Well, there were hanks and then there was a big, squashy ball of ruby Cascade 220 :)
Then there was this. A year and a half ago, I was trying to figure out how to make a triangular shawl using the stitch pattern called Dragon Skin (see above link for chart) and I got nowhere. As it happens, it seems I was coming at it from the wrong side. Instead of working from the bottom up, I should have been working from the top down!
This did require some fiddling. The pattern is 26 stitches wide. That’s a lot of stitches to work up in increases between pattern repeats. Fortunately, the pattern splits in half very neatly making it possible to work in 13 stitch increments rather than 26. You just incorporate one half at a time! First problem solved :)
Second problem - the pattern is only 12 rows. Two repeats leave you short a stitch at the point where you want to start the next repeat. I decided to work a dummy row to see what would happen. That is, after working through the pattern twice, I added a row (two rows, actually, the knit out and the purl back) which didn’t do anything or change anything - just occupied space and, incidentally, provided the last stitch needed for the pattern. Because each section of the pattern starts and ends with a K1, M1 (start) or a M1, K1 (end), in the dummy row (Myria called it a “leap” row - like a leap year - something added to make everything else work out evenly) the K1, M1 was followed by a K2tog and the M1, K1 preceded by an SSK. Everything in between was knitted plain. This was done in order to preserve the skeleton of the stitch pattern and maintain the proper stitch count. Does that make sense?
It worked fine! I mean, it was just a wild-ass guess, but it did the trick. So every second repeat of the pattern (going from top to bottom) is two rows longer than the one before it. I haven’t worked enough to know whether that will make any difference visually. Myself, I don’t think it will even be a blip on the radar.
I started with 30 stitches and I’m up to 106 and halfway through the first ball of Cascade. I suppose, since this isn’t lace, it’s going to use more yarn than the lace shawl did :) The lace shawl uses 8 50gm balls of aran weight yarn. I have the equivalent of 12 balls of worsted weight. Think that’ll be enough for a generously sized shawl? I don’t know either, but I guess I’m going to find out.
I started this on a size 9 (US) needle for the sake of softness and flexibility and am debating going up sizes as the shawl grows the way the pattern for the lace shawl stipulates. I probably wouldn’t use the number of needles the lace pattern does, but I could see going to a 10 a ways down the road and then to a 10.5, doing about a third of the shawl on each of the needles. I’m still mulling it over as I don’t have to decide right now.
I leave you with this inspired silliness:
Me: I’m glad you put that hairbrush in the glove compartment. I look like the wrath of God!
She: (laughing) Nah…The wrath of God’s taller.
Have a great weekend!
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great and inspiring stuff! the sky’s the limit!
Hiya Nattie! It sure is fun when things work out, isn’t it? I love being able to find a good solution to a problem. I know I’m nver going to “cure a rainy day” but once in a while…
Very creative thinking, and completely beyond me—at the moment. I do have fantasies of great creativity lying just over the horizon of figuring out lace :>
Oh, very nice! I like how that pattern stretches across the repeats. Can’t wait to see how it grows.
Hi Robbyn:
I don’t know if you check back for new messages to old posts, so I’m sending this here. In my case, it’s “a new favorite”—dot stitch. So simple and such a nice texture. Subtle. I like it. Thank you.
I also like the dragon scales, and am looking forward to seeing it grow! 
Rob - Don’t be intimidated by the lace. When you’ve made your first lace “something” (especially using your own beautiful handspun!) you’ll wonder what you were ever worried about :)
Kathy - You and me both! I’m really liking it so far and I’m having a ball with the Cascade - nice yarn!
Hi Amaryllis - I get notified whenever a comment is posted, regardless of what it’s posted to. That said, I think there’s a three week limit and then comments are closed. It’s a hedge against comment spam.
And it’s perfectly fine that you posted your comment here - I’m glad you like the stitch. I’m trying to think of a way to use it myself :)
I like the looks of the dragon scales. The color is fantastic. I look forward to seeing your progress.
Maureen - This is a great stitch pattern, great fun to work and to watch evolve.
I agree - a mere blip on the radar. :) What a great solution!
Lovely pattern, I really like the way it interlinks.
Thanks Bron :) I’ve been wanting to use this stitch pattern for a shawl for a long time now. Nice to finally figure out a way to do it!
Pam - Has been one of my favorites for a loooooooooooooooong time :) One of the things that got me seriously interested in knitting - I had to learn how to do that :)
