Wednesday 27 February 2013

Lunasadh Fires shawl


I've been working on a number of shawl patterns and this one is the first to be finished.  I've had this Elvincraft yarn in my stash for a loooong time and it has been started off as a number of projects but I've never been happy with how the colours worked with the pattern so it was high time I came up with my own pattern.
Lunasadh Fires shawl is made using a 4mm hook and 800m of laceweight yarn.  It's a nice simple pattern, perfect for working on when you need a mindless project that can easily be picked up and put down at a moment's notice. (US terms in pattern)
1. Ch3, 3 hdc in 3rd ch from hook, ch1, 4hdc in same space, turn
2. Ch2, 2 hdc in first, hdc in next 3, in centre ch sp work *hdc, ch1, hdc*, hdc in next 3, 2hdc in top of ch2, turn
3-9: Ch2, 2hdc in first, hdc across to centre ch sp, *hdc, ch1, hdc* in ch sp, hdc across to last st, work 2hdc in last st, turn
10: Ch3 (counts as hdc, ch1), hdc in first (beginning v st made), *ch1, sk1, hdc* across to centre ch sp, work *hdc, ch1, hdc, ch1, hdc* in ch sp, *ch1, sk1, hdc across, in last st work *hdc, ch1, hdc* (v st), turn.
11-24: Work as rows 3-9
25: Repeat row 10

Continue with 14 rows of solid hdc and every 15th row as an eyelet row.  My shawl had 5 eyelet rows and 6 solid hdc sections.  Block as needed.

This pattern would be good to experiment with adding a lace border but I didn't feel that would work with this yarn as it is too busy.

This pattern is for personal use only.  Enjoy :)

busy busy busy!

From late Autumn until the end of Winter I can usually be found making hats for a local company, this year I have made nearly 200 hence my lack of blog posts!  However, hat making season is nearly at an end and I have managed to steal some time to update my blog.
I have now submitted my  shawl pattern to p-hop and I'm waiting to hear when it will go up on their site for download.  I ended up renaming the shawl as October Leaves shawl after discovering a multitude of patterns using the original name!
My testers creatingincanyon, knotanother1 and hookedonhook all tested in solid/semi solid colours and I have to say I think it looks very striking in a single colour yarn!

Back in the Summer we welcomed a new addition to the family, a young rescue greyhound called Marcus.  He made himself at home very quickly an unfortunately got hold of one of my shawls and chewed it so I ended up having to frog it back more than halfway!  I quickly forgave him though - one look at that pointy face and I knew he was sorry!  As Summer came to an end I turned my attention to making him a snood that would actually stay put after having to retrieve a knitted acrylic cowl out of a muddy puddle - not nice!  I decided that a pure wool snood would be perfect, it would stay dry and not soak up water like the acrylic version and if I made it in a ribbed stitch it should stay put as he raced around the park.  I'm pleased to say after months of wear it is still staying on although it has gone a little baggy now but I'm still pleased as it has been worn almost daily!  The pattern will go up on Ravelry for sale soon with £1 from each sale going to GRWE where we were lucky enough to find Marcus.