ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

I have just finished a little black shawl/scarf.

I had only one 50g ball of Naturally Woodland 12 ply (100m), colour 08 (black with tiny little flecks of bright colours – pinks, turquoise, blues, orange etc) for the body which I have knitted it as per my Danish shawl pattern. I had decided to add the frill / flounce at the point where the one ball of Woodland was knitted up and that is just what I have done.

I was quite unsure at that point if it really would be wide enough to use as a scarf. But I carried on and added a flounce using 2 strands of Naturally Mist Mohair in black, knitted together. The flounce is also in Garter stitch like the body with Yarn Over increases used to create it. At the side edges of the flounce I continued the increases as per my Danish shawl pattern.

The final two rows and the cast off edge were 1 strand Naturally Mist knitted together with another yarn which has a black main thread with tufts of yarn in pinks, purples and greys. I do not know the name of the yarn.

It looks great and fortunately is wide enough to wrap as a scarf, and also big enough to wear over the shoulders as a mini shawl.

There were 2 reasons I decided to knit this shawl now.

One is that my friend in New Zealand who is testing my Danish Shawl pattern was having trouble with my written pattern. We have discovered during this process that she is a visual knitter – and needed a chart, which I have created and she is winging her way through the shawl. My knit 2, Yarn Over, knit to marker, Yarn Over in knit – shorthand was not suitable for her. It has been great for me because I am much clearer now on writing the pattern and also I now have the chart which I will include with the pattern. She cannot be the only person new to yarn overs / eyelets that cannot see what will be created following my written instructions.

The other reason was that I needed a simple edge – and I have created a funky, but simple flounce or frill for the Danish Shawl to include with the pattern as well as the crochet edge option.

Something I had not considered is just how useful this pattern will be for a funky scarf / shawl, in this small size.

Naturally Woodland is 77% mohair, from New Zealand.

There are various versions of this jacket and the pattern will be for the sleeveless option only. The first pattern will be in English only, and I will follow with a pattern in Danish, and maybe in Norwegian. Danish is quite possible, Norwegian is much more difficult. But the first edition of this pattern will be in English only.

The way the jacket is knitted takes advantage of the varigated yarns to create the look of free form intarsia. This makes this a garment which satisfies one of the winter trends for 2010/2011 because it looks like a patchwork of colour and Patchwork is in – or so they are saying. Me, I just like the colours.

Gallery on Facebook

All the jackets above are created from my original basic pattern for the sleeveless jacket – believe it or not.

This sleeveless jacket pattern will be a doddle in English but a real challenge for me in Danish as my written Danish is very very average, and then my Norwegian is, well it is really nonexistant. That is I do not really know any Norwegian. I will be bribing the requesters for the help I need with the testing and checking of the pattern.

Fortunately I know one very well (my Danish cousin) and the other I am getting to know (lovely Trine from Norway). I hope they read this – which is why I have written the words down – they will need to be my testers.

But of course I am digressing – the real purpose of this post is to tell you that I will also create the pattern for lighter weight yarns as well, as the style is classic and interesting, as you can see in the version below with long fitted sleeves and shaped peplum and without the shawl collar.

I think this jacket will work well in a double knitting (8 ply / worsted weight yarn), making it a great in between seasons jacket.

I am not committing to writing the pattern in any other languages however. I shall get the sleeveless one completed in the three languages and then see how well I survived the process and then decide.

Both versions of this jacket were included in the Colour Play exhibition held in the Randolph St Gallery, at Whitecliffe School of Fine Arts and Design campus in 2007. A Vogue Knitters Tour Group from USA hosted by Nicky Epstein and Carla Scott attended the opening.

Peplum