I have collected a variety of amazingly wonderful skeins of yarn that are variegated. ....just one skein.  Here is a listing of patterns that call for two or three or four colors that are perfect for using one skein of variegated:  

On the Spice Market by Melanie Berg:

This version calls for only three colors.  Melanie's original pattern called for more.  But the lady who made the one below called it My Corona and I have a photo that names her on another blog post.  The three colors below are an orange, a tan and a variegated.  REALLY pretty!

Asymmetrical shawls

I am getting close to the end of my  Orbit pattern using Araucania Prisma yarn.  And I think that I want to just keep knitting until I run out of yarn.  But will it be too big?  So I measured this morning and the long side is about 36 inches....hard to tell for sure until it is blocked but that is my best guess.  So I googled what is the best size for an asymetrical shawl.  And while I haven't found the answer to that question yet, I have found a few things that I want to remember.

First is a great article from Interweave knits explaining different ways to start and proceed when making an asymmetrical shawl as well as several photos of finished projects.

https://www.interweave.com/article/knitting/shawl-shapes-explained-asymmetrical-triangles/

Next I looked on Ravelry at shawl projects and realized that I had made a pattern in the past called Wendy's Fern that is similar in shape to the one that I am working on.  I tried it on and am reassured that I can keep knitting until I am out of yarn.  I believe that this shawl is going to be great with jeans this fall.

Wave by Kristen Finlay using Rowan Creative Linen yarn

It must have been an impulse buy when I bought three skeins of Rowan Creative Linen yarn.  I had made a shawl to go with the jeans that I bought for Mary's wedding:

http://marshamosesknitting.blogspot.com/2022/10/wrap-to-match-jeans.html

But I didn't end up liking the shawl with the jeans....and as fall is getting closer, I wanted a shawl that I liked.  I had found a sweater at LL Bean that I love with it and wanted the perfect thing to wear with the outfit...we'll see if I succeed in liking this new project.  I am using the Rowan Creative Linen in a kind of dark raspberry color.  The pattern is Wave by Kristen Finlay.  It is a free download on Ravelry.  

Here is a picture of the shawl from Ravelry:

But I wanted to document the beginning of this shawl as I really like the shape that it seems that it will give me.  It starts with four stitches and increases every other row by 4 stitches which makes it a lot wider than deep.  I find this shape to be easier to wear than the triangular shawls.

Shawl using Scheepjes Secret Garden Yarn

Several years ago when we were knitting at the Wild Ramp, Mitzi and Sally and I became very excited about a shawl that used Schweppes Secret Garden Yarn.  The shawl is pictured below.  As was usual, Mitzi bought the yarn and had the shawl finished before I had acted on the idea to make this shawl.  Mitzi was disappointed in the results and so I filed the idea away for a while.  Then one day the yarn was offered on sale and I bought it and the pattern.  But again, as usual, I did not start it right away.  I pulled it out this summer because it looks very pretty in a glass container in my bedroom.  And I have been thinking about perhaps working on a project with this yarn.  But now I am not so "taken" with knitting a shawl that has such a deep triangle point.

So I have continued to look at the yarn and think.  I found a pattern that I might use called Nordic Sunrise.

This shawl is in fingering yarn while the Secret Garden yarn is a DK yarn with suggested needle size 6.  But since it is a shawl, I am willing to give a try to using a different size yarn as fit does not matter.  I think that I have 9 balls of the Secret Garden yarn each containing 142 yards, so I believe it likely that I have enough yarn to make a substantial shawl.

 I am thinking about doing the parts that are Brioche in two color Fisherman's rib.  This morning I found a site that has good explanation of this and I did not want to loose the idea:

https://www.bettaknit.com/blog/knit-stitches/2-color-fishermans-rib-stitch-tutorial

Beginning knitters possible projects

When I knit in public, I find that almost always someone asks me about learning to knit.  I suggest that they come and get needles and yarn from me and then actually use you tube to learn the technique.  But I always think about the fact that we should choose a simple project for their first project that they can actually finish and wear.  Tonight I am looking for a few possible projects.

Elm Bank Cowl.  Sarah made me my first one.  And I have made two since then.  

the pattern is no longer available, but I have the pattern in my drop box files under scarfs and cowls.  This cowl is knit on size 17 needles with 90 yards of  super bulky yarn.  If using less bulky yarn, one might use two strands of worsted held together.   For my cowls I used Malabrigo Rasta. 

Another good pattern is the Church Mouse Bias Before and after Scarf:

http://marshamosesknitting.blogspot.com/2023/11/church-mouse-bias-before-and-after-scarf.html

Another good pattern is the Bayshore Wrap:

http://marshamosesknitting.blogspot.com/2022/11/bayshore-wrapi-cord-tab-cast-on.html

Another good pattern would be Church Mouse's Magic Three Yarn Scarf

http://marshamosesknitting.blogspot.com/2021/11/church-mouses-magic-three-yarn-scarf.html

I am cleaning up my overly full screen on my computer today and found a pattern that would be easy but look quite impressive when finished.  It is Matchmaker by Martina Behm

Talavera Shawl in Noro Kashirukuru yarn

 Someone sent me an e-mail with Kashirukuru Yarn on sale that included a photo of five colors lined up that spoke to me.  It turned out that another site had the yarn on sale at an even lower price and I was hooked.  This is the shawl that I had in my mind when I bought the yarn.

Araucania Prisma yarn for Orbit pattern

I could not resist color way #3 of Araucania Prisma yarn at half price.  It has been discontinued.  I have chosen pattern Orbit.

The pattern is for a shawl that is a little small, but I found a project for which the knitter said she just kept knitting .....and it seems she used 814 yards and shawl looks big enough.  

I am going with needle size on Famillediondoyon's Orbit as I like the fabric she shows for her project:

She chose to use needle size 9.  And the photo shows the same colorway that I have chosen.  This seems like a wonderful summer project!  I am excited to work on it.

I am almost finished with my first ball of the yarn.  I thought perhaps I would begin to .....hmmmm....it seems that one just continues to knit until it is big enough and then one binds off with a lace edging.  Not what I expected, but I think it will work.