Answer: It depends! I am anal retentive and you are an anal-retentive person, but I digress! More later…
I do, if nothing else, enjoy multi-tasking and that is certainly true with my knitting. I started a project recently after being inspired at every turn by the Swirl Shawl. Sally and I saw this often at Maryland Sheep and Wool, and it is in any shop that carries JoJoland Melody Yarn.
It is gorgeous in the aforementioned yarn. BUT, Sally and I stumbled onto this beautiful yarn at MSWF: Brooks Farm Acero — 420 yds/4 oz., 60% superwash wool, 20% silk, 20% viscose, in colors that are absolutely stunning!! I was planning on making the Triple S Shawl that they had on display, but decided to switch gears and make the Swirl Scarf instead for two reasons: with the Triple S, you start with an Emily Ocker cast on and then work out, joining all the completed squares with a 3-needle bind off (annoying!!). With the Swirl Shawl or Scarf, you cast on/pick up all the sts and work to the middle and attach the swirls as you go. I am also weaving in my ends as I go, so when it’s done, it’s done! I am very happy with my choice.
I am using three colors: brown (with a hint of purple), greenish brown, and bluish brown. I do not have the labels so I cannot be more specific and none of the colors on their website look like mine — sorry!
The Finished scarf will be approx 9″ by 72″
I wish you could actually see how beautiful this yarn is and touch it — the viscose gives it a lineny feel, the silk gives it sheen, the wool gives it depth, and it is very soft against the skin. Pictures absolutely do not do it justice.
So, why the question about being anal retentive? I think I must be!!! At least about my knitting!
When I swatched my first swirl to see if the yarn would work, the swirl formed a lovely, natural hexagon. BUT, when I started the second swirl — which is picked up between the green dots on the picture below — the points did not align. As written, each pattern repeat starts with a YO at each of the 6 points of the hex, but the points actually form 3 sts back (see picture below). In other words, the points of the hexes do not align in the pattern as written.
So, I moved the start of the round 3 sts so the points line up — point to point — on all of my hexes. Does it make a difference? I’m not sure, except I know I could not continue with it without “fixing” it. Thus, I am an anal-retentive knitter. See details below.
I love this project, highly recommend the pattern (with my “correction”), and highly recommend either the Melody or Acero. Fun, fun, fun!!!
My notes:
If you own the pattern, this will make sense!!
Follow pattern as written until you get to Round 3.
Round 3: k3 additional sts past end of round on last needle (23 sts now on this dpn). Transfer 3 sts from needle 2 to needle 1, and 3 sts from needle 3 to needle 2. All dpns now have 20 sts again and beg of round has shifted 3 sts to the left. Starting from the new beg of round, work remaining pattern rows as written.
