Island Knits Shoulder Wrap from Island Knits - Day 5

Fringe element...

It took me nearly the entire project—I’m close to the finish but not quite done—to decide.  Fringe, or no fringe?  

It’s always a conundrum for me when I debate whether to veer from a designer’s pattern.  Especially here, out in the knitting public.  There have been times where I doubted I’d like a pattern’s outcome—and ended up loving it.  That part of knitting holds the same wonder writing does for me:  you never quite know what you’re going to get until you’re done.

Knitting is also, however, a highly personal craft.  I know my tastes, I usually know what pleases me and why.  I know that I don’t care for fringe.  I own one rectangular shawl with fringe—really more like tassels—at each end.  Fringe all down the large edge of this shawl?  I really don’t think I’ll enjoy it.

It’s already making me nervous that I won’t have enough yarn to get through the bind off on this project.  It’s not like a prayer shawl where you can cut your fringe strands before you start your third skein—this is a one skien project.

Internet to the rescue!  This week one of my favorite local yarn stores sent out an e-newsletter with this exact yarn featured.  I had my solution!  I will finish the shawl and bind it off.  I will wear it once and see how I like it without the fringe.  Should I decide it really needs that edging, I will walk myself down to the shop and pick up a second skein with which to add said fringe.

Problem solved.  For now.  Stay tuned to see my final decision.

Island Knits Shoulder Wrap from Island Knits - Day 2

Big but not chunky...

Island Knits Wrap knitting in Florida!

This is a highly portable project, despite the size. Sure, I always feel like size 17 circular needles look more like something I ought to be jumpstarting a car with rather than something to knit an elegant accessory, but they get the job done.

And they get the job done fast.  This could be a weekend project easily.  In fact, given the length of your evening and the speed of your knitting, this could be a one-night stitch stand.  Especially if you decided to forgo the fringe.  If you need a quick, high-satisfaction project, this is an ideal choice.

The color continues to please me.  I wear lots of brown and a fair amount of grey, and this colorway combines the two and throws in a dash of dramatic turquoise as a bonus.  What's not to like?  It's the drape, however, that I find most appealing.  I tend not to favor the big chunky yarn stuff--I have no interest in arm knitting despite the current rage.  This is big,but it's anything but chunky.  It's got a large-stitched casual elegance.  This shawl will be as at home atop a t-shirt and jeans as it would over a summer dress.

…Except for the fringe.  I can't quite make friends with the fringe finish yet (fringe often feels too “western wear” for me), but I know it'll need something along the edge.  And how on earth will I know how much fiber to save for the edging if I don't know what it will be?  I hate not knowing if I'll have enough yarn to finish what I've started.  Oh, well, that's the drama of knitting.  Maybe I'll dream up a perfect solution on my way to the top edge.

Any suggestions?

Island Knits Shoulder Wrap from Island Knits

The glorious difference!

One of the projects I’ve been working on for pure pleasure lately is the Phoenix Shawl, a stunning Zauberball shawl I picked up the yarn and pattern for last Mother’s Day.  It’s taken me a year to find the time and focus to get near completion on this massive garter stitch short row-based project.  Gazillions of tiny stitches.

Imagine the refreshment I get from swapping out my delicate size 5 lace needles for a pair of big, shiny size 17s!  While both projects are garter stitch-based and play primarily on the gorgeous color transformations of their fiber, they couldn’t be more different.  That, for me, is one of the greatest gifts of knitting—there’s no end to the variety.

This marvelously tropical cotton fiber is like knitting with strips cut from that favorite t-shirt you’ve work for ten years and would never part with despite its fading.  It’s dreamily soft against the fingers—which will mean soft against your shoulders, and that’s important for a summer project.  Nice and stretchy, too. 

It is the perfect launch into warm-weather knitting.  Now, if we can actually achieve some weather close to warm here in Chicago…