Question re sizing
Okay - I'm making the forest canopy shawl in knitpicks lace weight merino (oregon coast) as my first lace weight project. I had some...issues with my other experience working with lace weight yarn, so I wanted something I could easily keep track of the pattern.
Here is what I had done last week, I've gotten quite a bit further at this point, but it just looks like a whole lot of nothing b/c I can't spread it out on the needles I'm using.
I like this pattern, it was easy to memorize and it's quite pretty. My question is this: the pattern is written for heavier yarn, so I don't know how many pattern repeats to do, approximately how long/wide should the unblocked version be before I figure it'll be a normal shawl size when I block it?
I'm sorry if the answer is obvious & this is a stupid question - but I've never done this before and I don't want to end up with something made for a child or something big enough to use as a blanket!!
Here is what I had done last week, I've gotten quite a bit further at this point, but it just looks like a whole lot of nothing b/c I can't spread it out on the needles I'm using.
Thank you!
posted by Rachael at 5:47 PM
5 Comments:
I just finished my first shawl and I used the Lace tutorial provided by Eunny Jang. She explains that she never measures gauge to achieve the size on the pattern. I would suggest that a shawl knit in laceweight may be about 35" unblocked will reach up to 60" blocked. Of course, this is an estimate and depends on the yarn, the needle, gauge and your blocking technique. I am no expert. I can suggest you read Eunny's tutorial. Good luck, and the shawl is looking great so far.
This might be a bit complicated but...
Block the top part of your shawl (the first repeat should work), measure the width and then divide by the number of rows in that section. That will give you the best estimate I think.
My experience with lace weight is that it seems to block out mor ethan 4ply/fingering weight but it also depends on the individual yarn and pattern used as to how much bigger it gets during blocking. Blocking a sectino of the shawl like Danielle suggested may be the best way to get an idea of how it'll work out.
I knit a prototype in lace-weight yarn and started the border when I had 259 stitches on the needle. That made a small shoulder shawl that used less than 440 yards of yarn.
susan
http://knittingasfastasican.com
Thank you! It should have occurred to me to email the designer and ask...
Post a Comment
<< Home