This is my Textured Shawl, you know. The one Kristine observed started out life as a moth, which has since evolved into a stingray. What it has not evolved into is, well, a shawl. My feet will give you some sense of scale, and while they are undeniably large, they are at least half the length of any self-respecting triangular shawl. I have only enough yarn left for a few more rows of the garter edge; the two skeins I have are apparently all I’ll ever be able to get. So I’ve been doing constant math trying to make sure I don’t run out.
As I near the last row, I’m not sure it’ll be big enough to qualify as a kerchief. I may need to select a small child to give it to.
But it’s puzzling. This is the hazard of knitting from something like Orlane’s Textured Shawl Recipe, of course. She’s given no gauge or dimensions. She says she used 2 skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas’ Suri Merino (DK, 164 yds/skein), and the Ravelry page shows that she used US9 needles. So I can’t know how my gauge compares to hers, but I’m using 2 skeins of A Verb for Keeping Warm’s Pioneer (worsted, 160 yds/skein) and US8 needles, so we should at least be in the same ballpark, right? Because I’m worried about running out, I knitted a row or two less, here and there, than she says she knitted — maybe a total of 5 or 6 rows less. Sure, her gauge could be really loose (although it doesn’t appear to be), but twice as loose? Doubtful. So I’m at a loss as to how mine is so much smaller than hers.
Also, raise your hand if you think this rhombus of mine will block out to a proper triangle! I’m hoping for multiple blocking miracles here.
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I also hope everyone’s weekend is grand! Tell me what you’re working on, if you’re so inclined …
I’ve knit this pattern several times and actually just started another one last night in fingering weight (planning on using 2 skeins/800 yards, US6 needles). In DK, I used about 525 yards on US8 and it blocked well–from a rhombus, into a triangle. http://ravel.me/sheabecker/tsr3 is the link to my project. But Orlane does call hers a small shawlette; when I’ve wanted a more sizeable one, I’ve used 3 skeins of worsted (Berroco Ulatra Alpaca).
It occurred to me after posting this that she could be also be very petite, whereas I’m on the tall side. So that could explain some of the difference. Your mega version looks beautiful.
I think it’ll block out. Give it a good long soak and then be aggressive with the pinning. If it’s really too small to be a proper kerchief, you could also stitch the ends together to have a sort of make-shift bandana/cowl – it would look really cute under a denim jacket.
This is the first time I’ll really have to aggressively block anything, but I really am concerned it’s not even kerchief sized. We’ll see!
Blocking does work miracles. I think you’ll be fine. It’s so beautiful! I do hope you are able to wear it.
I’ve been sewing, sewing, sewing and trying to decide what to cast-on next. Or what to finish.
What are you sewing?
I think it will block out beautifully. Every single shawl I’ve ever made (and there may have been a few…) looks like this at the end of the knitting process! Plus, it looks like a pattern that you can really agressively block and after that, if it’s still small, it will still be lovely :)
Oooohhhh. Bummer. That “no way to get more yarn” part – yikes.
hold it. now you all have me curious about the art of blocking — and re-blocking. can you save a sweater that’s gone askew when it’s an adult, too?
Maybe! Depends how “askew” it is, I suppose.
it’s so pretty in the natural wool. even if it is not what you want after blocking, you could undo and reuse it in something else?
Fingers crossed for you that it blocks out. It is so pretty!
If no, could you add a few rows in another yarn…maybe another natural yarn, but different composition so that it comes out as a subtle striping? Frog back the garter edge and slip in a row of something with a touch of alpaca for a slight halo/contrast, then finish with the garter edging…or even do another two rows -new yarn/pioneer/new yarn edge?
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, though!
If it doesn’t block out as big as you want, I think you could add a cute button, toggle or shawl pin and wear it like a kerchief. It is so beautiful.
It will absolutely block to a triangle…especially if you use blocking wires to help make that top edge straight.
Thanks for the encouraging thoughts, everybody. Unfortunately, there’s been no time to knit this weekend, so I don’t know anything more yet.
For something you really want to block out big, you might want to go back after a few hours of blocking and pull it out even farther, misting it again at this point… I’ve managed to stretch out a Noro kerchief I made (and ran out of yarn too soon) to a wearable size this way… I think I stretched it our further three or four times.
That’s a great suggestion — thank you!