I have shawl fever. I can’t stop myself. After finishing the Peacock Shawl, I needed to knit yet another one. The yarn I’ve wanted to knit with for a long time was even in my stash: Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Blush (Shade 583). I bought a fair number of skeins of this yarn a long time ago, but had never decided on the perfect project for it. Now I have: the Cap Shawl in the Victorian Lace book. If you have the book, the pattern is on page 28. If not, here is a thumbnail photo I was able to find.
The Cap Shawl is a circular shawl approximately 74 inches in diameter, and it may very well be one of the easiest patterns in the book. Even so, it is gorgeous and dramatic. It would be a great shawl for a beginner, except for the start. (I think that the start of a circular or square shawl can be a bit tricky for beginners, but maybe I’m wrong.)
Here is mine the day I started it (two days ago).
I was going back and forth about which size needle to use. The pattern, which uses Kidsilk Haze, called for a U.S. 7 (4.5 mm), but I thought that would be too loose. I started it on a 6 (4.0 mm), and that looked a bit loose as well. I jumped all the way down to a 4 (3.5 mm). I did that because I knit my Icarus Shawl out of Kidsilk Haze on a U.S. 3 (3.25) and it turned out well.
I finally liked how the center looked on the smaller needle, but I was a bit concerned that the shawl might not stretch enough when blocked and end up being too small. So, after about fifteen rows, I switched to a U.S. 5 (3.75 mm). Now, I might have stayed with a 5 except for one problem: I wanted to knit it on Addi Lace Turbos and the only ones I could find in a hurry (I’m a bit on the impatient side) were size 6.
What to do? What to do?
I decided to put in a lifeline, try the 6, and then rip back to the lifeline if I thought the knitting looked too loose. If you are unfamiliar with the term lifeline, it’s a way of saving your sanity in lace knitting. When you are at a point where you know your patterning is correct, you thread smooth yarn through your live stitches and leave them there. Later, when — I mean if — you make a mistake, you have a safe place to rip back to. (It can be very tricky to rip back down safely to the right row when you have all the decreases and yarnovers involved in lace knitting.) The idea is to do periodic lifelines — every ten or 20 rows — so you are only “risking” a certain number of rows of your knitting.
Well, this is not the kind of pattern I would normally take the time to use a lifeline with, but I went ahead. I was on my Knitpick interchangeable needles, so I just threaded some spare yarn from my Peacock shawl through the little hole you use to tighten the needle tip on to the cord. That way, I could just knit a row and automatically pull that yarn through for the lifeline.
NOTE: If you do this — or even if you are threading your lifeline through your live stitches with a tapestry needle, DON’T PUT YOUR LIFELINE THROUGH YOUR STITCH MARKERS!! If you do, they won’t move with you on the next row. Yeah. It would be a problem. Here is a (slightly out of focus) photograph of the lifeline right after I put it in. Note how the lifeline jogs around the stitch marker.
I have not had much time to knit this week, but the first half of this shawl is so easy (I don’t need to even glance at a pattern or chart) I’ve made some progress anyway.
Here is a photograph I took today as I went from a 24″ circular needle to a 32″:
Finally, here’s another photograph. I’m including this one because you can more clearly see the lifeline I put in two days ago. I’m staying with the size 6 needle, but I haven’t bothered to pull that lifeline out. I could (should?) put in another one, although I don’t think I need one. (Saying that out loud probably dooms me to some horrible mistake.)
Stunning! Really, it is beautiful! Once again I’d like to extend my thanks 🙂 for your fantabulously educational photos. It is one thing to have someone explain a process and quite another to be able to see what it’s supposed to look like. I learn best by seeing. I truly appreciate the time you take to help us out. If I was in your class I’d bring you an apple!
Comment by Michelle — April 11, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
Love that colour. The pattern looks great too.
Comment by Gale — April 11, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
How lovely! Do you think if I did it with Zephyr or similar cobweb weight, it would be a suitable Wedding Ring shawl? That blush color is completely stunning.
Comment by Tikabelle — April 11, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
That’s really pretty! It almost makes me want to start another big lace project. I finished Frost, Flowers and Leaves in January and I’m still not quite over it. I do have some Kid Silk Haze in the stash . . .
Comment by Donna — April 11, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
From Susan — I really love it. I want to knit a pretty shawl, too! I pray to the knitting gods and all that is holey 🙂 (I crack myself up!) that my Peacock yarn is there tonight!!!
Comment by lv2knit — April 11, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Beginner? Did you say beginner? I’ve been waiting to hear those lovely words. I’m thinking I should hang back a bit and let you continue so as to prove out the pattern before I get started.
It’s so beautiful!
Comment by Wendy O'C — April 11, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
Sally – truly gorgeous. Thanks for the Lifeline tutorial – great tip! BUT, how (and where) on earth will you block something so huge? Keep up the great work – you’re an inspiration.
Comment by Mike Smith — April 11, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
Sally- Absolutely beautiful. It’s a fair size shawl when it’s finished, isn’t it?
I’m doing the Spider Web Full Hexagon in KSH Liqueur- and I think I’ll put in a lifeline as I’ve ripped
back twice.
And in KSH, that’s no fun.
Comment by Lorraine — April 11, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Wow! That is a beautiful pattern! I saw that pattern but did it looked a little intimidating. I will have to take
another look.
Comment by Connie — April 11, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
The color is great, and it looks so soft to touch!
Comment by Charm — April 11, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! The color is perfect ethereal yumminess! When you complete the project, would you please post how many skeins of Kidsilk Haze it took? I have some in my stash, and wonder if this is the project that will pull it out of retirement. Also, thank you for the great tutorial on lifelines…the whole concept read as scary as steeks to me before this!
Comment by Laura — April 11, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
*Gorgeous* pattern and very very striking. KSH is my drug of choice.
Did Susan’s yarn come yet? 😉
Comment by Romi — April 11, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
Sally, What a great idea to use the hole in the Knitpick interchangable needle to carry the life line. Look at all the time it saves. Love the shawl so far. Now I want to start one of those too. I will have to get over to my LYS (they are haveing a 20% off sale starting today).
Comment by Michele with 1 L — April 12, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Beautiful! I am working up to knitting a lace shawl complicated enough to use a lifeline, and I know I would have threaded my lifeline through the stitch markers, so thanks for the advice!
Comment by Brenda — April 13, 2007 @ 1:36 am
The shawl is looking beautiful already. I am wondering about the beginning as I have yet to try circular shawls. Did you use the Emily Ocker method?
Comment by Laura — April 13, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
This info has blown me away. I just finished the shoulder shawl in Victorian knits……my first…..and I cannot seem to figure out how to begin the border and knit it on. It appears that I am knitting it in the wrong direction. Can you give me a simple explanation on how to knit the border and begin the part where it is attached to the triangular shawl. I am grateful for any help. Thanks
Comment by Lynn — July 25, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
After a long google search, I finally found your description of how to run a lifeline as you knit, instead of running it through a lower row. And using a knitting needle to do it, instead of a tapestry needle, makes it so much more straightforward. Thanks!
Comment by Alice — March 4, 2008 @ 4:09 pm