01-30-2025

Test knitting Starstruck Shawlette for Michele Bernstein/PDXKnitterati

PC (Pooling Color): Versailles (purple)
BC (Background Color): Hall of Mirrors (gold)

Yarns were my 2024 Christmas present from DD1 aka riordan here on Ravelry.

02-02-2025

Finished 2nd chart repeat. Getting my head wrapped around this pattern. Trying to decide if I want 5- or 7-stitch stars. Messed up on row 17 and had to rip out about 8 rows to fix it.

Finding the pooling challenging, especially where/when to put the stars and where/when to cut out the pooling areas. Decided to go with the magic knot for the splices. So far, so good.

Next challenge is to figure out how to get neater edges. Pulling them tight like you do on regular knitting just doesn’t work for brioche. Some research and practice is in order!

02-06-2025

Really getting into the groove now and feel like I’m almost ready to do some TV while I knit. Hmmmm, maybe just an audiobook instead. Baby steps and all.

02-08-2025

Finished 5th chart repeat. Getting pretty smooth with the stars and splicing! Also figuring out that with some creative tensioning I can move the start of the stars a few sts to the left or right to prevent stacking. That’s pretty cool.

I made a cover for my chart that only shows 4 rows at a time. Put that in a vinyl sleeve with both ends open. Now I don’t get lost or overwhelmed when I look at the chart. Keeps my ADD brain in check! I just slide the chart when I’m ready to move to the next section.

02-17-2025

This is what I have learned about working with pooling yarn:

1. My yarn pool sections are 7 stitches long
2. If I start the pooling on a BC (gold) stitch, the star will cross 3 columns on the front
3. If I start the pooling on a PC (purple) stitch, the star will cross 4 columns on the front
4. Stars can be started either from the front or back and made to cross 3 or 4 columns depending on what stitch they are started on. This lets me pick if I want a bigger or smaller star in that space. I try to mix it up
5. I don’t worry about the pooling when it’s in the border band. I don’t make a star, just keep knitting normally without cutting the yarn. It can’t really be seen from the front.
6. Don’t stack the stars on top of each other without at least one row in between. The fingers cluster without spreading and it looks messy.
7. Always do the star wraps on the BC (gold/back) side
8. Cut and splice your yarn to put stars where you want them if they aren’t naturally falling favorably. Just remember that every cut shortens your piece, so be judicious about it.

02-22-2025

Done! What a whirlwind knit! I ended up casting off in the BC (gold-so it would match all the other edges) on row 17 of the 12th chart repeat (237 rows.)

I also stopped doing stars 5 rows before bindoff so that they wouldn’t disrupt the edge.

I had a pretty good idea of when to end the PC because when I got near the end of the skein, I measured out how much it took to do 1 row (minus the pooling colors) then doubled that length and put a slip knot in my yarn there. Then when I got to that knot, I knew the next row would be my last PC row. Worked like a charm!

Will block it tomorrow. Unblocked measurements are:
BO edge 23”, Border edge 33”

02-23-2025

Got so excited to block this morning that I forgot to take a pic before I washed it! As expected, the superwash yarn went all ragdoll on me and I had to be careful not to overstretch it! Carefully washed it in tepid water with a smidge of Bath & Body Works foaming hand soap in it. (Sunwashed Citrus scent…mmmmm) I use this for all my handknits and it works great!

I really wanted to add more length to the shawl without increasing the depth, which would spread out the brioche ribs too much. I know the BO edge is going to stretch simply because of gravity, so I intentionally kept that close. Gently manipulated the ribs so they look fairly straight.

Blocked measurements:
Bind off edge: 22”
Border edge: 51”
Diagonal edge: 54”