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.

We have enjoyed the snow, the stillness, the light, the food, the family, the fun and joy of being together, and skyping Melissa, Tomas and Laurence in New Zealand, and I finished some of my knitting projects in time believe it or not.

While our family were driving from Switzerland to us in Haarlem in the Netherlands on Christmas Eve day – I finished the two hats for the boys – one purple, and one orange. I also went over the huge rug, bed cover, to be snuggled under mohair and faux fur piece to make certain all those ends were gone. And I found some ends of course.

I didn’t start the red socks – so those are IOU’s for JJ and for Morgan.

I did complete a cream cowl for Angelica the day before. It was knitted in 2 strands of Naturally Mist 1 ply Super fine Kid Mohair from New Zealand. It does look fantastic. It was knitted in the round from the neck down with 3 rows purl, 3 rows Knit – and increasing both the stitches and the numbers of rows of purl and knit. The cardigan will have to wait for another time. Angelica is from Chile and has extraordinary skin colour and the cream cowl looks great on her. I think this one might just make it into the patterns to come category as it looks really good.

I didn’t finish the capes and scarves so they are still in my unfinished object pile.

Because of the timing of completion of the hats and cowl I don’t have good photos – just snaps taken at present opening time. They have promised to send good photographs.

JJ is at work, the house is empty, and now I can just knit again – but somehow watching the birds eating the food we have placed outside in the tree I can see from my windows and the snowy scene around it keeps drawing me to it.