#9 Shawl, 2014

10/11: Overall, My half Pi-shaped shawl is HUGE! It’s definitely a warm, cozy wrap. The pattern is a very easy to knit, but does keep you challenged in a good way. I would definitely knit this again and because I knitted with bulky yarn, it was a fast knit. This pattern will be going in my gift knitting library.

Pattern Modifications: Followed the knitting instructions, except for these two:

1. Made an impromptu design change from the original pattern because I only had about 3 yards left of the Eco+ after I finished knitting Row 6. Luckily, I had some leftover super bulky Thick and Quick Charcoal Grey.
2. I binded off with my preferred BO - Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off -- using a US13 needle and it blends well between knitting with the bulky Eco+ and binding off with the super bulky Thick and Quick - Better than I imagined, does not look like I ran out of yarn and the grey was an after thought!

IMHO, if I knitted this again with a solid, I can definitely see knitting the last 6 rows with another color to bring out the border. I also see this knitting this in warm, toasty yummy alpaca.

Unblocked: 57 in (w) x 22 in (h)
Blocked: 76 in (w) x 27 in (h)

10/8: Started late August in knitting another pattern with this Eco+, but I didn’t like how it was turning out and was getting bored knitting so I frogged it. Found this pattern last month when Kate Atherley was offering it for free for a limited time and thought Sick Day, although I am not sick as I begin to knit this, might be better suited for this yarn.

As I was knitting this over the weekend watching the Giants playoffs, I am so glad I made the switch. So far it’s relatively easy-to-remember pattern repeats, not much purling and only one row of YOs at the last of every repeat.

I purchased this yarn years ago for the particular pattern I ended up frogging so I’m glad I am finally using this Eco+ that does take up room in my stash.

Pattern Mods:

1. Using a US11 needle, instead of what is listed since I went “Bulky.”
2. Thinking about turning this shawl into a poncho/cape by sewing a couple of buttons. Will see if this gets large enough …