Let's Knit Magazine - Your knitting, your style

... because one project is never enough! 

I started the Icarus shawl (Best of IW knits) a few weeks ago using a laceweight yarn that I bought from ebay last year.  I don’t really enjoy knitting with laceweight and much prefer sock yarn but it’s coming together nicely, albeit slowly. Only 19 more rows until I cast off. Then I can block this little sucker! It’s going to be gorgeous.

I am also 1/2 way through my 2nd Forest Canopy Shawl in a bamboo/wool sock yarn.  This is for mum (the first one I made in a beautiful turquoise/blue sock yarn from Geminiknits for my ISE6 swap pal).  I can’t recommend the FCS as a wonderful first lace shawl project. 

I needed a short break from lace knitting this weekend so I whipped up a small tote bag in Lopi wool.  It’s in the machine shrinking and once dry I plan on decorating it with some beads, fabric applique and needle felted swirls!

WOW ...you will be making everyone jealous. They are gorgeous.

Yes, they’re gorgeous.

I have a load of 4-ply. It’s a dark green, I’m looking for a nice shawl pattern that I can attempt my first shawl on

That shawl is stunning..one day I MIGHT, with much luck, be able to knit so beautifully! Thank you for posting some pics..more please!!!!

yup definetly jealous!

they are beautiful!!

They are sooooo beautiful they have bought a tear to my eye. Such beauty just makes me all emotional. sniff

Lovely knits, bag looks good, x janet

fabulous!! you are very talented!

Well for a first Shawl project I cannot recommend the Forest Canopy Shawl enough.  You do have to buy the pattern though (available as a PDF) but it’s worth it.  The original pattern was written specifically for DK yarn so it knits up quickly, but it works just as well in 4ply.  Obviously it takes longer in 4ply as you have to do more pattern repeats, but it’s lovely and light.

The triangle shawl in Lets Knit looks like it might be easy enough to attempt but as I haven’t tried it yet I can’t comment.

If it’s freebies you’re after, check out Elann.com.  They have some beautiful FREE shawl patterns which are just WOW! Many of them are recommended as first shawl projects.  Personally I fancy having a go at the ‘Sun Ray’ shawl and the ‘Luna Moth’ shawl.  Both very pretty!!

Will post piccies of Icarus soon as I’m just about finished - only 6 more rows to go YAY!  It’s going so slow though as there must be nearly 500 stitches on my needles. 

Catch you all later! Happy knitting. B

There’s a lovely free pattern for a simple shawl at http://www.mcknits.co.uk which is the website for the book ‘Divas don’t knit’ I finished it last month and it’s lovely The only issue was it says to knit using 00mm needles which I’m pretty sure don’t exsist so I just used slightly larger than by yarn recommended.

Nicknits - thanks for that link to McKnits.  I’ve never come across that site before.

the shawl looks amazing and very delicate! I like to knit quite chunky things that grow fast, I haven’t got the patience to work on something for a long time so admire anyone that does! I love needle felting and have been making loads of recycled jumper bags and brooches then needle felting them. It’s like paining on knitting! good luck with the bag.

whoops..missed the t out of painting.