I’m Knitting As Fast As I Can

I rarely, if ever, knit a pattern exactly as it’s written. Although the alterations I make are not mapped out in intricate detail, I usually have some idea of where I’m headed based on my experiences with past projects. I’ve luckily managed to avoid the frog pond, even when I’ve designed large, lace shawls completely from scratch.

Yesterday, my luck ran out.

I’ve been working on a shoulder shawl design using Judy’s lovely yarns. I decided to try a shape I’ve never played with before: a bottom-up crescent. I had a good idea of the rate and placement of the decreases to get the correct shaping and, voila, the prototype turned out perfect.

For the final version, I had the not-so-clever idea to fool with the placement of the eyelets in the upper portion of the shawl. Tossing aside any remnants of good sense, I plowed ahead with my ill-fated scheme, not stopping to knit even a tiny sample swatch.

To my credit, when I was about halfway through I knew it wasn’t going to work. But, hope mixed with denial is a powerful motivator. So I knit on.

Of course it didn’t work.

Instead of a lovely crescent shape, I have a strange hybrid: crescent on the bottom and inverted triangle on the top. It actually looks very interesting when it’s set out flat–a little like an aerial view of a bird with its wings spread–but it doesn’t sit nicely on the shoulders.

I haven’t frogged it just yet. Perhaps I need to drown my sorrow with some yarn purchases first. Or, maybe I should just sit quietly in the corner and admire the skein of fingering-weight singles I spun from Anne’s lovely merino roving in the Silk Road colorway.

A tribute to the quickly vanishing days of cursive writing.

The lace pattern used in the pointed ends of the Ink Spot Scarf resembles the nib of a fountain pen and the strong lines in the main section are representative of ruled notepaper.

Materials
Yarn: Habu A-1, 2/17 Tsumugi silk, 100% silk, 1 cone [450 yds; 48g].
Needle: U.S. size #5 (3.75mm), circular or straight, or any size that gives you the suggested gauge of 20 sts/24 rows = 4 inches (in stockinette stitch after blocking).

The scarf is knit in two identical pieces and joined at the center. Worked at the suggested gauge and in the suggested yarn, the finished scarf measures approx. 68 inches long (measured from point to point) and approx. 12 inches wide after blocking.

The lace pattern incorporates a stitch called a nupp. Nupps resemble flat bobbles and are worked by increasing into a stitch on the right-side and then purling 5 sts together on the wrong-side. Work the increases loosely and it will be easier to purl the 5 sts together.

The suggested yarn is a lightweight, 100% silk yarn with a tweedy texture. If you substitute yarns, I recommend a yarn with silk or linen content.

The cost of the pattern is $4.00 and all payments must be made through PayPal. To purchase the pattern, simply click on the link below:

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Isn’t grafting the most magical thing . . . ever!

Thanks to everyone who offered to test knit the scarf version of the Fountain Pen shawl.  I’ve made arrangements with two volunteers, but I kept a folder with the names of everyone who offered.  Once I get some more charts worked up for my other ideas, I’ll come knocking.