shawl • The Knitting Vortex • Page 6

Tosh Lumina – FO Friday

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 . . .

I Love Yarn!

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Oct 142011

The Craft Yarn Council has declared October 14 I Love Yarn day! Not one to miss a celebration, especially one involving yarn, today’s post is in honor of fibery goodness. My yarn of the day is Madelinetosh 80/10/10 Lace, a luscious Merino Cashmere Nylon laceweight, in what is probably my all-time favorite colorway, Composition Book Grey. Light and airy, yet with an element of luxury; and at 650 yards, just the thing for a laceweight Lumina. The Craft Yarn Council suggests: Show it off, tag with it, carry it, gather with friends. Declare your LOVE! Get involved. Create an I Love Day Yarn badge Teach someone to knit or crochet Do something for charity Wear a knitted or crocheted item Give a gift of yarn Take your yarn to work day Host a yarn-a-bration party Knit, crochet and craft in public Although they dont mention “Buy Yarn,” that’s exactly what I intend to do tomorrow at Rhinebeck, thus extending my own personal celebration. Yarn – what’s not to love? Happy I Love Yarn Day!

Lumina

New Release, Patterns, Wraps 6 Responses »

Sep 292011

Lumina is a reversible, squared semicircular shawl inspired by a glowing, hand-dyed silk blend yarn in a beautifully draping DK weight. Beginning with a garter tab cast on, it is fully reversible with a garter stitch body and easy transitions to the lace edging patterns. Designed to maximize every yard of a special yarn, instructions are included to customize for differing amounts of yardage. Techniques & Skills Used: garter tab provisional CO, knit/purl, lace; this pattern includes both charts and written instructions for the lace edging. Size: 15” deep and 42” across wingspan, after blocking. Yarn: Barking Dog Yarns Cassiopeia (50% Merino, 50% Silk; 230 yards/100g); 2 skeins, shown in Pinot Noir. For similar size and drape, choose a wool and silk blend dk weight yarn. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 40” circular needle; US 9 (5.5mm) for bind off; Stitch markers (6); Yarn needle; Scrap yarn for provisional CO. Gauge: 20 st and 30 rows/4” in garter stitch, after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in . . .

Sailing To Byzantium

Accessories, Patterns, Wraps 5 Responses »

Sep 262011

For over 1000 years, the Byzantine Empire stood as a symbol of Christian power in the eastern half of what had once been the Roman Empire, symbolizing a final link to the ancient world of the Greeks and Romans. Renamed Constantinople in 330 AD by Constantine I, the ancient city of Byzantium remained a center of wealth and power despite its fall to the western knights of the Fourth Crusade in 1203. The future of the city changed forever in 1453, when it was besieged by Sultan Mehmet II and the Ottoman Turks, overrun, and reborn as Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. A city of ancient Roman stonework, early Christian domes, towering Islamic minarets and intricate Ottoman tile and mosaics, Byzantium now stands for a dream of splendor and beauty straddling Europe and Asia Minor. Byzantine architecture is notable for its stacked shapes; minarets towering over domes, above arches and blocks. The repeating geometric motifs create a strong visual effect, in warm tones of sandstone, clay, stone and lead. The geometry is enhanced . . .

Selimiye

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Sep 262011

Selimiye is part of the Sailing To Byzantium Collection. A long crescent shaped stole, this shawl is reminiscent of the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey. Knit from the bottom up with dome & minaret edging, the body is then worked in stockinette stitch with gentle shaping created by short rows. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, short rows, bobbles; the lace edging is both written and charted, with links to my short rows and special lace stitch tutorials. Size: 58” length and 17” depth. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino (51% silk, 49% merino wool; 150 yards/137m/50g); 3 skeins, shown in Topaz, or approximately 400 yards of wool/silk blend dk weight yarn. Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Yarn needle. Gauge: 14 st and 30 rows/4” in stockinette stitch, after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished shawl, and different yardage requirements. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more and purchase the . . .

Utsukushii

New Release, Patterns, Wraps 2 Responses »

Sep 262011

Originally published in the Classic Elite Yarn web-letter, which sadly no longer exists, Utsukushii is now available as an individual pdf pattern in my usual style and format. Utsukushii means lovely or beautiful in Japanese, and this lovely long cloudlike stole is knit in silk and alpaca blend laceweight yarn, featuring a Japanese Feather lace pattern framing simple stockinette panels. The lace stitch pattern undulates gently from side to side, creating a feeling of lightness and movement. Knit at an open gauge on larger needles, and generous enough to enfold you comfortingly, Utsukushii is a warm yet weightless wrap that lends loveliness to any occasion. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, easy lace; instructions are both fully written and charted. Size: 64” length and 22” depth, customizable to accommodate varying amounts of yardage. Yarn: Classic Elite Yarns Silky Alpaca Lace (70% alpaca, 30% silk; 440 yards/402m/50g), shown in Perfect Storm; 2 skeins, or approximately 880 yards of laceweight yarn. Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) 24” circular or straight needles, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (11); Yarn . . .

Hoopla

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Sep 262011

Luxury yarn and beads pair together creating Hoopla, an elegant long stole with a fancy hoopskirt border. Short row shaping makes a lovely crescent and a face framing beaded shawl collar. Unusual and fun edging stitches keep the knitting interesting, while soothing garter stitch ensures rapid progress; together the result is stunningly simple. Techniques & Skills Used: beaded CO, knit/purl, lace, beading (prestrung and crochet hook methods, with link to video tutorial), short rows; this pattern includes both a chart and written instructions for the border. Size: 12” deep and 60” long, after blocking. Yarn: Madelinetosh Pashmina (75% Merino, 15% Silk, 10% Cashmere; 360 yards/329m); 1 skein, shown in Composition Book Grey. Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) 40” circular needle; Stitch Markers (11); Yarn needle; 389 size 6/0 seed beads; beading needle for stringing beads; Size 1.25mm crochet hook for placing beads. Gauge: 16 st and 44 rows/4” in stockinette stitch; one scallop is approximately 5” long. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger . . .

ArachnoMania

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Sep 242011

The ArachnoMania collection contains two shawl patterns, in five sizes and two yarn weights. See it on Ravelry, to read more and buy the pattern collection. Arachnophilia is a long crescent-shaped stole with deep cobweb frill border, which uses short row shaping in the stockinette stitch body, and thoughtfully placed beads to highlight the edges and transition rows. Dropped stitches create the open weblike edging, and beaded twisted rib accents the gently curved shape. This shawl is knit from the bottom up, with instructions included for both Sock and DK weight yarn; the edging may also be customized for depth by knitting fewer or more rows. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, dropped stitches, short rows, beading (crochet hook & prestrung methods). Size: Sock yarn shawl: 65” wingspan and 9” depth, (DK shawl: 60” wingspan and 12” depth). Yarn: Sock yarn shawl: Madelinetosh tosh merino light (100% merino wool, 440 yards/112g); 1 skein, shown in Thunderstorm. DK shawl: Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino (51% silk, 49% merino wool; 150 yards/50g); 2 skeins, shown in London . . .

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