I’ve somehow gone my whole life without ever reading Terry Pratchett, even though he’s been recommended to me by more than 1 person. I enjoy fantasy (of the Lewis & Tolkien variety) and somehow it never got through to me just how much I would enjoy his work. I’m currently binge listening through all of his books, as fast as the library will check them out to me. When I ran across this pattern and it was absolutely the exact thing I was searching for, and then saw the name of the pattern, I knew mine had to be Granny Weatherwax.

December 12, 2024
I swatched with both Cascade 220 (which is close to the original yarn called for) and Cascade 128. I had to use 6.5mm needles to get 17sts/4” on the 220, and I really dislike the very loose swatch. Cascade 128 gives me 17sts/4” on 5.5mm needles, and a very nice texture and stretch. I was hoping for a very warm blanket-like shawl, and I think this will be perfect. I actually can’t believe that no one has done this in chunky yet!

I do not see how anyone with any tension can get 17 sts/4” out of DK on 4mm needles and enjoy the fabric. I know I knit tighter than most, but that’s insane. I guess you just have to like a looser weave, which isn’t the look I’m going for.

I’m planning to cast on using a long garter tab, as suggested by another project, to provide a garter strip across the top and reinforce the lace there and provide continuity down the sides.

CO 3
Knit garter, back and forth for 28 rows.
Turn longways and pick up 13 sts (in flat spots between purl bumps) along long side, and 3 across the opposite end.
19 sts total.
Work setup row from pattern

December 13
Just finished chart B. Everything is going perfectly! Incredibly easy chart to follow - very straightforward lace. I glance at the chart to see which row I’m on, then off I go without needing to look again.

Dec 13 end of ball 1 in the middle of chart C
Dec 17 end of ball 2, row 11 of chart D
Dec 18 end of ball 3, row 11 of chart A (road trip to
Oregon and back)
Dec 18 end of ball 4, row 5 of chart B
Dec 21 end of ball 5, row 18 of chart B
Dec 21 end of ball 6, row 10 of chart C
Dec 23 end of ball 7, row 1 of chart D

I’m going to run out of yarn at this rate, even though I picked up an 11th skein. I’m going to work just row 1 of chart D to finish the triangles from chart C, then go straight to chart A & B across the entire row, skipping the remainder of chart D. I’m sure the edge stitches won’t be in perfect alignment, but that’s ok.

Dec 24
I needed 2 extra stitches at each end of my lace section to jump to chart A, so I just skipped a decrease in each section of row 1. The rest of the chart should flow fine. Surprisingly, my garter side sections were perfectly on count! Don’t ask me how!!

Dec 25 end of ball 8, row 9 of chart A

I’m actually SO over these full-length purl rows. Each return row is well over 30 minutes, and the whole thing is so heavy to shift around the cable… I’m going to be done with pattern rows after row 15 of chart A. Plus, with the bulky yarn it’s probably much larger at this stage than the original pattern anyway.

Dec 27 end of ball 9, row 3 of garter edging

Casting off on row 6 of garter, no picot.

Tails in, soaked and blocked. So yeah… Much bigger than the original. 6 feet square, blocked on my rug, and 35” down the middle of the back. I hope it’s not so big it looks silly…