Genius Tips
Sail-Away Shawl: Tips and Hints
Dear Kay,
Done! Done! I finished my Sail-Away Shawl by Julia Farwell-Clay from MDK Field Guide No. 7: Ease.
I’m wearing it around like Linus with his blanket. Even though I haven’t blocked it yet. I don’t want all the fun to end.
Things to Note: Making a Sail-Away Shawl
This is a garter stitch shawl, so there are long stretches of zenlike knitting. However, there are two moments worth noting.
In the MDK Shop
Changing Colors: You really do need to respect the thing that happens at the edge when you go from one stripe color to another. The time you take to make sure you’re consistently lifting one color over the other will result in an edge that is tidy.
My least-favorite moment of this project was discovering I had failed to carry the yarn not in use over the yarn in use—it results in a double-long stretch of carried yarn along the edge. This was unpleasing to me. I fixed or did not fix this, depending on how far I was into the shawl. As I look, I see five places where I didn’t fix this thing. I don’t much care—it’s not noticeable. Except that knitting is a pursuit that can let us be as compulsive or slack as we want. Which is why it is the greatest thing ever.
Weaving the Ends: I duplicate stitched the ends, and the result is really solid. You want a shawl’s ends to stay put, and duplicate stitch is good and twisty.
I’ll leave the ends untrimmed until I’ve blocked it.
Love,
Ann
I love those colors!! And duplicate stitch is such a good idea for the ends. I must try that.
I love the pop of red and the asymmetry at the bottom!
Now I want to make one! Just seeing that stripe of red did it for me!
Beautiful! As always. Thanks for the duplicate stitch ends idea. I shall try it. Also what a perfect way to try dup stitch. I love that u didn’t fix all those carries, makes me feel better about me not always fixing either!
I love the colors, how you mixed up the different blues and that surprise pop of red, which adds interest. I’m curious to know how it looks when one is wearing it.
That stripe of red is a stroke of genius.
So purty 🙂
I too love this shawl…your color choices are GLORIOUS!!!!
Great color combo, there! I love that red line you threw in there – it takes the finished product from great to oh, wow!
This sequence is so delightful, and a great balance between nautical and beachy! I love me some zen garter stitch knitting!
That red stripe is perfect, and the shawl looks good so far. . . but what does it look like once you’ve blocked the dickens out of it? And, has Kermit pronounced it a Good Thing to Lay Upon?
This — “Except that knitting is a pursuit that can let us be as compulsive or slack as we want. Which is why it is the greatest thing ever.” Ann, you are one of my very favorite knitting buddies, in spite of the fact that we haven’t met. You totally get me. Thanks for that.
Yes. This spoke to me, too!
I love that red stripe, Gong Hay Fat Choy to you, too!
I’ve been doing that twisty thing one stitch in from the edge on my shawls. I’d rather have that carry line on the back of the piece instead of along the edge, and this hides it a little better for me.
(I knit the first stitch in the old color, twist and pick up the new color on stitch 2.)
genius
LOVE it! Especially that one tomato red stripe!