So I finished the flowers on London Pride! I stalled for a couple months on this pattern because I made a mistake my brain couldn't deal with, but I finally sat down with some good lighting and got over it. But then I took a good look at it and thought "Hrm, this is turning out awfully big." So I decided to do a halfassed blocking attempt to see how big it really is:
The verdict? As of row 148, the diameter is about 50 inches. This is most likely because I'm knitting with cashmere instead of cotton, so it's much stretchier. So the teacloth version (pictured below) has 238 rows total. Which means that it would be 6'8" finished. That's.... ginormous. Especially considering I'm a midgetous 5'3".
So.... do I just make the pattern as is and have a gigantic shawl? Or do I cut out the next chart with the pointy arches (zigzags, whatever you want to call them) and move right on to the edging pattern? I think I could stretch it to 60 inches at most if I did that, but that seems a bit small.
What do you think?
Oh! I *love* the new Knitty!!!
That is too gorgeous for words!
If it were me, I would go for the larger shawl and just have more to wrap around, almost blanket like. It would depend on where you were planning on wearing it, too.
Where did you get that wonderful design?
Posted by: Jody at September 8, 2005 7:15 AMIt's really stunning, and I think I'd go for the gusto and do the big one. More to wrap around, but I like to be super cozy.
Posted by: Rebekah at September 8, 2005 9:16 AMHmmm. 60" max. If you could actually get it to stay at 60", that might be okay. You'd want it about your height so it'd only be 1-1/2" short on each "side".
But do you think it'll shrink back a bit when it relaxes after blocking? If so, I'd go for the larger shawl.
Posted by: Janice at September 8, 2005 1:21 PMWow! That's beautiful! I agree with the rest - go for the big shawl.
Posted by: Lisa at September 8, 2005 1:31 PMI'll be the rebel then and say the big one is too big. How about shortening and widening the zigzags, just doing a few plain rows, or making a mini zigzag section. I wonder if the cashmere will block even larger when it's wet.
Posted by: Toni at September 8, 2005 5:37 PMWell, if you do the large size - you could always give it to me ;}. I think the large will be way to large and I agree with Toni, make some modifications so that it will be the size you want (or give it to me to display at the store ;}).
Posted by: hojo at September 8, 2005 6:15 PMSince it's round, I'd say go for bigger--you can always wear it folded in half . . . and if worse comes to worse, it would make a stunning tablecloth! (grin) (Of course, I say this after struggling with my very-large Peacock shawl at a wedding two weeks ago, but still . . . I'd rather have too much of it than too little!)
Posted by: --Deb at September 11, 2005 6:35 PMDefinitely keep knitting and make it big! I made a shawl for my sister, who is 5'4", and it blocked to 72" across, and she loves it! Go for it!!!!