The Knitting Fiend

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? )

Garter stitch is so easy you can’t help but pay attention to the tv while knitting. Even adding short rows is not enough to distract the knitter from the tv. This is perilous because I promised myself I would not discuss politics on my knitting blog.

So, keeping my promise, I will tell you that I am officially 2/3’s of the way done with the endless garter stitch portion of my pie wedge shawl. I know this because I have completed 3 of the 5 wedges, and I am about half way done with the fifth. Using skills developed in the fifth grade, I conclude 3/5 + (1/2)(1/5) = 21/30 ~ 2/3!

Whooo hooo!

Wondering how much yarn I’ve used? I just broke into my third ball of Taiga Carress Mohair. That means the garter stitch portion of this shawl will take a bit over 3 balls (which is very close to what I predicted when I ran the Barbara Shawl Calculator with no trim.) I’ll need to break into the fourth skein for the trim.

Of course, I’m not making the Barbara shawl (aka standard pie wedge shawl); I’m making a similar one. Recall I agonized, and finally gave into my inner demon’s demand to make this symmetric about the center. So, I split the center wedge in two, and I’m mirroring. It’s just as easy to knit, but you’ll see both edges will cup up before blocking. I can straighten that out during blocking. But who knows, maybe I’ll like the curving!

With any luck, I’ll finish the garter stitch on Sunday, and I’ll be able to work on the decorative edging next week. I think I’d better pick something really fancy; that will prevent me from accidentally mentioning politics!

I bet some of you are wondering how the shawl is coming along? It’s coming along as slowly as I predicted!

Now, for most people, slow knitting just means slow knitting. For me, it means thinking about how the design could be “improved.”

Mind you, the structure of the simple popular and classic pie wedge shawl is just fine. It looks fine on Colocha. I’ve seen pie wedge shawls knit using the planned construction and they looked fine.

So, how could it be “improved”? Well, while knitting, I couldn’t help agonizing over the fact that, strictly speaking, the geometric design is not symmetric. When knitting a large pie wedge shawl (or examining other bloggers pie wedge shawls in progress) you will likely notice this asymmetry. (If you’ve begun one, don’t be frightened. You will also notice the asymmetry will practically vanish during blocking.)

To see what I mean, look at the photo above left. Notice how the “red” edge on triangle 1 is sort of long and very curved? Then the red line (which is a guide line between triangles 1 & 2 is a little curved? Scary , huh?

Are you wondering why this is? Well, the “general idea” for knitting a pie wedge shawl is that you a bunch of triangles which are “seamed” together — except, the “seaming” isn’t actual sewing, you just start knitting the second triangle along the live edge of the first one. This distorts the shape.

Let’s see how.

The “ideal” shape of these triangles or wedges is shown in the sketch to the left. Notice there is a long edge and two shorter edges. (more…)