You probably thought I’d forgotten, frogged, or fallen off the edge of the earth after my post, “two free shawl patterns”, re: the Holden Shawlette free knitting pattern, at the end of July. What with an earthquake, a hospitalization, a wedding and a hurricane, it’s a near wonder, not one of those “3 f’s” failed to happen.  Please read more…

I finished the triangle scarf in good time for our son’s wedding, just didn’t get it blocked, and as usual, changed my mind about wearing the “squirrel” colorway anyway. It’s a great color for fall  and will be useful as a shawl or scarf all year long. I loved the knitting pattern and found it easy to follow without much counting at all. To read the how I started the Holden Shawlette project, read “Knitting a first lace shawl: two free patterns”

It’s best to count as the free pattern prescribes, as it will save you lots of frustration and time; as I remember, the 6th row as integral to getting it right. It only took about a week to knit and the stitch definition is most pleasing for a first lace shawl.

These photos were taken outside today, Labor Day, bright and sunny, so the colorway is a little washed out, but you can see, it will do easily with brown or black.

Blocking is important o obtain the points of the lace pattern, something I never seem to have enough room for and always end up spreading knitting projects out on the guest room bed, oh, for a dedicated crafts room.

All in all, the Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes is a lovely project, an easy shawl pattern, one that you will enjoy knitting and wearing. You’ll find more free easy shawl patterns at knitnscribble.com.

Now, on to my next project.

Besides getting ready for my first ever crafts fair in October at Channing Church in Newport, I’m knitting “Levenwick” by Gudrun Johnston, part of a new exciting collection called “Wool People” by Brooklyn Tweed and Jared Flood, featuring his ” Shelter” yarn. Each design is available as a separate purchase via Ravelry or Brooklyn Tweed. You will want them all!

copyright Jared Flood

Levenwick is an asymmetrical cardigan, knit from the top-down in reverse stockinette stitch on a circular needle. Raglan sleeves are knit separately on dpns.

Shelter yarn is without a doubt a gorgeous, free trade, American yarn, but a little out of my price range. I chose Plymouth’s Paca Tweed @8.95 a skein, instead of the $12.50 yarn called for and was very disappointed at first with the Paca Tweed fiber consistency, but when I remembered knitting kids’ ski sweaters with Lopi yarn years ago, I changed my mind.  Paca Tweed is very much like Lopi Lite.  But of course, there will be adjustments to make in the pattern, using this cheaper yarn, as the gauge is similar, but not the same as the lovely Shelter.

But take a look at first choice, beautiful Shelter colorways with quite generous yardage…oh, for an ideal  knitting budget!

Plymouth Yarn Paca Tweed, Chestnut

The cardigan begins with the Old Shale patterned collar and is worked on a  circular needle.

Old Shale collar, Levenwick, Wool People

Fun to knit project. The increases for sleeve and body are done with an “invisible increase purlwise”, an interesting new technique for me, and many others, as I have read on the Ravelry group for the Levenwick pattern. (Look closely at the sleeve increases at the left of the photo below, not really invisible.)

Presently, I am waiting for a new circular needle to arrive, an 80 cm, 32 inch, longer US 7 to continue the project.

WS view of Levenwick, no flash