I’ve been working on my own shawl design, and it’s been a bit of trial and error as I work out all the kinks in it. The initial idea wasn’t too hard to figure out because it’s a modified zig zag pattern, but my biggest issue was working out how much to cast on for the correct length. I started working with math, using a block to work out how long it should be. However, either I miss-measured my block or I miss-measured how long the shawl ought to be. After I got a few rows into the pattern I realized both that the needles I was using were too short and that the shawl I had cast on was so wide it would be closer to a blanket. I had to frog that first cast on and shortened it by about three pattern repetitions. I got through that new cast on and a few rows of the pattern again, then realized I still hadn’t shortened it enough. It was closer to the right amount but would have more overhang than I wanted so I frogged the second cast on as well and re-cast on, again. This time it was the right length and I’ve been trucking along ever since.
Thankfully I’ve gotten the pattern mostly down. Now the trouble is the yarn. The yarn I’m working with itself isn’t the problem, it’s pretty nice to work with and works up well into the pattern. The problem is I didn’t pick up enough of it. I’m currently stuck half-way through the shawl because I thought I bought enough yarn for what I wanted, but it is taking more to get to the correct length for the design.
It’s been a list of good and bad news in trying to get more yarn. Unluckily, the color I bought was on clearance at my local Michael’s and they don’t have any more in stock. Luckily, I did find a store online that still carried the color and was able to order some. Less lucky, since it’s two balls from what (might?) be a discontinued color (since I couldn’t find it even on the yarn brands own website) there is no way to know if the color will be from a dye lot that matches the dye lot I bought. Since it is a self-stripping yarn I hope that once the new yarn gets in the color will be close enough that any variations in the color will either not be noticeable or be small enough that it will look like it was intentional. If it is a jarringly different dye lot I’ll be back at square one trying to figure out what to do. But until the new yarn arrives I’m going to try to think positive!
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and if I don’t get a chance to post again before the year ends then I wish you all also a Happy New Year!
