Friday, March 18, 2011

Shawl We Knit?

 I am a new knitter by most standards (going on 4 years) and I'm pretty much self taught.  I took a few classes at our LYS until it went out of business, so I got most of my basics, but the rest comes from trial and error, YouTube, friends, websites and magazines. I recently learned that I am a "thrower" when it comes to knitting.  I never knew how I knit has a name to it.  What's really funny is I learned to crochet when I was very young.  My Nona taught me "by copy".  She had a 2nd grade education (via Italy) and couldn't read or write.  So, when she taught me, she crocheted a block and then I would tear it apart and crochet it back.   I still have my many samples to refer back to.  But I digress.  When I crochet, I hold my yarn in my left hand and the hook in my right (not correctly either.  My mom used to say you hold it like a pencil.  I hold mine with almost a death grip, but not nearly as tight).  When I knit, I hold my yarn in my right hand and "throw" the yarn around the needle.  When I decided to take up kntting (right after my mom passed), I decided to do it right and take classes, thus the few that I took at our local store.  Since then, I've ventured out and tried socks (too big but I'm not giving up - they're on my "to do" list), hats and scarves (TONS of both), shrugs, dischlothes, and now..........shawls.  I am fascinated by knitted shawls.  And not just any knitted shawls, but lacy ones.  I'm not up to the "super fancy" shawls, but lacy ones, nonetheless. 

These past few months I have paired up with a friend of mine (Hi Rachael!) to knit a couple of shawls.  We are quickly realizing that there are more shawls that we want to knit than time.  I guess if I had to narrow what I like down about certain shawls, it would have to be easy to follow directions, stunning yet simple designs, the size of the needles and how quickly I can accomplish or finish them.  That being said, here is a list of what I am working on, have worked on and what I want to work on.  Maybe you might enjoy a few of them as well.  I am constantly on the lookout for patterns and I'm sure my list will continue to grow, but at least I can keep my wish list all in one spot.  Now, if I could only decide on the yarn to use for each one of them.....but that's a whole 'nother post.

http://knittingasfastasican.com/forest-canopy-shoulder-shawl/     (This was my very first one and I've made it at least 3 more times)

http://www.tuecherrausch.de/download/Die-WollLust-Wabenschal.pdf  (Ok, this isn't officially a shawl, but it's still lacey and I loved making it - I've made it at least two times)

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss10/PATTannis.php  (I just got done with this one and have yet to block it - I learned a lot with this pattern - especially how to CAST ON 363, YES, 363 stitches).  I plan on doing it again very soon. 
http://feministy.com/saroyan/  (Love this pattern so much I've made it 4 times)

My future plans:

http://stickfrossa.blogspot.com/2008/09/sjalmnster-annas-shawl.html

http://www.loopknitlounge.com/2010/05/loving-my-old-maiden-aunt/

http://www.zenyarngarden.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=938

http://stickchicky.blogspot.com/2008/06/waltz.html

http://www.missbabs.com/store-detail.php?cat=89&ID=8

There are more, but this is a start.  Maybe you'll enjoy a few of the ones I listed.  Now, any yarn suggestions? 

1 comment:

Rachael said...

I don't think you forgot a thing, except too many shawls, not enough yarn or time!