11-03-2023

• See my first version for more notes on my knitting process for this accessory.

• Given that my tubular cast on is much stretchier than my bind off, and this shrug really does stretch out on the end that goes over the shoulders, I’ve decided on the following approach this go round: I’m going to knit the tube from the bottom up (which I realize sounds ridic cuz this is a straight tube). What I mean is that I know I want the contrast stripe to be near my face. I also know that (using DK and 1.5” stripes knitted on US 8 at 150st) the shoulders start at the beginning of the 5th stripe down from the top (or at the end of the 4th).

• So - using a US 8 I’m going to knit 9 stripes, alternating the grey and beige (this CO represents the part that will sit over arms and body). Then I’m going to go down a needle size to US7 (till the bind off) and knit one more neutral stripe (to 1.5”, as for all of the stripes, note that it may take a couple of extra rounds given the smaller needle size). Then I’ll knit the contrast stripe. Then I’ll finish with 2 neutral stripes. The impact of going down a needle size over the (assigned) top portion of the shrug is that it won’t be quite as large and open over the neck - though it won’t be notably smaller. I think I may prefer this look.

• OK, it took 10 min for the yarn plan to change… I have 15g less of the Adelaide Oatmeal than my stash tells me. (This never happens to me…) And since I’ll need about 600 yards to make this (based on my previous version), I may need to use more of the contrast colour than I had planned. I could go with a scrappy palette but I’m looking for a bit more consistency with this version. So I’m going to use some of my beloved batch of Sonder 4-ply in Full English (held double). This will eat into the stash quantity that I have (almost 700 yards / enough for a vest or smaller garment) and it is hand dyed so I can’t count on getting more of it to match exactly. But it goes very well with the Adelaide colours. (Note that the partial skein I’ll work from starts with 60g). Update: I’m having a great time working this pattern in the Adelaide (a discontinued yarn I also love) so maybe the key is to use up limited, precious stash on really enjoyable projects.

• Knitted first row of every colour change.

Sequence:

Tubular CO with US 7 then switch to US 8
Stripe 1 (bottom of shrug) ash
Stripe 2 oatmeal
Stripe 3 ash
Stripe 4 oatmeal
Stripe 5 FE
Stripe 6 ash
Stripe 7 oatmeal
Stripe 8 ash
Stripe 9 oatmeal At the end of this stripe, switch to US7
Stripe 10 ash
Stripe 11 FE
Stripe 12 oatmeal
Stripe 13 (neck / top of shrug) ash

• 1 stripe / 11 rows = 17g Adelaide

• Note that the Sonder (fingering) held double used 17g for each stripe or 34g in total.

Final Thoughts:

• This version used 220g of yarns that were basically the same in terms of gauge obtained (heavy DK / light worsted). Apparently, 1.3g of that weight of yarn, either knit single using DK or 2 strands of fingering held double, is required for each row. Useful intel for future versions.

• When I wet blocked, I used some soap with lanolin to soften the yarns and a colour blocking sheet because when I last blocked the Sonder Full English, the colour bled a lot. I didn’t want colour run into the oatmeal. The water was less dyed, happily, but the blocker didn’t seem to pick up the colour (maybe that’s not how it works because they never absorb colour when I use them). I also used tepid water, instead of my usual hot water, to discourage colour run, and I only left in the water for about 15 min.

• I would consider redoing working with a smaller needle on the last (top) 4 stripes of the shrug when I make this next. Note that, in practicality, this shrug is not able to be turned either way when wearing because the side that goes over the shoulders stretches out after wear.

Pre-blocked Measurements: 21.5” long, at wider end 13.5” and at less wide end 11” (I used a smaller needle as I neared the top of the garment and my tubular BO is not the loosest.

After wet blocking, I easily pinned this to 15” at the wider end and 13” at the smaller end. It’s also longer than instructed (and potentially longer than I need it to be) so as of the 4 top stripes (knitted on the smaller needle), I didn’t pin the length so that it can shorten by about an inch… I think it turned out longer because, with these yarns, the stripes at 11R were slightly longer than 1.5” so, over the length of the shrug, it grew by almost 2”. I debated whether I should cut the last stripe out but I liked the idea of the shrug starting and ending with the same colour. And I LOVE that blue grey.

Post-blocked Measurements: 21” long and 28” circ when not being worn (at the wider end).