The Knitting Fiend

It’s 1/4 finished!

Yes, I’m knitting very slowly. What with deciding to start working out, getting a diet blog set up, and deciding to see if it is even possible to make money blogging. (A final report with dollar figures, program lists and rules one must follow will be provided sometime next week.)

Still it looks like my design idea for the scarf worked out. Here are the features of the ribbed entrelac:

• Reversible.
• “Entrelacs” bits looks tall and narrow (as opposed to garterlacs, which look squarish.)
• The fabric is flat (as opposed to bulgy in-and-outie look of stockinette entrelac.)
• A bit slower to work that garter stitch or stockinette at least for me.
• Thick and “plushy”, as you would expect for ribbing.

I think this scarf design is going to be popular with my family!

Dear Favorite Knitting Designers A and B,

      Enclosed please find four foofy fashion yarns. Knitters had been snapping them up for simple garter stitch scarves. Unfortunately, sales are sagging.

      Can you come up with a fun flirty pattern that uses all four yarns?

Sincerely,
Desperate Yarn Company

Sometimes last September, I actually finished my second pie wedge shawl. See?

Those who have good memories may remember this started as a Barbara Shawl– but without the trim. Then, as I knit, I thought, “I want perfect symmetry”. I blogged about creating a symmetric pie wedge shawl, then paused while I decided whether or not I really wanted a new shape.

Finally I did knit the symmetric shape; suffering from knitting ADD, I didn’t report further!

To knit the symmetric shawl, the first knit two wedges Barbara Shawl with may stitch/row gauge. (My Barbara Shawl was going to require 4 wedges.) These wedges are short row triangles worked by knitting 1 extra stitch every row. After knitting two triangles, I began a third; but this time, I worked 2 extra stitches every row. When I reach the center, I reverse shaping. (I’ll be posting the calculator soon. That will permit people to come up with their own, going for their target lengths.)

After knitting the whole thing, I added a picot edge.

You’ll notice this shawl is very wide compared to its back length. You’ll also notice it is more than a semi-circle. I’ve worn it to the opera twice and to one Chicago Shakespeare performance, and I’ve concluded I like the shape because when I sit, the back just reaches the seat yet I can drape the front over my legs. It also doesn’t ride up my neck funny, because the curved edge sort of “wraps around” nicely. So, I think it’s a success.

Still, I need to take a photo wearing this. You will see the front hangs lower than the back, which is fine with me– but as with all garments, other people may like other shapes. So, my next shawl shape will be be similar but slightly different one for my niece. For her shawl, I’ll work each wedge with short rows — but varying 2 stitches per wedge right from the start. It will also be sort of wide compared to the depth– but not quite as wide.

(Oh, and for those wondering, I’m also looking for a pretty hand dyed yarn in a blue/green color way.)

Anyway: The calculator for this shawl is coming soon. (If I don’t get ADD, it will be here by Friday.)

Oh, are any of you wondering why the photo of the shawl seems a bit cropped at the edges? Well, I had to put the step ladder on the coffee table to take the photo. I couldn’t get the camera any further away. (Well, I guess I could try putting the shawl on the stairs? )