garter • The Knitting Vortex • Page 2

Five Short Row Shawls

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Jan 312013

Short rows are one of my all-time favorite knitting techniques. They easily allow you to shape your knitwear, for better fit and more intriguing angles. In the Five Short Row Shawls collection, I’ve used this technique to create five simple garter one-skein shawls, each with a different and unique construction. While I love crescents, topdown triangles and bias boomerangs, the five wraps in this book use short rows imaginatively to create some of these familiar shapes in totally new ways. By choosing a single skein of a beautiful variegated or semi-solid yarn worked in garter stitch, the focus is entirely on the rhythmic and magical process of knitting short rows. The results are both simple, and singularly stunning. Each pattern may be purchased individually, or all together as an ebook with a special price that equals getting one pattern for free. The collection includes Triangulate, Piewhacket, Rondelay, Aerophile, and Rufflebye; see them all together as Five Short Row Shawls on Ravelry or on Payhip.

Rufflebye

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Jan 312013

A new take on the ruffle shawl, Rufflebye is a one-skein, reversible wrap worked sideways in three garter stitch wedges which cleverly intersect to change the knitting direction. Increases and decreases create the shape from tip to tip, while two sets of short rows throughout form the crescent shape and the gently ruffled edging. Construction: Rufflebye is cast on at one tip with a few stitches, increased to the halfway point then decreased again to the other tip, and shaped with short rows throughout. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit, increasing/decreasing, short rows. Size: one size; 45” length and 10” depth. Rufflebye forms a natural semi-circle and measures 40” along inner semi-circumference, and 72” along outer semi-circumference, measured without stretching. The 12-stitch ruffle is approximately 2.6” and begins as soon as there are enough stitches. Yarn: Indigodragonfly MerGoat Sock (80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon, 400 yards/366m/115g); 1 skein, shown in My Boyfriend Had A Bicentennial (Buffy). See Designer’s Notes for instructions to adjust for differing yardage. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 40″circular needle, or size to match . . .

Aerophile

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Jan 172013

Aerophile is a one-skein, reversible garter shawl with narrow wings that stretch wide like a soaring bird which loves to fly. Each wing is knit using short rows from a provisionally cast on central spine, while the scalloped top edge is created by casting on additional stitches every six rows. After both wings are complete, a loopy super-picot edging binds off the live stitches along the bottom edge. Choose a beautiful yarn as the focus of the shawl, and let the uncomplicated fabric and simple textural edgings highlight the fiber. Construction: Aerophile is provisionally cast on at the center vertical, and each wing is worked separately in short rows to the side. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, backwards loop CO, Cable CO, knit, increasing, short rows. Size: one size; 52” length and 18” depth. Yarn: Dream In Color Smooshy (100% merino, 450 yards/411m/100g); 1 skein, shown in Deep Seaflower. The sample used approximately 425 yards of light fingering weight yarn. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 40” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Scrap yarn for provisional CO . . .

Piewhacket

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Dec 052012

Piewhacket is a one-skein garter shawl constructed from three sequential short row triangles which build on each other, with a final uneven edging knit from live stitches using additional short rows. The resulting asymmetrical shape drapes perfectly around the neck and shoulders, and is completely reversible for ultimate wearability. The short row shaping means never having to work a huge number of stitches, and also shows off the unique beauty of variegated or semi-solid yarn. Construction: Piewhacket is cast on and worked entirely in short rows as a series of three connected triangles. The short row border is worked from live stitches and accentuates the points of the long and narrow edging. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit, increasing, short rows. Size: one size; 52” length along top edge and 8” depth (12” depth at points). Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock (100% superwash merino wool, 440 yards/ 402m/100g); 1 skein, shown in Abril. The sample used approximately 375 yards of light fingering weight yarn. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 40” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers . . .

Rondelay

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Nov 132012

Rondelay is a one-skein, reversible garter shawl constructed from three sequential half rounds or rondels, which grow from cast on stitches using both short rows and strategically placed radial yarnover increases. Each rondel builds upon the previous one, creating a finished semi-circular shape that drapes beautifully as it wraps around the shoulders. Designed to show off the colors of a variegated or hand dyed skein, Rondelay looks equally fantastic in a solid color. Construction: Each rondel is knit using short rows, incorporating additional stitches from the cast on into each row, and at the same time increasing stitches by making yarn overs on a few strategic rows. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit, short rows. Size: one size; 50” length along top edge and 9” depth at widest part of rondel. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock (100% superwash merino, 440 yards/402m/ 100g); 1 skein, shown in Indiecita. The sample used approximately 410 yards of light fingering weight yarn. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 40” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Yarn needle. Gauge: 18 st and 36 rows/4” in . . .

Triangulate

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Nov 072012

Triangulate is a one-skein, reversible garter shawl composed of two triangles with a chevron border, and is designed to show off the colors of a variegated skein, using simple stitches and beautiful yarn. The shawl begins with a provisional cast on at the center, and is knit outwards in two triangular halves using short rows. The wide edging is knit continuously from the live stitches with no picking up stitches necessary, and may be made narrower or wider to accommodate varying yardages. The unusual construction results in a deceptively simple shape that is uncomplicated yet interesting to knit, and versatile to wear. Construction: this shawl is provisionally cast on at the center vertical, and each half of the central triangle is worked in short rows to the side. The chevron edging may be customized to be wider or narrower, depending on your preference and available yardage. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, knit, increasing, short rows. Size: one size; 58” length and 19” depth. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock (100% superwash merino wool, 440 yards/ 402m/100g); 1 skein, shown . . .

Sundry

New Release, Patterns, Wraps 1 Response »

May 042012

An elongated, asymmetrical wrap that combines the warmth and style of a shawl with the wearability of a scarf, Sundry means various or diverse, and this wrap features two colors, two stitch patterns and endless styling options. Cast on at the long, pointed end, Sundry has shaping at each end of rows that grow ever wider. Two colors contrast yet harmonize in solid garter stitch and houndstooth slipstitch sections; the slipstitch is easily worked using just one color per row. A simple picot bind off finishes the long straight end. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit, increasing/decreasing, slipstitch colorwork, picot BO; the slipstitch pattern is both written and charted, with a link to my video tutorial included for the picot BO. Size: 112” length and 24” depth, customizable. Yarn: String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn Selku (50% Silk, 50% Merino; 375 yards/113g); 1 skein MC & 1 skein CC, shown in Pewter (MC) & Alexandrite (CC). Any amount of yarn in two colors may be used. As written, the sample required almost every bit of yarn; see Designer’s . . .

Blue Honey

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Apr 052012

Worked sideways in one flat piece from right to left sleeve cuff, Blue Honey is a long, open front cardigan with honeycomb stitch at the shoulders and a wide garter band finishing the collar and front edges. With just two sideseams, it’s a sweater that is easy to knit and flattering to wear, featuring long, lean lines and pretty textured stitch details that show off a beautiful variegated yarn. Construction: Blue Honey is cast on at the right sleeve cuff, then the right sleeve, front and back are worked flat to the center front/center back of the garment. Stitches are bound off for the right front opening edge, the back is continued, then stitches are cast on again for the left front, and the left front, back and sleeve are worked to the left sleeve cuff. Two long continuous seams from the undersleeve to the hem finish the sweater. In this sideways knit, row gauge determines body circumference, while stitch gauge determines length. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, picking up stitches, seaming. . . .

Rhadamanthys

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Mar 022012

Rhadamanthys was the wise mythological Greek king who judged the dead and ruled the Fortunate Isles, where those heroes who had thrice been received into the Elysian Fields resided. Celebrate three blessings with this easy, sideways-knit sweater; it is knit in one piece with no seaming, requires no finishing, and is worked all in garter stitch. Three turning points in the short row shaping delineate body, yoke and collar, creating a shapely fit around the shoulders and upper torso. The garter stitch and extended front panels make it suitable for many shapes and sizes, and the fit may easily be further customized in length or circumference. Construction: Rhadamanthys is cast on at the left front edge, and worked sideways around the body to the right front. Except for the full-row front panels, it is knit entirely in short rows using the wrap & turn method; there is no need to pick up the wraps and knit them together with the wrapped stitch when you encounter them on the following row, as the wraps will disappear into . . .

Tosh Lumina – FO Friday

FOs 2 Responses »

Nov 112011

The first accomplishment for what will certainly be a very busy month, my Lumina shawl knit in beautiful Madelinetosh MCN laceweight. I had to rip and restart this, and also begin again on the first lace section – some sort of inexplicable trouble with the YOs. Maddening, because I knit the original prototype without incident, but now it’s finished and fabulous. Based on the prototype, I knit approximately half the yardage as the garter body section – but should have done more, probably at least 3/4. So the lace sections are much larger than I expected, but in retrospect I really like the airiness and the drape is great. The Composition Book Grey colorway is definitely my all-time favorite. And now I’m all jazzed to knit up another laceweight shawl! Really, for size and softness, there’s nothing like it. Typically I do more shawls in summer, but this winter may buck that trend. Remind me to show some of the lovely yarn I got at Stitches East; there’s a shimmery tonal grey that is crying . . .

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