I started this as a last minute project to take to Knit Nation with me, but a test run at my knitting group the day before was enough to find out that whilst I could knit at it in front of the tv with no problems, as soon as I started to talk, I almost instantly forgot what I was doing. So it was on hold for a few days, but since then it’s been my tv in the evening project, and I finished it on Friday night.
I blocked it yesterday – it was so easy with my blocking wires, with its straight edges, and by this morning it was dry and ready.
I’m very pleased with it, it’s blocked out beautifully, and is a good size (62” x 26”).
And it looks good both ways round.
The pattern is Onerva, it’s a free download on Ravelry, but it’s in Finnish, so to make life easier I used needlediva’s very useful chart, and meljay’s instructions for the top edging, which seemed very appropriate, as it was seeing her beautiful version in person back in January which inspired me to make it in the first place.
The shawl is unusually made from the bottom up, so it’s easy to stop at any point. I managed six and a half repeats.
I like the straight edges too, they’re a nice change from points.
I was determined to use as much yarn as possible, I did lots of workings out so I could do as much pattern as possible before I started the top edging, then did another row because I hadn’t realised that I had to start with a wrong side row.
I cast off very quickly (because it does make the yarn go further, oh yes) and had a whole 16” of yarn left. That’s plenty.
The yarn is MadelineTosh sock, I loved using it for the shawl, but it’s very loosely plyed, so I’m not sure how socks made from it would wear. At £18 per skein I don’t think I’ll be trying it to find out.
The colourway is Logwood, it’s a pretty semi-solid which hasn’t really come out on the photos – I think it’s perfect for this pattern, anything more variegated would look odd with the horizontal stripes through the diagonal pattern.
So what did I take to knit at Knit Nation? It was a last minute decision, mainly prompted by the fact that the yarn was already balled up, and that I’d made the pattern before.
Garter heel socks by Susan Lawrence, altered to use fingering weight yarn over 64 stitches. The yarn is Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in the Black Purl colourway. I finished the first one whilst chatting to Fiona at Grace and Jacob yesterday, I’ll be onto the next one soon.
I thought it was just me who thinks knitting faster makes the yarn last longer!
It’s lovely.
It’s a well known fact! ;)
Thank you – I’m very pleased with it.
So jealous that you went to knit nation! I”ve never seen a garter stitch heel before. Looks interesting. Is it easy? I can’t wait to try some yarn from Lorna’s Lace. I’ve never used it, but have seen it everywhere, and people seem to love it!
Knit Nation was great! I’m so glad I went – and am looking forward to the next one already :)
The garter heel is very easy, as the garter stitch hides the wraps, so you don’t have to pick them up. The pattern does say to do a small (eight row) heel flap before you start it though, and then when you’ve finished you pick up stitches down each side and decrease to make a mini-gusset, it works nicely.
And the Lorna’s Laces yarn is lovely to work with.
Your shawl is beautiful!! Thanks for the tips on this great pattern too. I have yarn that would be perfect in it but the Finnish might have scared me off if I hadn’t read your workaround.
Thank you! I enjoyed knitting it once I’d worked out the pattern – and I’m very pleased with the result :)
Lovely shawl! It’s so satisfying when you finish a project with just a scrap of yarn left over :)
Thank you!
It’s proof that knitting fast really does work ;)
Helen your shawl is beautiful, what a lovely colour!
Thank you! I’m very pleased with it :)
Your shawl is gorgeous, congratulations