Doesn't the shawl look pretty all bunched
together and ruffled up? It looks pretty stretched out, too. But for
the moment, that difficult to do. 552 stitches fit better on the
needle than 732 (and knit up faster too!) but it's still not possible
to stretch out the edge very much. In another dozen rows, it will
be easier. With every row, for that matter it will be easier!
The edging is almost done—just 3 more
rows (the beading) and I'll be ready to start the body of the shawl.
Then it will be 4 decreases, every other row. If I start with about half
the stitch count (240) and and half the decreases, (2) and simplify 2
decreases every other row, to 1 per row.. 240 rows from now I'll be
done!
Normally, I get about 8 rows to an
inch—but with lace (and a much larger needle!) I'll easily get 10
rows to an inch—240/10=24 inches (a nice deep shawl) Blocking it
will easily add another 12 inches. So I can expect a 36 inch deep
shawl! It's going to be a big shawl—a real shawl, not a little
shawlette/shaped scarf. I've planned on using 3 skeins—but just to
be sure, I have 2 more—In case they are needed. If I don't need
them—the extra skeins will become a pair of socks!
I still haven't settled on a pattern--stitch pattern that is. The shape is a modified triangle. There
will be a center back panel (60 stitches) that will slowly be
decreased till there are half that number, plus 2 triangular wedges
either side of the center back panel—sort of like a Shetland shawl
shape. I am thinking of one pattern for the center back, and other
pattern for the 2 triangular wedges. My groups of stitches have
lots of factors—so I have lots of choices!
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Last night on Ravelry, some one asked
about an other—new to me-- cast on (they wanted a matching bind
off.) So I played with the cast on—and with the selvage some one
suggested. --OOPs--I miss read the post.. It was for a matching bind
off--which I didn't try. (Maybe I'll make a swatch later or tomorrow)
I also made a video of the cast on--since I know sometimes, it's easier to learn visually--and so you can see what the cast on edge looks like. You can also get an idea form the images of the swatches.
The first one is with
stocking knit immediately after the cast on, and the second one with seed stitch
(I didn't do a ribbed swatch, but the results would be similar to the seed)
On the second (seed stitch swatch) I
tried 2 different selvage stitches.(see OOPs)
The right side is another selvage stitch—which is a
slightly better match . This selvage stitch is a basic YO, K2tog, every row. (There is a much better image of the cast on edge, and selvage on the video).
I am not enamored with this cast on.
Well, not as a general cast on. It it could work for socks—It is
rather stretchy, and it does look nicer when stretched out. And it
does looks better if you follow the cast on edge with any knit and
purl combo—be it ribbing or seed stitch.--It is very similar to the
TilyBuddy cast on--which is also a pretty cast on, and one that looks especially good with either 1 X 1 ribbing or 2 X 2 ribbing. Since this cast
on is so similar, I suspect, it too would look good with either 1 X 1 or 2 X 2 ribbing.
I am always interested in stretchy, attractive cast ons for socks—this one might work for that. It
might also for a baby blanket. But since the cast on edge wants to draw in
(and this is why it looks good with ribbing or seed stitch) I don't
think it would really be a good choice for blanket--unless you began or ended the blanket with ribbing. It might work
for other baby items—a hat say.
And of course, this video of cast on has been
added to the collection of cast ons known to me on my web page—so
you can always find it again easily. If you haven't visited my web page recently, do stop by. There are new cast ons and new videos. (and lots of little details edited to make it easier to read).
