The Vertices Unite shawl falls into the category of projects I really wanted to make but just didn’t think I had the skills too. On reflection, this was very silly. It was a relatively straightforward and relaxing make - I could knit garter stitch forever!
I first came across the project when my friend Emma made herself a Vertices Unite and shared it on her Eldenwood Craft podcast. Emma always makes really beautiful yarn choices and her finished shawl is stunning.
Yarn
Yarn choice felt like a really big stumbling block for me with this project. I had all kinds of advice from friends but in the end I decided to stick with what I love - a largely blue colour palette. I picked up my yarn from this year’s Unravel festival which gave my shopping list at the festival a real structure and coherence. I’d definitely prepare for a yarn festival again with one big project in mind.
With the exception of the teal which is a CoopKnits merino yarn, the other four skeins I used were 4-ply Blue Faced Leicester from RiverKnits and Ainsworth and Prim (The Knitting Shed). I really enjoy knitting (and crocheting) with 4ply BFL, it has a real crispness and structure that you don’t necessarily get with softer yarns. Plumping for blues and BFL meant that knitting up my Vertices Unite was a real pleasure. I was genuinely sad when I wove in the last ends and I can’t always say that about my projects.
The pattern and construction
Being completely honest, I didn’t like the way the pattern was written up. I assume it was written and laid out for someone with more experience than me. But that said, I didn’t come unstuck at any point and it turned out how it should have done!
I had been concerned about picking up stitches and really shouldn’t have been as it was very easy. Next time though I will have more spare cables handy because you do end up with a lot of stitches on hold and it’s much easier to leave them on cables than waste yarn.
I needed to search out Stephen West’s You Tube videos for help with the I-cord bind-off but I think that is just because I hadn’t undertaken that particular technique before. I actually found it really satisfying and started to wonder if I could use I-cord bind-off for everything!
The finished object
I love my finished shawl; it’s beautiful, blue and very wearable (when the temperature reduces!). If you’re having a wobble about making one, I urge you to be brave and give it a go - just as long as you like garter stitch!
Please ignore the crumples. I had to unpack the shawl which had been hibernating for the Summer in order to take this photo!.
I made the small shawl and it turned out to the exact proportions. I would have liked a slightly bigger shawl but I knew that I would ‘drown’ with the larger size. Now I’ve made one, I would be very confident in making myself a medium-sized shawl with some pattern adaptions.
Added bonus
An unexpected bonus has been the leftover yarn. I have been able to whip up a Bombini Cowl for my Mum - the project I mentioned last time with the dreaded ‘knit into the stitch below’.
In idle moments (!) my brain is starting to wonder what colours should be in my next Vertices Unite. I can’t tell you how satisfying it was to knit the stripes, pick up the stitches and create a piece of knitting patchwork.
I hope you have a happy week of crafting planned! x
Fabulous shawl Helen. The colors are very you and Stephen West designs always look so contemporary. I felt the same way about his Exploration Station Shawl - loved every stitch and didn't want it to end.
ReplyDeleteYour shawl was just gorgeous! x
Delete