The Holden Shawlette – Session One

This post is intended for the seven brave women in my Holden Shawlette class currently underway at K2Tog. but if you are interested in knitting that pattern – or any basic triangular lace shawl – this post may help you too.

So, ladies, a review of what we learned last night:

knitting Holden on the beach in Kauai

*A triangular shawl consists of two triangles separated by a center stitch that is framed by two yarn overs. For good diagrams, go here, tho I recommend reading the text only if you want a headache at this point.

*A triangular shawl begins with a tab cast on. You start the tab cast on with the long-tail cast on. For a video of the tab cast-on, go here.  (He picks up four stitches on the sides, and you want to pick up three.)

*A triangular shawl has four points of increase. These increases are performed by working yarn overs (this babe knits like I do!). These increases occur ONLY on the right side rows as such:

slip 1, k2, YO, k across to center stitch, YO, k1, YO, k to last 3 sts on needle, YO, k3.

This means that your shawl will grow by four stitches on every right side row.

Some things to remember as you knit this shawl:

*The first 3 and the last 3 stitches of every row will be worked in garter stitch. This will give us a nice, garter stitch frame for our shawl. AT THE SAME TIME, slip the first stitch of every row as if to purl with yarn in back. This means every row will begin: slip 1, k2 and continue in pattern from here.

*This is a pattern of lace knitting. That means the lace pattern is worked only on the right side. All wrong side stitches – with the exception of the garter stitch frame – are purled.

*The right side of the shawl and the left side of shawl are mirror images of each other separated by the center stitch. This center stitch is always knit on the right side and purled on the wrong side.

*When moving the yarn from the back of the knitting to the front, or vice versa, move the yarn BETWEEN THE NEEDLES and not over the top of the needles. Doing this will create extra yarn overs which can become extra stitches.

I would like you all to knit as fas as possible before next week, getting through the written instructions for Row 38. You should have 309 stitches on your needles at this point. Then STOP and next Wed we’ll tackle charts and making the lace! YIPPEEE!

Did I forget anything? If I did, leave a comment here and I’ll reply asap. HAPPY KNITTING. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

Holden, back at home, suntanned