never made it inside. Wandered through the charming little garden, found 2 chairs in the sun and sat down and just breathed in the air. And then the guy behind the Hall, started to mow his lawn, so we left. But it was heaven on earth for those 20 minutes.

Blogiversary: It's coming up this week, so stay tuned while I figure out some sort of giveaway something or other.

Tomorrow: Picks of new yarns for sale. Think blush and hot flashes and such. tee hee.

itsJUSTme-wendy - The pattern is mindlessly easy. I'll post it another time. I have to work my butt off with this pattern for the sotm. It's driving me crazy!

Scrabblequeen - We'd still be there if that man hadn't wanted to mow his lawn. ;-)

Ruth in Ottawa - That's a new one on me too. Now what was I really trying to say? Hmm.

Kathy - thanks. Three years ago, if you had told me that I would be doing this, I would have laughed at you.

Shandy - I think that mochi would not do well with these shawls, something about the twist or colors perhaps? I like short colors on these garter stitch shawls, where the colors easily blend in with each other.