Soft and Squishy

Diana finished our Kallara and dropped it at the store this afternoon. It is so soft and squishy. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry. I will take it to work and get pictures on Thursday when the sun isn’t quite so bright.

Go subtle or go bold with this fun shawl. Opt for gentle stripes for a neutral shawl, perfect for any occasion, then knit another in your favourite brights, neons, gradient or speckled hues teamed with a strong solid for a show-stopping accessory.  

Kallara features a slightly asymmetrical, shallow triangular shape with long tapered ends. Sitting comfortably on the shoulders without too much bulk, it’s adaptable enough to be worn as a wrap, shawl, or scarf.

We used Dream in Color Smooshy Cashmere for our sample.

The shawl is very long - Diana knit until the skeins were almost finished. Ambah has great instructions in her pattern on how to do this. You can make the shawl as long or as short as you want. I know that some knitters want more of a scarf and that is totally possible.

Photo © Stephen West

What is she knitting next? I gave her yarn to make Stephen West’s Botanic Shawl in Zauberball Crazy and Le Petit Lambswool.  You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry or here. We are low on Zauberball right now (until a shipment arrives next week with a lot of colours) so we went with a colour where the balls are different lots. I don’t think it will matter in the finished shawl - we’ll find out.

We have the same problem with Tough Love Sock. I didn’t want to pick a colour and clear our stock so she is using very light green Le Petit Lambswool.

I promised to show a trick for the beginning of the Botanic Shawl. I didn’t totally forget in the store but I had a migraine this afternoon. I came home and napped, had dinner, cleaned the kitchen, watered the yard and now I’m trying to show you the trick. My yarn is too dark but here goes.

When I cast on the three stitches I put a locking stitch marker through my stitches.

Then you do an I-Cord.

Then you pick up along the edge of the I-Cord. This is the right side facing.

Stephen then asks you to turn and pick up three stitches along the cast on edge.

Now the wrong side is facing. I took the three stitches on the stitch marker and put them onto the needle - I counted this as my pick up but not my knit. I have to knit these 3 stitches and then continue the pattern.

I hope I didn’t make this more difficult that it really is.

I won’t be in the store packing orders and answering emails tomorrow. It is Canada Day and I might sleep in.