Friday, June 5, 2009

Aestlight Shawl

We interrupt this silence to bring you some gartery goodness!


Along with all the preparation for transporting ourselves some 3000 miles (which happens in 10 days) I've been fervently knitting.....some secret...and some, like this shawl, not!

I was inspired to come up with my own design for the Eastward facing aspect of Project Spectrum........and as we'll be turning ourselves to head to Massachusetts soon I thought the name "Aestlight" (East Light in Shetland dialect) was appropriate.

This shawl is all based on garter stitch and is therefore incredibly squishy and bouncy!

It is constructed using one of the traditional Shetland Shawl making methods. In this case that means starting with the garter stitch triangle and making increases at the end of every row with a yarn over. These yarn overs are then easily picked up and the borders are worked out from here. The edging is then knit sideways and attached to the live sts of the border at the end of every right side row.


Sounds complicated?.....I assure you it's not at all ....in fact it's rather a lot of fun watching this evolve!

The pattern is mostly written up but I'm in need of some test knitters (ETA: actually I'm all set now)!! So if this tickles your knitting fancy please let me know! It requires approx 550 yards of fingering weight yarn and is worked on US #6 needles.
Finished dimensions are approx 56" wide and 24" long.

These are some of the very first shots taken with my new Canon Digital Rebel XTi......which I'm mostly enjoying so far....with a few minor annoyances (like no live view and only a 10 sec delay timer)!

A few more photos on flickr

...and now back to packing!

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous shawl! I'd be interested in test knitting it.

Curlysam said...

I would very much like to test knit that for you. As I read the post I was hoping to see a "follow this link to buy the pattern here!" at the bottom.

jooney said...

I'd love to test-knit this shawl, how lovely! Shawls are my favorite projects to knit, can't get enough of them...

lisa o said...

I too would be happy to be a test-knitter, let me know. I'm on ravelry as "volta". cheers!

Kristen said...

The shawl looks so soft, so beautiful. I've never test-knitted before, but would love to be on the list. Your new camera is taking gorgeous pictures.

lucy said...

oh, i love the shawl Gudrun. I think a shawl this pretty tickles me.
Enjoy your packing. Maybe, i'll run into you sometime on the east coast.

the Lady said...

Ooh, ooh, can I please test knit it?

the Lady said...

PS

I really like how the lace section looks juxtaposed with the garter stitch and edging. Cool design.

old lady said...

I'm sure you've got your test knitters already, so I will just say can't wait for the pattern!!!!

Anonymous said...

wow! that's beautiful.

congratulations on the new camera and good luck with the move. we're heading out of japan july 1! it's all very exciting, isn't it?

Sigrun said...

I would love to test knit for you. But I assume you're in a hurry for this one and we are busy in the greenhouse. How does test knitting work (for future reference). if you need credentials regarding my knitting abilities i can provide a long list.

Sigrun said...

I forgot--I'm on Ravelry as sproutsnknits.

Lisa R said...

If you need another test knitter, I would love to help out! I'm on Ravelry as "giynlith."

Gudrun Johnston said...

If you are interested in test knitting please make sure I have an easy way of contacting you....email me at gudruncjohnston(at)gmail(dot)com

Autumnafternoon... said...

Gorgeous! I'd be interested in test knitting it.

Marissa said...

I'm a newbie lace knitter, so I won't waste your time volunteering to test knit. I just wanted to congratulate you on a lovely shawl. It is simply gorgeous- and the color is striking. Very, very pretty. I think I may just try my hand at it when it's ready!

teanotea said...

This is lovely. I can't wait for it to be a pattern for sale.

Unfortunately, I'm sure I'm not a good enough knitter to be a test knitter for you.

Kirsten said...

Another beautiful design Gudrun!

Have a safe journey back to New England. Now that we'll be on the same coast I hope to get to meet you in person sometime soon.

Leah said...

That's beautiful! I like the combination of lace and garter stitch texture.

Suvi said...

Beautiful shawl, love the photos, too! Congrats on your new camera!

Journeying Five said...

i love it! one day i would love to test knit, but i need to get my speed up!

saoriweaver said...

Beautiful shawl, lovely colour too. I'll be interested in the pattern when you are done.

marit said...

Beautiful! (Un)fortunately we have summer here, which means gardening and haymaking and walking the sheep to the mountainpastures- otherwise I would have loved to testknit for you.
Good luck on your move! It's always exiting to move, even if it is "back home".

AuntWie said...

Well, I had intended to offer to test knit for you, but it seems you have a bounty of previous offers. I have some light fingering weight silk on hand. Undyed. How do you think that would work? Would it be a interesting contrast to the wool? Otherwise, I'd need a little time to mail-order the yarn. No LYS out here in the boonies.
If I can help you, let me know at
Dsrtwillow at Gmail dot com

porpoise said...

What a beautiful shawl! I'm sure you've got plenty of test knitters, but if you need another one, I'm in! I'm porpoise on Ravelry. In any event, I can't wait for the pattern!

Poethead said...

The shawl is beautiful! I look forward to the pattern. Are you going back to your homeland?

Poethead said...

P.S. By the way, I love the name of the shawl. It means east light? I'm guessing. I love it.

nicole said...

Such a beautiful design! The composition of garter stitch and simple lace is just so pretty. I can just imagine how lovely it would feel on. And I have a ton of yarn in my stash that would be lovely for this.

If you still need a test knitter, I'd love to do it! I'm cocoknits on Ravelry. I'll email you my coordinates.

Wolkenjägerin said...

It's wonderful! And I know, it's another shawl and I already get comments about knitting nothing else but shawls at the moment, but I cannot resist...and will wait patiently for the design to be available. Until then I dream of yarn...

MOONSTITCHES said...

This is such a beautiful scarf. Looks so natural and not overdone, what a lovely combination of garter stitch and some simple lace!

Vaida said...

Wow, it's just lovely! I have tried different and rather complicated lace patters in my younger days, but never like this, knitting the lace around the shawl..
It looks simple and delicate at the same time! Great work

orange flower: sketchbook said...

Beautiful! I would love to be a test knitter, if you still need one.

Becky said...

This looks so lovely. I'm waiting anxiously for the pattern! It's exactly the new project I am looking for :-)

GURO said...

Both shawl and garter stitch love here! I'm also one of those who would love to test knit this!
(I'm on Ravelry as Guro)

Tanya said...

If you are still in want of test knitters, I would love to give it a go. I am tanyasknits on ravelry.

melosa said...

What a great shawl! If you still are in need of a test knitter, I would love to. I've been very anxious to do another lace project.

Hannah said...

It looks like you have PLENTY of options for test knitters, but I saw your shawl on project spectrum on Ravelry and am horribly in love with it.

So if you need any more testers I'd be delighted to give this one a go.

Hannah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I love this design and have been looking for a more 'cleaner' alt to the classic lace shawls. Would love to cast on and test run pattern ... http://www.ravelry.com/people/kurlyknits

azzuka said...

if you're still looking for... I'd be more than happy to test knit it!

Jodi said...

Beautiful! I can't wait for the pattern release -- I'm itching to cast on a new lace shawl pattern.

Hilary said...

Just gorgeous! I can't wait until the pattern comes out!

adrienne said...

Oh, lovely shawl! I can't wait for the pattern :)

veera said...

I love it, it's so beautiful! And the color...

Connie said...

Gorgeous, Gudrun. And happy moving!

Storebukkebruse said...

Oh, it is great! Love garterstitch. You can use me a test-knitter any time! I will want the pattern - for sure.
Manisha on Ravelry

Judi Gray said...

This is just beautiful and exactly the pattern I've been looking for - not too much lace (for a lace phobic like me). I have the perfect skein of Malabrigo sock in Indecita waiting just for this pattern.

Angela said...

absolutely beautiful. love the color. wish i could have gotten here in time to be a test knitter!

Unknown said...

I will test it for you LOL - if you still need someone!

HUGS -Vanessa

Anonymous said...

Great shawls!!

MegsCrochetJewels said...

Gorgeous!!