The Princess Shawl pattern by Sharon Miller from Heirloom Knitting is coming along quite nicely.
I am using Shetland Supreme yarn by J&S in white and needles US 0 or 2 mms.
I modified the pattern so the number of points on the initial edge would "make more sense" at least to me it does.
I knit 72 points and picked up at a rate of 12 stitches per point for a total of 864 stitches and added one right in the middle. From the 865 stitches 11 feathers are formed for the border. The edge and the border will form the two sides of the shawl. The triangle in the middle will create the center and will start with 3 stitches and increases as it goes up. At the same time the center gets attached to the border stitches. This part is going to be a bit tricky. What this means is that at a given point I will have 865 live stitches of gossamer yarn to deal with! Here is an schematic of the construction process so you understand what it is I am talking about.
I think that instead of putting them on a life line or leaving them on a needle I will just knit 4 rows of garter stitch in contrast yarn and pick up the stitches and attach them as I go. I will not have live stitches and it will be fairly easy to see the next one that needs to be picked up.
Sharon asked me to knit a swatch for gauge. Her's is 32 stitches to 10 cms with 1.5 mms needles. I started mine out that way and did not like it. It was too dense. I did not knit a swatch but I am measuring the point at its widest part where it has: 32 stitches. I guess I knit tighter than Sharon does hence the dramatic change in gauge.
This shawl seems to be a lot easier than the Wedding Ring Shawl. The construction is more involved but the knitting itself seems to be coming along faster and easier for me. I don't know if it is because I have the WRS under my belt or because the pattern has a lot more plain stitches intermingled with the pattern stitches. Either way it seems to be going a lot smoother.
A friend said she would not knit a gossamer shawl because she would have no use for it. I don't either! I already have the WRS and no daughters or sons or grandkids to use it in weddings or baptisms. I just love to knit them and love the finished garment. Does it really have to have a final destination? I think not.
9 comments:
Oh my! Oh my! It's incredible! Words fail me--it gives me that frisson that all exquisite objects produce along my backbone.
It's gorgeous, but you didn't post enough pictures.
This will be exquisite. Looking forward to another look ... and feel!
Beautiful! I need to get mine started again!
Perhaps I will try your number of edging points instead.
I second the request for more photos please.
It's lovely. And such an undertaking for so undefined a destination. There's something spiritual in that, I am quite certain...
Blue skies!
Gorgeous! I hope someday I can knit something as lovely.
Hugs,
Paula
Beautiful! I don't know how you find time to knit and weave and do all the other crafts you enjoy so much. I love getting hints on what to do with the Princess from you. I like that you have more ease in your version and once I get back to the Princess I might end up doing the same!
Gack! No wonder I couldn't understand what you were talking about. Even looking at the diagram leaves me slightly confused. I find it absolutely amazing that people can knit these and even more amazing that people have designed them! It must be nice to have so much knowledge of knitting that you can complete such a complicated pattern. Give yourself a pat on the back.
Thanks for your helpful discussion on this. I've been monitoring several blogs and the Princess Diaries II on Ravelry, just to get a sense of what it will take to complete this. I know I can always count on you to point me in the right direction!
Sandy
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