The Roundabout Shawl (KUAS Designs Pattern)

Good afternoon, dear knitters. I am almost ashamed to admit that nearly a year has passed since I last logged on. Between my Facebook group page for this blog and Instagram, I am still keeping up with sharing my makes, but this blog has seriously been neglected, and for that I am sorry.

I just wanted to peek in here to give you this update, as this pattern is fresh off the online press:

"The Roundabout Shawl"

I don't know if you remember the first version, the "Roundabout Shawlette," by this version uses aran weight yarn and has a lot more shaping. I'd like to think of it as a cosier version on those very cold days.

 See how narrow those are? The original is more scarf-like.

This pattern is beautiful in it's simplicity. The I-cord edging and lace panel are all connected, and it is knit up sideways. I have spent hours writing up a pattern with charts, the written out version, progress charts and colored markers to remind the maker of inc's/dec rows, because although there's eyeltes running the lenth of the shawl, some of it is just decorational.

Materials: 
Yarn: 425 yds/170g of aran (8 wpi) wool yarn.
This pattern used Yarn Bee’s Chloe yarn in the “Bisque” color.
Note: The lace panel will not block out properly if your yarn does not have at least 50% or more wool in it.
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles, plus a darning needle.
Notions: 2 st makers, 150+ Blocking pins, a blocking mat, 1-2 oz of no-rinse wool wash & a towel

Gauge and measurements:
22 sts= 4’’and 34 rows= 4’’ in Garter Stitch
Prior to blocking: 58’’ long and 12’’ at widest point in main body; 2’’ lace panel section
After blocking: 68’’ long and 13.5’’ wide at the widest main body section; 2.5’’ lace panel section

Abbreviations: CO= cast on K=knit P=purl St(s)=stitch(es) M=(stitch) marker Sl=slip st k2tog=k 2 sts together Ssk=sl 2 sts each knit-wise, then sl the left needle into the front of those sts and k them together Yo=yarn over BO= bind off RS=right side WS=wrong side S2kp=slip 2 sts knit-wise, k1, pass the 2 sl sts over

Pattern Notes: the largest sized lace pattern chart and helpful progress charts can be found on the last page. The increase/decreasing shaping is always done on the RS of the work after the lace panel st marker. You’ll find yellow boxes marking those shaping rows. However, note that there will always be yarn-over holes on the RS of the work! Some yarn-overs are decorative (“sl m, yo, k2tog/ssk”) and some function as part of the increases/decreases. The 3 sl sts at the end of the RS of the work is your “I-Cord edging.”

 I just love the clean look of that I-Cord edging.

See you soon! I'm off to pick the twins up from the bus (they just turned 8!) and work on some Christmas knits that Sam requested. I hope you are enjoying fall!

New Release! The Roundabout Shawlette!

Here's the third and final KUAS Designs release for October (can you hear me huff out of breath?):

the Roundabout Shawlette PDF

A shawlette is a smaller-scale shawl that resembles a scarf. This shawlette is quick and easy, with a clean I-cord edge and pretty lace border that is conveniently knit on one side of the shawlette. If you take care to block the lace edging out after you finish, the edging should resemble roundabout road paths.

Skill: intermediate

Materials: 
Yarn: Less than 375yds or 150g of sport weight wool yarn.  Note: Solid or tonal colorways will look best. For blocking purposes, use a blend with real fibers.
Pattern seen using Knitpicks’ Hawthorn Sport Multi Yarn in “Arbor Lodge” and “The Pearl.” Needles: US 6 (4 mm) straight or circular needles and a darning needle.
Notions: 2 st makers, 150+ Blocking pins, a blocking mat, 1-2 oz of no-rinse wool wash & a towel

Gauge and measurements:
Garter stitches: 20 sts= 4’’ 39 rows= 4’’
Prior to blocking: 53.5’’ long and 7.25’’ at widest point
After blocking: 78’’ long and 8’’ wide at the widest main body section; Roundabout lace edging width: 2.25’’ wide

This blue one marks my third time knitting this shawlette! Let's just say I did my fair share of test knitting it, along with other test knitters the past month or so!

Let's take a look into the past:

Roundabout Shawlette #1

(the one that started them all, but had a crochet edging around the lace)

Roundabout Shawlette #2

Roundabout Shawlette #3

 I will be giving away these two beauts tomorrow to the person who I gave #1 to (she commissioned me to knit two more since she loved hers so much). So I photographed them as much as I could as they will later be out of my hands. I should think they look rather cozy next to eachother, no?

I find that the lace pattern is simple, yet mesmorizing in it's own way.

The sunlight can catch all of those beautiful eyelets surrounding the main garter roundabout section in just the right way.

Which color would you choose for this shawlette? 
I look forward to my next pattern writing endeavors (mittens? hat?). Until next time, happy knitting. Another podcast is coming your way soon.

Fo: Reyna #2

My Reyna #2 has been laying finished, blocked to my new foam mats for several days. At first, it was left alone to dry before heading out to the Wisconsin Dells for the weekend, but then I just got busy. You know how it goes, I bet.

I used my own personal KUAS Yarns fingering weight skein of "Fairy Cove" for this project, and have a like-dislike impression of this colorway used for mesh lace. It's "nice," but I think these colors work best blended together into stockinette stitch.

I extended the pattern a little bit, so I played a horrible match of "yarn chicken" (the race to finish a project before the yarn runs out) for this one. It was a match so horrible that I lost to 29 sts in the bind-off. I had to pull an emergency "slide remaining sts onto a spare needle, then psso all the way across starting from the very end and back to where I ran out of yarn" because I didn't have yarn close enough to be a proxy yarn. It was a tight faux-bind-off, but it did the trick. I had about 435 yds for this project, and could have used about 437, possibly.

Pattern: Reyna Shawl by Nora Laivola (free Ravelry pattern)

Yarn: 1 skein KUAS Yarns fingering weight yarn in the colorway "Fairy Cove"; 435 yds

Needles: size US 5 circulars

Start date: 4/18/16     Completed: 6/10/16

Mods:  Lengthening the last mesh portion, as well as the last garter section, adding visable eyelets running down the middle of the shawl. 

I decided to make the eyelets in the middle of the shawl visible for two reasons: to help open up the shawl while blocking, and for visual appeal. To do this, instead of knitting/purling the increases through the back of the loop, just knit/purl them as normal.

I think that this is a great shawl for any beginner. Just be sure to either knit the pattern in sport/worsted yarn if following the pattern exactly, or to extend the bottom of the shawl for 10-15 rows if working fingering weight yarn, because the shawl most likely will not be as long you wish for. At least that is my opinion and the common census for this pattern from users. 

Next up: finishing my "Skimmer Socks" that are short, no-show socks. Have a happy weekend!

WIP: Reyna #2

I just couldn't help myself. I had to cast on for another Reyna Shawl.

I was originally planning on knitting my second one using sport or worsted weight yarn, but I couldn't help but wonder what my handpainted sock yarn might look like in this shawl.

So I decided to go with my "Fairy Cove" sock yarn that I dyed back in 2007. It's been waiting patiently for 9 years to become something wonderful. 9 years. Wow. I really should open that sock drawer more often.

Spring is finally here, and it's wonderful to see plants come back to life. This photo was taken on my back stone patio by my lavander plant.

 Pattern: Reyna by Noora Laivola

Needles: Size US 4 circlar needles (Knitpicks' Caspian interchangeable tips)

Yarn: KUAS superwash blend fingering weight yarn, colorway "Fairy Cove" (lilac, periwinkle, silver, white and brown)

Start date: 4/18/16

The colors really look better in real life. I took this photo during twilight time, so the silver is not even showing up.

I hope you are enjoying the warming of the weather. Bring your project outside, sip on some tea or coffee and enjoy life to its fullest.

FO: Sweet November Shawl

 

I'm excited to announce that I completed a decently large object before the new year rings in. 

Project: Sweet November Shawl by Caryl Pierre (inspired by the shawl in the movie Sweet November)

Yarn: 1 skein of S.R. Kertzer Tweed Montage (247 yds)

Needles: Size US 10.5

Mods: Since this yarn is bulky, and to not fret about not having enough fringe yarn, I stopped the increases when I reached 157 sts. 

Pattern Review: It is a very nice, very simple lace pattern for beginners to advanced knitters. I highly recommend this fast knit.

My 5-year old son was the photographer of all of these portrait type photos, except for me in the mirror. He's got quite an eye. He told me to make sure that I hold my wings out strong, like a bird! lol!

 It's a very trendy shawl (or scarf).

On my KUAS facebook group page, I had some requests to show action photos of me blocking this shawl out with my new blocking wires from Knitpicks.

Basically, I stuck the wire evenly throughout the cast-off edge and selvage edge (I needed to use more than one wire per side) and then stretched it out as much as I could and pinned it down similar to how you would without the wires. The blocking wires makes your edge much straighter and less wave-like, so I do recommend trying them out. It was a little bit of a pain trying to stick a thick, blunt wire through wet, bulky yarn though.

What's started on the needles for the New Year?

A chunky Seed Stitch hat using Lopi wool in a steel type of color.
Have a wonderful New Year's Eve and day! 

Reyna Shawl

I'm super pumped that I finished my "impulse" shawl: the Reyna Shawl.

I really cast on this shawl in the middle of knitting my fall cardigan (which I inevitably put on hold during that time), but I'm more pumped that I started and finished this shawl without hibernated it. In under a month! (23 days.)

Like, I actually worked on it ALL the time, Scoob.

(Sorry, my kids have been watching a lot of Scooby Doo lately.)

I used my handspun wool that I finished spinning several months back. It was just too pretty to stash forever. I'm not sure how many yards I used, but I went through two skeins, and the largest of the two skeins pretty much went the whole span on the shawl.

It took me much longer than expected because I knit extra rows. Like, 22 extra rows! I wanted to make sure that it was able to wrap around my neck completely...and I'm glad that I did, because even after heavy blocking, it still isn't as wide as it could be.

So, if you see this, and MUST make it, do a lot more mesh rows and garter rows toward the end.

Are you soaking up the fall leaves lately? Make sure you get out and take it all in before the end of the peak!

Pattern:  Reyna by Noora Laivola 

Yarn: Handspun in fingering/sport weight in "Midnight Tides" (400-450 yds?)

Needles: US4 (3.5mm)

Start: September 23, 2015

Completed: October 15, 2015 

This was an enjoyable knit. Very easy. It was about 4 rows of actually patterning, which is only 2 rows per type: mesh or garter. Easy Peasy.

Enjoy. I hope that was enough knitting eye-candy for today. Happy knitting.
P.S...I'm finally on Instagram. :)

Podcast Episode 8: the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Absolutely Bad Podcast

I have been clicking away at the Fall Cardigan (that's not the real name) lately. I am at the hip increases. I figure that if I am going to design a cardigan, it might as well have some shape and pockets. Nice, deep pockets.

There's a podcast at the end.
It's awful, but whatever...keeping it real.

 I just casted on the Reyna Shawl using my handspun yarn.

I recently hosted a "Blind Wine Tasting" party with a few girlfriends. It was a smash hit! Or were we smashed? I forget.

No, I actually only poured 1 oz. samples of each wine so my friends could drive home safely! Plus, we gorged on a potluck style buffet of appetizers!

Red and white wines were separated and the bags were numbered.

There were 10 wines altogether! I told everyone to bring 1 white or red wine, and if they could, a really, really, really cheap wine...because sometimes they win the taste test!

 I had score cards and a little guideline for scoring...taste, appearance, body, etc.

My cheese and fruit platter (there was so much food by the end!). I had a mustard seed Gouda, regular Gouda (I love Gouda, what can I say?) a mango chipotle cheddar and a Parmesan goat cheese blend.

The wines, revealed. Guess which wine won? That's right...a cheap white wine (Vivello Peach Moscato from Trader Joe's).


KUAS Podcast: Episode 8


SHOW NOTES:

WIPS:
1. Fall Cardigan (name to be determined)
2. Reyna Shawl (using handspun yarn) by Noora Laivola
3. Abrianna Cardigan
Tea: Yogi's Cinnamon Vanilla tea

Needles: knitpicks and Denise interchangeable needles.