Knitting – Page 31 – New England's Narrow Road

So How Is The Mystery Knit-along Going?

I finished the first “clue” which is basically the beginning of the shawl pattern in the MKAL. I’m working with the yellow yarn, which show a different coloring all my photos. The second photo down is closest to the real color.

knitting a shawl — Assymetrical triangle shawl MKAL

I am proud of my self for getting through Clue 1 and finishing.

Now I have begun Clue 2 and it’s a different story.

My inexperience is beginning to show and slow me down. I’ve already made a bunch of mistakes, and asked a question in the forum. I’ll continue to knit, but I have a feeling my Clue 2 is not going to be so pretty.

I still consider this to be good experience for me. The only way to gain knitting experience is to knit! Stepping out of my comfort zone is needed to gain expertise. We learn from our mistakes.

The designer (Kirsten Kapur) of this shawl knit-along made it clear this was intended for experienced knitters. I can only blame myself if I am unable to finish. It has been fun, and I will continue until it’s obvious that my shawl will turn out a mess. Or, maybe I will be surprised and it won’t look so bad.

Clue #2 Started

After some trouble with the cdd (center double decrease) stitch, I began to move along on clue #2. Many fast knitters finished right away, but it will probably take me another week at least to get this part done. I have made bunches of mistakes, but I managed to get past them and move on.

The photo below is very close to the actual color of the yarn. It’s called “cumin” and is a Miss Babs yarn made of Merino wool and Tussah silk. In my head, I call the color “baby potty”, but I do like it. I have 2 more sections (40 rows each) before I finish this clue.

In the meantime, I continue to finish up the Spindrift Shawl. That one is turning out nicely. I’m adding the lavender picot bind off.

Nearly There For Clue #3

I’m part way through the last repeat for Clue #3. This has been a long one, but after one complete run through, the knitting got easier.

Two things have helped me greatly while doing Clue 2:

Add stitch markers at each 10 stitch repeat.
And mark off the 10 count repeat on my pattern print out. I simply added a little dot at the place where the next 10 stitches began. By doing these two things the pattern is broken up enough for me to catch a mistake sooner.

mystery knitting shawl knit along — Beginning my 3rd repeat on Clue #2

Thanks to the little freebies Miss Babs includes (cute stitch markers) I had them to use to mark my stitches.

And speaking of Miss Babs (one of my favorite yarn places to shop online), some of the knitters who have gone on to work Clue #3, which is available now, have been worried about running out of Color A yarn. Yesterday I read in the forum that the Miss Babs company has offered to send 20 extra yards of yarn to those who run out. In addition, if you need more yarn than that, they will give 20% off the purchase of an entire skein!

Miss Babs has beautiful yarn, gives away cool freebies with a purchase, and now is offering this! So many reasons to buy from them. I won’t know for a few days if I will run out of yarn, and hopefully not. My plan was to simply use another color, but I may ask for that 20 yards. I’d better get knitting.

I did run out of my Cumin yarn… see what happened next.

My First Mystery Shawl Knit Along (MKAL)

Ever see abbreviations while searching knitting yarn and patterns and wonder what that was all about? Until I found Ravelry, I was pretty clueless, but now I know KAL stands for “knit along” where knitters knit the same pattern at the same time and help each other out along the way.

“M” is For Mystery

Putting the “M” in front simply means that what we are knitting is a “mystery” to all but the designer. This MKAL (or MSKAL- because it’s a Shawl) takes place at Ravelry, with forum posts to update the group on what is happening, with photos as the project progresses… very cool! I love this idea of sharing when we are all doing the same thing.

I don’t know what made me jump in and join the knit along except that I thought it was about time to stretch my abilities. I’ve knit one complete shawl, and started a couple more, (still working on the Spindrift) but this one will be different, in a more difficult sort of way.

The pattern was on sale for $4.00 before the event began, so I thought I couldn’t loose. This is the first time I have purchased an online pattern to knit. Another reason I was interested in this project is that the item is an asymmetrical triangle shawl. It requires approximately 2 skeins of yarn, so it will be large.

I have ordered some lovely yarn from one of my favorite shops, Miss Babs, I chose the suggested “Woodbury” in yellow “Cumin” and light blue “Coventry” colors. Since I was a bit late in joining and ordering the yarn, I am still waiting for delivery. Yarn photo to come. (Update: yarn has arrived!)

yellow and blue balls of yarn — Balls of yarn are ready for knitting

June 22 – Clue #1 – Let the Fun Begin

The first “clue” (which is the beginning of the pattern) has been shared and lots of knitters have begun the shawl. I will be a little behind, but at least I have a chance to look at the pattern. It will be the most involved thing I have ever knit, so the challenge is real! Even so, there is an air of excitement that I am caught up in as (almost) everyone begins. I’m starting with the yellow Cumin color.

The clues are given out about once a week, with the last one coming July 27th. I have a feeling I will not be able to keep up, but eventually I will get there! This will take some real concentration on my part.

An Experienced Knitter Has Created This MKAL

The MKAL is by Kristen Kapur at Through the Loops and you can find her at Ravelry, or at her website: Kristenkapurdesigns.com. She has so many lovely patterns and does these KAL’s often it looks like.

The shawl directions are written very well, with charts and written instructions. I can’t read a chart yet, so I prefer to follow the written lines. My printer is giving me trouble too and I will need to print out the directions.

Give it a Try, or Wait Until the Next KAL

There is still time to buy into the knit-along. The pattern will cost $6.00 and you will be knitting with many others. I look forward to seeing the end products done by all the knitters in this group. They can share photos on the Ravelry forum pages, which makes this knit along thing so nice.

Read more about my progress on the page, “How is the Mystery Knit-along Going?”

Spindrift Shawl, Day 2 is About Choosing Yarn

I mentioned in a previous post that I would be knitting the Spindrift Shawl as a beginner shawl project.

The second e-mail from Helen at Curious Handmade arrived today. She talks about the yarn she choose for her pretty shawl, which is by the company “Top Draw Sock” in Australia, in colorway “Peace”. I will be using yarn from my stash, which is Miss Babs’ Yummy 2-ply fingering in colorway “Sorcerer”. (That’s it in my photo at the beginning before I did the winding.) I may not have quite enough to finish the shawl, so I may switch to the lavender yarn “Monkey Orchid” by Mrs. Crosby. I think they match well.

Shawl yarn from Miss Babs in fingering weight, and lavender DK by Mrs. Crosby

I am ready to knit a shawl that is easy. Once I began the Lionberry shawl, I had high hopes that I could do it. Sadly, I am frustrated with my inability to understand the instructions. I’m continuing to knit, but have changed to simple knit and purl rows in place of the intricate pattern (click the link to see how pretty this shawl is when knit correctly). My stitch count was off and I figured the pattern would end up a mess because of that.

With all the knitting projects currently in the works, I shouldn’t start another one. What can I say? The blue hat was scrapped, so I’ll let the Spindrift Shawl take it’s place.

I’m ready. The wooden size 5 needles will be used for the first 14 rows, then I will switch to the circular size 6 needles for the remainder of the shawl. By the way, I included my needle measuring gauge in the photo because I’d be lost without it. The ChiaoGoo (red cable circular needles) have the size printed on the metal, but it is tiny print. The Takumi bamboo straight needles also have the size on them, but using the gauge is just easier.

knitting needles and measuring ruler — Needles in two sizes are needed to begin the Spindrift Shawl

I do better work in the morning, so I will wait until then to begin this shawl pattern. I’ve never done the Backward Loop cast on, but it’s pretty simple.

As you knit, the body of the shawl will curl because of the stockinette stitches. It’s hard to believe, but once you get to the rows of holes, you are only 50% done! These last rows are long, but very easy to knit.

I’m now finishing up the last part of the shawl. The rows of knitting are separated by “holes” which make a lace look around the edge of the shawl.

spindrift shawl edge with holes — Knitting the bottom edge of the shawl

Here is a video that shows one way to do a picot bind off. It can be helpful when finishing the Spindrift Shawl.

Now I am working on the bind off. I ran out of yarn, and I knew I would, so I’m making the picot row lavender. The shawl is lumpy and bumpy, which will change once I block it. I’ve never knit anything that needed blocking, so this will be a first for me.

Making Sense of Knitting Talk

Knitting was a favorite pastime when I lived in the Northeast, but I never realized there were certain terms used, which I call “knitting talk”. This is probably because I was always alone when I knit. If I’d been part of a group I’m betting I would have heard them discuss “tinking” and “frogging”.

To “tink” is to un-knit. The word itself is “knit” backwards, which is what you do when you tink your work. When I first began knitting I couldn’t un-knit anything. I would make mistakes and just keep going! That’s why I only knit very simple scarves and hats! Tinking a few stitches is okay, or even a row, but beyond that I think I would lose my mind.

To “frog” something is to completely rip it out. Remove the needle and pull…. it’s so sad. Another useful thing I’ve learned is that some people use a lifeline. I’ve tried this a couple times and have not had success. Perhaps I am doing it incorrectly, but I can’t pick up those stitches once I get back to the lifeline.

Also, if the lifeline itself comes part way out of the project, you are in trouble. This just happened to me on a hat (pictured below). I had done all the k1,p1 rows for a wide, roll up brim, but when I began the top part of the hat I didn’t like it. NO problem, I had (smartly) added a lifeline. But as I frogged back, I realized that the lifeline was not completely around the needle!