Why I knit shawls

Ages ago when the Dahlia cardigan appeared in Interweave Knits I knew I wanted to knit it. I wasn't sure about the yarn I would use until I came across Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and decided that that was the one for me.

About a fortnight ago I decided to cast on. I did a stocking stitch swatch despite the fact that I loathe doing these things (reason one for knitting shawls). My gauge was just fractionally off but I figured that it was close enough and embarked on knitting the lace panel which forms the back of the cardigan. Its a beautiful panel, go on, have a good look at it. Gorgeous is it not? I finished the panel over 2 evenings of knitting and loved it and the yarn. But, the square was far too large. It is meant to block out to 13" and even unblocked I was way over that.

Now I have done my homework for this cardigan and I have read how important it is to get the lace square the right dimension because the construction of this cardigan is most unusual and all hinges on this square. So, of course, I frogged the square and started afresh on smaller needles and enjoyed the knitting and the beauty of the lace as much as the first time. Two days later and the square was done and still way to big!

Undeterred, I frogged and started again on smaller needles and lo and behold it was too big! So I frogged again and started a fourth time and by now I was using 2.5mm needles. A quarter of the way in I stopped because I could just feel that this is not working. This pattern and yarn are just not meant to be. I will find another use for the yarn and I will try to find a more appropriate yarn for the cardigan because I still like it and I am determined to have one.

In the meantime I needed to rid myself of the frustration of the past couple of weeks so I cast on for the Flowers on the Edge shawl and less than a week later it was done. Pictures to follow as soon as I have blocked the shawl.

See why I knit shawls?