This Knit-a-long starts on January 7th 2015; second group starts January 14th. Space is limited. Call Common Threads for more details and to sign up 760-436-6119. We meet every 2 weeks at the store from 3 to 6 pm.

This is a very pretty assymetical shawl where one side is worked in short rows. It uses 5 different colors. Mine are: A. Aspen, B. Kettle Tweed-Seashore, C. Gravity, D. Denim, E. Grace.

Pattern says to use a US7 on either fingering or lace weight version where two strands are held together. My fingering weight version held double, started with a U.S. 7 but changed to a US 8 after the first short row wedge was complete. I want my fabric more drapy and flexible. I might even change to a US9, we will see.

After further consideration, I changed my mind to fingering weight held single. I will get much more use of a thinner drapier fabric. To mix the colors together, which is so much fun, I am striping them on the garter ridge portion of the design. Read my notes below about how to handle the color. I added one more row of garter, but with a twist.

Caution to beginners on a couple of elements to the pattern. When yarn overing from a purl to knit, remember you do not have to put the yarn to the back to create the yarn over.

Second; after the first short row wedge is complete and you chane to color CD to begin the next section of garter stitch fabric, the pattern does not mention to continue increasing at the beginning, center and end of the right side row, as well as the beginning and end of the wrong side row. This is essential to achieve the correct shawl silhouette.

My fingering weight held single stranded version, using a size 6 US needle. Colors are arranged as follows.

A - First garter neck area.
B - First short row wedge
C & B - In Stripes, first garter ridge
C - Second short row wedge
D & C - In Stripes, second garter ridge
D - Third short row wedge
E & D - In Stripes, third garter ridge
E - Fourth short row wedge
A & E - In Stripes, fourth garter ridge
A - Fifth short row wedge
B & A - In Stripes, Fifth and last garter ridge.

Begin with Haiku Aspin to make the center neck garter section. (this is one color garter) First short row wedge in Knit One Crochet Two Kettle Tweed Seascape. First garter band that works across whole shawl starts with two rows of Anzula Cloud in Asrid grey, then two rows of Kettle tweed. Continue two rows of each for a total of 12 ridges. My alteration to pattern is this. Using Astrid grey which will be the next short row wedge work one more row. On the return row, knit to center stitch, knit center stitch, purl to last three stitches and , yo, knit three. This will make the striping colors blend on the garter ridge side of shawl. Since I added these two rows I start the wedge on row 3.

Another alteration I made to the pattern is on the yarn over pattern rows. I want my holes to form a lattus grid instead of lining up in columns, so I repeated row 5 on every pattern row until I completed 4 pattern rows.

Note to beginners about changing colors every two rows. Do not cut your yarn when you start the second color. Instead, leave it and when you return to the edge that requires the color switch, knit the first couple of stitches very loosely, otherwise this outside edge of the shawl can pull in and bind the drape of the shawl.

I used a picot bind-off every fourth stitch. It made it pretty and stretchy!